I have not had an issue with my newer Gen 5 Gocks, however I have had plenty of Gen 2/3 Glocks with the old FPF, wear down to the bare slide, "Battleworn", some say.
Heavy daily use caused many of my duty guns to wear, and I have only sent one (a Gen 2 G-23) back to Glock for a slide refinishing.
So the new finish, and the old finishes wear over time, but the older Gen 2/3 had the Tennifer Process under the FPF, making for a nice level of protection.

 

I bought a brand new Gen3 19 yesterday so I can't speak to the long term wear characteristics since I only have 100 rounds through it so far, but the barrel isn't showing any finish wear yet whereas my 17M (which has Gen5 characteristics) showed obvious barrel wear within the first 50 rounds.

 

Thanks for the data point.

I'd enjoy hearing at what point (round count) you begin to see observable wear on the exterior of your G19.3.

 

The Glock 'smiles' appear quicker these days.
As mentioned Glock will refinish slides and barrels

The frying pan was best Glock finish. Ever.

 

That's why I have refrained from buying any more since they discontinued the finish. I've decided that I want a newer version of the G19.3 for CC, which means that I'll be getting one with the newer finish. I just wanted to hear members' experiences and opinions who've been using them.

 

I bought a new production G34 last summer and the slide finish is noticeably less durable than my earlier Gen 3. The finish on the front corners of the slide are thinning out from holstering and dry fire drills. My reaction is that I don't care at all.

The older finishes were top notch, however.

 

Here we go again.

 

7 posts in and no mention of the EPA yet at least.

 

They did change the finish on the slide again since the frying pan finish, the newer gray finish definitely doesn't scratch near as easily as the last "Gen 4" gray finish did. The finish used on the barrel seems to have not changed, but they produce a more pronounced smile than before, this is most likely because they tightened the tolerances on current production gen 3 Glocks like they did when they released the gen 5.

 

Thanks. This is kind of what I was getting at—how well the current finish on the recent Gen 3s are responding to wear.

 

I have a Glock 17 gen 3 with the frying pan finish and the tenifer process to the steel. The finish has been excellent so far; granted, I've only put about 250 rounds through it. But, it has been holstered quite a bit. It was manufactured in 2005. GYX prefix.

 

I have a couple Glocks from the era with that finish, extremely durable is an understatement.

 

Here's what I wonder: All Glocks made today, regardless whether they're gen 3, 4 or 5, don't they all under go the same metal treatment and finish?

And if today you send a Glock slide back for refinishing, won't they use the finish they currently use?

 

Here's what I wonder: All Glocks made today, regardless whether they're gen 3, 4 or 5, don't they all under go the same metal treatment and finish?

And if today you send a Glock slide back for refinishing, won't they use the finish they currently use?

I may be mistaken, but the Gen 5 slides and barrels get a nDLC finish as opposed to whatever the current Gen 3s and 4s get which is visibly different from the nDLC.

 

I have a G42 which has the same finish as the Gen3’s currently produced. Had it several years, it gets carried very frequently in either a pocket or OWB holster, both Kydex, there is pretty much no visible wear except a little on the metal rear night sight where it contacts the pocket holster. I haven’t fired it a huge amount, maybe 100 rds, but the barrel has no wear on it. In some ways the gray finish Glock uses is more durable than the black Gen5 finish. However the nDLC on the Gen5’s is slicker and resists holster wear better unless there is roughness inside the holster. Some of the kydex holsters have visible screw head inside that are supposedly recessed but can still contact the gun. I use some sticky backed thin felt to cover up the screws on a belt holster I have for my G45.

 

Some of you older guys will remember early Glock matches when they would let you scratch samples with a nail......

 

I have a “true” Gen 3 G26 that I bought 20 some years ago. It has the Tenifer treatment and so-called “frying pan” finish. The finish on my “true” Gen 3 G26 is holding up extremely well after all these years. I have never had any rust issue.

Actually the phosphate coating on the Tenifered metal surface on my old Gen 2 G19 (which used to serve my EDC for 20 years) is also holding up really well after all these years. I have never had any rust issue, either

I also have a “new production” Gen 3 G19 that is supposed to have the same metal treatment and surface finish that Glock is putting on the Slim Line models such as the G42 and the G43. I have not carried my “new production” Gen 3 G19 at all. So, there is no wear at all.

But my G43, which has been my EDC for the last 5 years, is showing some holster wear, though it is not bad at all. So far, there is no rust spots or other issues like some owners of Gen 5 Glocks are complaining…

Assuming that my “new production” Gen 3 G19 has the same metal treatment and surface coating as those on my G43…. For all practical purposes, I do not have any concerns about the current metal treatment or surface coating, even though I still prefer the old Tenifer treatment and the “frying pan” or even the older phosphate coating.

 

The "frying pan" finish was by far Glocks best offering but if the Gen3's are finished the same as Gen4's then it's still pretty good. I have a process to make it better, I take the slide off, coat it in hoppes #9 and run kinda hard all over the slide with a paper towel. Once done I dry it off then with mild to moderate finger pressure go over the slide with medium coarseness 3m scotch brite pad (med gray color), in a back to front of slide motion, do the same thing with hoppes then repeat with a finer coarseness piece of 3m scotch bright (white color), some blackess will come off onto the paper towel but it's great for smoothing out the finish so that it's not so harsh.

 

Not sure that I am tracking you here ...

This process (with the gray and white 3M Scotch Brite pads) is what you are doing with the current finish on the Gen 3s? And this smoothes the finish to what extent? Does the end result resemble the FPF?

 

On a new Gen 3 or 4 I would apply Eezox all over the metal then upon drying I would wipe it down with a soft rag . One thing Eezox does well is enhance the look of the metal while protecting from fingerprints , minor marks and rust .