I’ve never been a big fan of customized handguns. Why bother? A gun is a tool, not a bauble. As for trigger and slide jobs, I worry that they’re going to compromise a firearms’ structural integrity and function. So when I sent two of my GLOCK 19 Gen4 slides to AMF Defense for slide work and Cerakoting, I was a bit skeptical.
Chris, the owner of AMF Defense, sensed my trepidation. He led me through available choices and kept me updated on his company’s progress with photos. Overcome by overchoice, I told AMF to do as they please.
Chris machined two of AMF’s most popular cuts: the 1776 Stars & Stripes and the Guillotine. After about two weeks the refurbished GLOCK slides arrived at my doorstep.
The 1776 Stars & Stripe cut features an Old Glory pattern on all three external sides of the slides, leaving the front and rear sight attachment points intact. The stars sit in the front third of the slide and the stripes run in a curved pattern through the rest of the slide. AMF bevelled all the slide’s edges. It’s finished in Battleworn-Black Burnt Bronze Cerakote.
The Guillotine cut sports round type cuts on the top part of the slide, from front sight to rear sight. It adds diagonal serrations to the sides at the front part of the slide. All slide edges are beveled. AMF Defense finished the slide in a bronze burnt Cerakote.
Some of the engraving and GLOCK logo on the slide were cut through. AMF Defense says customers can direct their machinists to cut around logos, serial numbers, etc.
No matter what you think of the designs — ‘Merica! — the slides were beautifully machined and finished. I re-installed them on my topless GLOCK 19 frames and dry tested functionality, to ensure all of the parts were moving as they should. Roger that.
More than that, the aggressive patterns on both slides made it easier to rack, grip and press check the handguns. This is especially crucial here in Texas where temperatures vary between hot and hellish. Of the two, the 1776 Stars & Stripes cut was the grippiest.
I run review guns and gear through my tactical courses, where I can simulate real world conditions. The AMF Defense modified GLOCK’s extra serrations and cuts helped with manipulations, especially when fatigue started setting in. The top separations proved especially handy for one-handed manipulations, racking off belts, shoes and my students’ foreheads. (JK)
The cuts reduced weight off the standard-issue GLOCK slides. While the resulting recoil was marginally milder than a stock GLOCK’s, it was noticeable. Theoretically, the reduced muzzle flip would help improve a shooter’s accuracy. While the cuts didn’t improve my accuracy, they didn’t damage it either.
Equally important, GLOCK guys and gals can get their groove on with an AMF slide without any reliability issues. I shot 600 rounds through both AMF Defense-modded GLOCKs with zero malfunctions.
An AMF slide is a style thing. They’re sold to customers who don’t want to carry and/or shoot a generic GLOCK-brand GLOCK. Mission accomplished. While you might not agree with the designs or the desire to stand out from the crowd, there’s no faulting the quality of AMF Defense’s work or the practical advantages of the more aggressive cuts.
PRICE:
$450 – 1776 Stars and Stripes includes battleworn Cerakote.
$300 – Guillotine top serrations slide includes single color Cerakote.
RATINGS (out of five stars):
Reliability * * * * *
Zero issues
Accuracy * * * * *
Was not affected
Aesthetics * * * * *
Beautifully done. The bronze finishes give the slides a tactical yet unique look. The cuts went through the logo and serial number; I didn’t know enough to ask AMF Defense to cut around them. You do.
Ergonomics * * * * *
The serrations/flag patterns/ guillotine cuts are handy for handgun manipulation in adverse conditions.
Overall * * * * *
Functional mod with the right combination of style and beauty — if you like that sort of thing.
Lipstick on a pig.
I own a few Glocks. They are tools, and trying to make them pretty is an exercise in futility.
In terms of function, the mass of the slide is an important part of how a pistol uses the laws of physics to cycle properly. Wise gun owners don’t reduce slide mass by machining off parts of it. The modified slides may function fine, at first. But there’s no telling how it may damage the gun in the long run.
I agree.
Paying the price of a whole ‘nother gun just to decorate one I already have just isn’t my thing. If AMF Defense makes a lot of money doing this, I have no problem with that, though. To each his own.
It’s just like cerakoting an Estwing hammer. Nicely made hammer and all that. It’ll do exactly the same job whether I personalize it with paint or not.
Full disclosure: I have absolutely no bumper stickers on any of my cars. I used to wear a hard hat for work – only put my name on it. No other decorations.
What’s even more puzzling (and stupid) is the trend of cutting debris entry ports (“windows”) in the slide. Why have a dust cover? Let’s just make the whole gun a cutaway to show how “cool” we are.
Hipster guns.
If one is the sort to get $10,000 custom paint job for their Camry, this makes sense.
Do as you will with your money, but almost another glock. For the price of some cerakote that can be done at home for $25, paying some dudes $100+ to do it is ridiculous. The mill work I understand, I just don’t see a need to add $400 in machine work to any gun.
The burnt one does look pretty badass though.
You pretty much covered it. My Glocks are unmodified from the factory condition. And will remain so.
Wonder if I could get my hammer pimped out like that? You know, so I don’t look like all the other dudes at the building site.
I would bet you could, and they’d be happy to charge you for it. I’ve seen dudes do knives, sunglasses, Yeti Mugs, swords, and all sorts of ridiculous stuff.
If one is the sort to get $10,000 custom paint job for their Camry, this probably makes sense too.
Admitting that you had this done was pretty ballsy though. I’ll mark you down as not insecure:-)
I’m thinking just how cool would a Hi Point look,,,,,, oh hell yes
Just go peruse HiPoint’s website, they offer a number of factory finishes – each one more awful than the last.
Way too many comments here are just variations on why the reader doesn’t want the treatment done or won’t spend the money… cool, suit yourself. If you like it and have the money- equally cool, knock yourself out. Aint freedom great? 🤠
If you really want to replace your slide on your Glock, there are many aftermarket slides to choose from at about 1/2 the cost of one of these(depending on model).
those stars would go great with a cabot trigger. (*yak*)
Personnel Opinion, everyone has one! Its a waste of my Money, my guns are for shooting not for admiring and over whelming people with an Art Deco look and espousing what a sage of the Arts I am! a Van Gough of guns becomes too expensive to shoot might damage the exterior!
However seeing as it’s your coin,s knock yourself out customize it all and anyway you want!
Count me as a fan. Those guns look great, and I never thought I’d say that about a Glock.
My Glocks just shoots, oops I have night sights though
I’m a huge fan of customized pistols, but I do agree with the author’s assertion of “why bother” when that pistol is a glock. No matter what you spend on it or do to it, it’s still a DAO striker-fired inaccurate plastic wanna-be. Almost all hammer-fired metal pistols start out better than a glock could or would ever be. Customizing and improving the performance and function of such a pistol will take it to a higher level beyond just personalization and that makes it worth it to people who understand the return on such an investment.
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