[Little Bear]

I bought this used G21 just a few days ago at what I consider to be a good price. I'm not a complete stranger to Glocks, having carried a G30SF as my EDC for about seven or eight years now. But I'm not up on all the "Gen" details. And I've mentioned in my introduction that this is the first G21 I've ever had.

So, can someone tell me what I have here? What generation? This gun is pretty much in pristine condition and came with the case and unopened envelope with manual and stuff, but no fired cartridge case. And two 13-round magazines. I haven't fired it yet...that'll come today, I think. Or maybe tomorrow. But I've cleaned it good, even though it didn't really need it. When I shoot it, I'll do a range report on it. Not that it matters, but the .45acp is my first choice for caliber in a semi-auto. Back in 2015 I had a G26, but bet I didn't fire a hundred rounds through it before selling it. It just wasn't me.

I've tried various serial number searches following one link after another, but come up empty on when this pistol might have been made. Any ideas?

Also, there's something different (to my eyes) about the slide's finish. I'm not sure I've captured the real way it looks in the attached photos. I don't think I have. But it has sort of a "glittery" finish on it, and it feels sorta slick to the touch. But it does glisten a bit in the sunlight. For lack of a better word, it has sort of a texture to it, unlike the dull flat black finish on my G30. To my untrained eyes, it isn't factory. I'm not even sure if the frame is factory finished or not.

Oh, and since I've never been one to leave well enough alone, I bought a third factory magazine. And have ordered three Pearce Grip +2 magazine extensions and that little plastic thing Pearce calls a Grip Frame Insert or some such thing as that. You know, that fills up that hole in the bottom of the grip frame? Should be here this week. I like Pearce products and have the same things on my G30. If I decide to keep this pistol, Trijicons will be next, because I simply can't abide Glock's factory "sights".

Anyway, please take a look at the photos and let me know what you see and think. Thanks in advance for any information.

 

[RIP]

G21, gen 3 based on mag release and finger grooves.

 

[Little Bear]

Am I correct in thinking Gen 3 ran from 1998-2009?

Anyone have even a ballpark year for serial number AAFR617? Or AAFR617US? By the way, which one is considered to be the "official" serial number?

 

[SJ 40]

Am I correct in thinking Gen 3 ran from 1998-2009?

Anyone have even a ballpark year for serial number AAFR617? Or AAFR617US? By the way, which one is considered to be the "official" serial number?

The Gen 3 is currently still in production, the only Glocks that Commiefornia can sell to civillians.

 

[SixG17s]

Am I correct in thinking Gen 3 ran from 1998-2009?

Anyone have even a ballpark year for serial number AAFR617? Or AAFR617US? By the way, which one is considered to be the "official" serial number?

The US suffix is the correct serial number.

 

[SixG17s]

AAFR**​	G-21 GEN 3.0​	2013-06-19​	​
AAFR**​	G-21 GEN 3.0​	2013-08-28​

from My Glock Fun Site

 

[Little Bear]

AAFR**​	G-21 GEN 3.0​	2013-06-19​	​
AAFR**​	G-21 GEN 3.0​	2013-08-28​

from My Glock Fun Site

Thank you so much for that information. I had actually looked at that site yesterday, but I either didn't go deep enough into it or simply couldn't figure out how to work it.

I'm going to try to get some better photographs of the gun (or the slide) in better light. I really am interested in hearing some knowledgeable opinions on the slide's finish. The guy at the LGS and I both agree that it isn't factory, and in fact, he hadn't even noticed it until I pointed it out to him.

 

[Danzig]

Slide finish appears stock. There’s a possibility of 3 different factory black finishes on Glocks.

 

[SJ 40]

To me from the pictures the finish appears to be what is referred to as the frying pan finish.

 

[RIP]

If it’s frying pan, I’ll buy it from you. Best finish any manufacturer ever made. I had several over the years. Always thinking newer was better I traded them. I was mistaken.

 

[j102]

I don’t think it’s a frying pan finish. It looks shiny in the last picture, but it appears to have a flat/dark gray finish in the other pictures. Nothing to worry about either way.
And I don’t think US made Glocks have the frying pan finish.
But yes, it is one of the Gen 3 factory finishes.

 

[Lucian_253]

The Gen 3 is currently still in production, the only Glocks that Commiefornia can sell to civillians.

I think only the gen.3 21sf is still in production.

 

[Danzig]

I think only the gen.3 21sf is still in production.

Gen4 too. At least till the Gen5 comes out.

 

[Lucian_253]

Gen4 too. At least till the Gen5 comes out.
View attachment 270183

Thank you Danzig! I should of worded my previous post better. They only generation 3 Glock 21 in current production is the 21sf. Glock is also still making the 21 generation 4, as you posted above.

 

[Little Bear]

Slide finish appears stock. There’s a possibility of 3 different factory black finishes on Glocks.

Was Glock doing a Tenifer or Melonite type treatment in 2013 on Gen3 pistols? The finish on this G21's slide is nothing like the finish on my 30SF from 2014. I just haven't gotten the lighting right to correctly show the finish on the G21.

What types of finish or metal treatment was Glock doing in '13? Are they still doing it now? The reason I ask is because every time I'm in a gun shop, I look at the Glocks even though I have no intention to buy one. I'm not seeing the same look to the new guns as I'm seeing on this one.

I could be wrong. I often am.

 

[RIP]

Glock used to do tenifer in Austria. To be consistent they use a different nitrate finish in the US made Glocks. The new finish is not nearly as durable.

 

[Danzig]

Was Glock doing a Tenifer or Melonite type treatment in 2013 on Gen3 pistols? The finish on this G21's slide is nothing like the finish on my 30SF from 2014. I just haven't gotten the lighting right to correctly show the finish on the G21.

What types of finish or metal treatment was Glock doing in '13? Are they still doing it now? The reason I ask is because every time I'm in a gun shop, I look at the Glocks even though I have no intention to buy one. I'm not seeing the same look to the new guns as I'm seeing on this one.

I could be wrong. I often am.

I was in retail gun sales for a number of years and we would get in factory new Gen 3 pistols but it was after the Tenifer slide finish had been discontinued. So my theory is they must’ve made a bunch of finished slides that carried over to new production.
I could be wrong but that’s my thinking.

 

[j102]

As far as I heard, Tenifer and Melonite are metal treatments, which some say are equivalent or different names for the same metal treatment or process.
After the metal treatment, Glock applies a second coating/outside finish to the slide, barrel and other parts.
US Made Glocks have a Melonite treatment.
What we refer to as a frying pan finish is that second (super durable) outside finish.

 

[RIP]

Tenifer and Melonite are trade names for firearm finishing processes that involve salt bath nitriding. The heart of the matter is probably licensing rights rather than technology. I do not have any special inside information, but I believe that Glock will not let the supplier license the Tenifer name to any other firearms manufacturer; therefore, other firearms manufacturers are using a similar finish but from other chemical suppliers or under different tradenames.

Historically, firearm parts were black oxided, which is an oxidation process which is only a few millionths of an inch thick, does not offer much corrosion resistance, and doesn't alter the underlying steel. Salt bath nitriding is a case hardening process that leaves a fairly thick, corrosion resistant, hard surface.

 

[Little Bear]

Thanks to everyone who took the time to reply and help with info regarding my pistol.