Glock chop back to normal size

[HighValleyRanch]

Anyone who has been following many of my posts here know I like to show unusual mods to some of my firearms, or build alongs on leatherwork, etc.

Way back in 2005 I decided to chop my glock 19 down to a glock 26 grip size.
Now it has become a fairly common alternative, but back then, not many were doing it yet. Of course the advantage is that it makes it easier to conceal and has the advantage of the longer sight radius and slightly longer barrel velocity.
The other main advantage is having the choice of the shorter grip with the 26 magazines (also 27 to 23 chop) and then being able to use the original 19 or 17 magazines as well for higher capacity and longer grip length for full three finger hold. Also the possibility of the pearce extensions on the 26 mags for three finger hold with the shorter back gave the advantage of more conceivability with the full finger hold. I'm not going to go into all these, because with some googling, you can find examples of all these. But here is the original chop with simple flat base.
This glock is from 1989 and a generation 2, so I left the checkered panels on the frontstrap and backstop intact to keep it original as much as possible. And of course, when one chops down the longer version, you lose that awful hump that most people dislike on the glock backstop.

[HighValleyRanch]

11 years later and having owned a glock 26 and various other compacts, I started to yearn for my original glock 19. This has been my faithful servant since 1989 and there is something about having something so worn in and years of service.
So there was this part of me that wanted it back to original.

Of course I used the A & G sleeve on the 19 magazine and modified the sleeve so that it fit the gun perfectly, but it still didn't have the real feeling of the glock 19, only the size.

So the other day, after getting close to purchasing a glock 23, I though, why not somehow mount the sleeve to the frame instead of on the magazine. Because as you might know, you would have to have sleeves on multiple magazines to achieve the same grip extension, but having the sleeve mounted somehow to the frame you could use regular magazines.

I searched the internet and didn't find anyone who had post a mod like this, so here is mine.

[HighValleyRanch]

I used the A & G sleeve that I had on my glock 19 magazine. I had to enlarge the inside to match the magazine well by using files and a Dremel. Using various magazines, both drop free and not, I achieve the perfect fit.

Then I ground a wooden plug that fit into the half round cavity of the original glock backstop area. I then used a Dremel to duplicate the cavity on the sleeve and the plug creates a secure bond between the frame and the sleeve. The half rounded shape, and the L cutout of the frame bottom makes the sleeve very stable and secure from twist and rotation.

I also added a pin on the front to prevent any twisting. The sleeve to frame is secure by good fit. Magazines go in and outsmoothly and now I can use regular mags without sleeves.

For now the sleeve is removable, but I am decided whether to keep it convertible or remodel it back to original with deacon black epoxy into a one piece grip. (Now that I have other compacts to carry if needed)
For the time being, a simple wrap three times of electrical tape and the sleeve is solid as a rock on the gun.

I am going to get some talon grip wraps and see how I like it with that, or whether to go back totally to the longer one piece grip length.

I've seen many posts now on chops, but haven't seen too many on going back the other way, extensions.

[HighValleyRanch]

Which leaves me to wondering if anyone has ever thought of a permanent grip extension on a glock 26 with a glock 19 grip length.

Sort of like a 3" barrel on a full size 1911 grip frame proportion.
Also like the Beretta Storm compact with the full finger grip, but super short barrel.

Why, many people would ask, because IWB at strong side carry, it's the grip length that prints, not the barrel length.
And that is why I did the original chop.

But now I find that AIWB works better on my lean frame and that I can carry guns with longer grip lengths, but the shorter barrels allow me to carry at 2 o'clock instead of 12 o'clock. So thus the idea of a 19 grip length on the glock 26. We shall see........
to be continued.

[jaytothekizzay]

Personally i dont see why anyone would chop their guns up...seems kinda Bubba to me

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

[HighValleyRanch]

Have you been in a closet for the past decade?
There are major companies doing grip mods and chops for years!

[Deaf Smith]

Post #1 has the most professional looking chop job (needs a finger rest base plate though.)

I could see such a gun. The rest, no so much.

Deaf

[HighValleyRanch]

I just ordered some talon grip wraps.
I'm sure that with these, no one will be able to tell that it's not a normal glock 19.

[TunnelRat]

Have you been in a closet for the past decade?
There are major companies doing grip mods and chops for years!

There are many companies out there doing many things and many people have used those companies. That doesn't mean it appeals to everyone.

[turtlehead]

I don't think I could handle all the perfection.

[45_auto]

I would have sent it back to Glock and got a real frame for $100.

That seems to be a pretty common occurrence around here due to butchered stippling jobs.

https://us.glock.com/documents/GLOCK%20Warranty.pdf

Note the last paragraph on page 2:

Chargeable Items

Frame upgrade Small Frame $100+ tax Large Frame $100 + Tax

[Doc Holliday 1950]

HVR,

Guess I'm lucky & didn't have to do jack to my new Glock 19 gen 4.
Fits my hand as if I had this custom made just for me.

Glad to hear that you're able to do those modifications yourself.

Have a Merry Christmas & Happy New Years!

[Model12Win]

I think a G19 chopped to a G26 grip frame with the 10 rnd G26 mags would be cool. You get the longer sight radius of the G19 with greater stopping power due to more velocity, but a more compact and carryable tactical frame.

[HighValleyRanch]

So with some internet searches, I could not find any cases of where someone remodeled their cut polymer back to original size.

The reason I take the time to post is that someone searching to do this can gain information from my experience. I did find one case where a guy messed up his chop and sent it to someone professional and they used epoxy to rebuild the bottom and finish it out nicely. But no cases where someone used an extension sleeve to lengthen the grip back to a larger size.

I'm ignoring thread bashes that ask why someone would want to do this. It's evident that many, many people alter their polymers and chopping is pretty common, even if some people hate the thought.

It was a good point, though that 45_auto brought up, why not just buy a new frame from Glock.
1. This gun is on my CCW license and the serial would change with a new frame exchange, so I would have to requalify with the new frame, and they don't hold qualifications until next spring.
2. This gun has been with me since 1989, and I am partial to keeping the gen 2 frame as it is an old friend, and don't like the gen 3 frames and would end up smoothing all the finger grooves and thinning down the backstop anyways
3. For my pure learning, I want to see if this can be done, and share the process. There will be someone in the same shoes who will one day want to do this.
4. 100.00 for a new frame with tax, plus shipping, plus it would have to go through my dealer and be re-registered with a new DROS fee, ending up costing 200.00 for the total effort. Plus the cost of re qualifying and a new license. Cost of my work and mod, zero dollars plus having my original gen 2 frame.

So last night I decided to make it a permanent mod. I'm not calling it a repair, because that would imply that it's correcting a MISTAKE. It's just a decision to go back to the original 19 frame after being a 26 grip mod for 11 years.
I used black Devon plastic epoxy and filled the gap between the sleeve and the frame. This morning I'm sanding it all smooth and then dremeling the stippling to match. I believe that I'm going to leave the gun 2 checkered area and stipple the side panels and modified section only.

I will post pics when I get to this stage.

[TunnelRat]

I'm ignoring thread bashes that ask why someone would want to do this. It's evident that many, many people alter their polymers and chopping is pretty common, even if some people hate the thought.

Right, but you understand this is the internet and you're going to get people that respond that like it, and people that don't like it, correct? Don't take it so personally. In the end what matters is if you like it.

Post pics when you're finished as it would be interesting to see how well it blends. I'm curious if it would have the same structural strength of an original frame.

[HighValleyRanch]

Only got to work on it a little this morning after the black epoxy set up overnight.

Sanded it down to the side panels, and did some dremeling to match the OEM stippling on the side panels. I need a smaller round bit to match, but this one is kinda close. Needs a little more fill, sand and finer Dremel, but it's coming along pretty good.

Will need some semi gloss black to match the frame.
The yellowish portion of the back is where I used devcon plastic mender to fill the A & G sleeve to match the frame and will need to be painted.

TunnelRat, no it's not as strong as original, but strong enough for the area it's at.
Like a magazine well. With the plug insert and pin in the front, it's not going anywhere.

Feels pretty good in the hand, and I was able to retain most of the 2nd gen checkering.

Will have to work on it some more tomorrow after I apply some more plastic fill tonight to smooth it a bit more.

[t45]

HVR I say keep up the good work. I'm a tinkerer by nature and some things work some things don't. Getting a new frame for your 19 is the easy way but not as fun. If it doesn't turn out the way you wanted, your not out anything.

[TunnelRat]

For what you had to do it looks a hell of a lot better than I would have been able to achieve. Keep us posted.

[2damnold4this]

Nice job HVR.

[2damnold4this]

I've heard of some people living in states with magazine restrictions chopping their g19s and g17s to use the 10 round g26s magazines as they are supposed to be more reliable than 10 round magazines for the g19 and g17.

[HighValleyRanch]

Here's the final results....for now.LOL

Happy with how good it came out. Not perfect, but good enough for me.
Feels great having my old friend back.
Glock 19 now.


I though I was going to have to paint it to merge the mod, but found amazingly that black shoe dye worked perfect in coloring the plastic fill.

I like it so much, I am going to find a glock 27 and do the same grip mod, so that I can have a short barrel glock 23! I like the longer grip length for handling, and the shorter barrel for carry AIWB and OWB @ 2 o'clock.

[HighValleyRanch]

Here is the front strap with the stippling merged into the original checkered portion

[mavracer]

Nice workmanship

[haiauphixu]

The picture shown that the slide and the front part of the frame are chopped off. Then the finish photo show the slide and frame in full length? What did I missed ? the magic of MM now you see now you don't?
Regards,
Haiauphixu

[HighValleyRanch]

I got the question.
The picture in post 4 is showing what I would like to do for my next project.
Yes it was photoshopped to see what it would look like.

I haven't found any examples of what I want to do, which is a compact glock 19 grip on the glock 26 short barrel frame. All the mods being done are the opposite.

Why, because I like the idea of the Colt Defender plus concept of the full size grip frame with the shorter barrel. That's what the pic in post 4 attempt to portray.