How Long Can a Glock Really Last? Legacy Preservation Tips

G4Y4HK said:
They're still worth alot! Cracked square notch FML mags in MA were still going for $250+ each, although a mint one would have fetched > $450. @Reptile
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Lol, thank you! I was able to just look over at my wife and claim that even my broken gun stuff is worth money. She's not buying that my gun collection is my way of investing for our future.
 
Ecocharles said:
Lol, thank you! I was able to just look over at my wife and claim that even my broken gun stuff is worth money. She's not buying that my gun collection is my way of investing for our future.
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I've been collecting for years and I see mid single digit gains yoy on fair market value. That's average overall for my collection. A lot of my stuff devalued by moving to a free state. Any firearm featured in a movie will perform really well.

Did anyone else see that gen 2 Glock 17 on the classifieds for $3000?
 
There was an extremely useful post to the gunternet several years ago, from Battlefield Vegas [it was certainly Vegas, only 95% about it being Battlefield] about which guns last how long, and what parts fail. Glocks do experience parts failures when shooting full auto -- but they're predictable, the parts are cheap, readily available, and easy to swap out. [extractor, ejector, and similar] They did gauge barrel erosion, but as I recall it's utterly absurd, and it isn't as if mere mortals purchase ammo by the pallet.

Shoot the damn thing, keep some consumable parts on hand, live your life.
 
Xcuba said:
Been thinking about this lately as I plan to keep my Glock long-term, possibly even pass it down one day. We always talk about round counts and spring replacements, but I started wondering:

If someone lived forever, how long could a Glock actually last, and how would it compare to the oldest surviving firearms?

Turns out, with proper care, storage, and maintenance, a Glock could easily go 200+ years, maybe more, especially with spare parts and smart storage. I put together this little guide just for fun, kind of a thought experiment about what it would take to preserve a Glock like a legacy piece:

How to Make Your Glock Last for Centuries

1. Store it like a museum piece:
Climate-controlled safe, silica gel packs, no UV light, uncocked and unloaded.

2. Maintain it religiously (even if unused):
Use polymer-safe lube, wipe metal with rust preventive oil, clean occasionally just to keep it fresh.

3. Limit use (collector mindset):
Track round counts, clean after each firing, and log wear over time.

4. Keep spare parts:
Recoil spring, extractor, pins, trigger parts, and a spare barrel—airtight and stored with it.

5. Build a legacy folder:
Serial, round count, mod list, photos, and a note for future generations.

6. Treat it with purpose:
It’s not just a tool, it can be a family piece, a time capsule, a relic with a story.
Of course, there are definitely other firearms that could match or surpass the Glock in long-term durability:
  • Steel-framed revolvers like a Ruger GP100 or S&W Model 10
  • Old bolt-action milsurps (think Mosins, Mausers, Enfields)
  • Even some lever guns or mil-spec 1911s that were overbuilt to begin with
But it got me thinking, how far could a modern Glock go if you treated it like a piece of history instead of just a tool?

Fun side fact: the oldest known firearm is the Heilongjiang hand cannon, a bronze Chinese weapon dating back to 1288 AD. It’s 737 years old and still intact. Granted, it’s bronze and was used a few times then shelved, but it shows how long something can last when it’s preserved right.

Would love to hear what other NES members think about this kind of long-term mindset. Anyone else thinking in terms of generational firearms or preservation?
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Civil War muskets laugh at your post.

The metal finishes today are really good, you are not shooting black powder, it doesn't have a wooden stock that can trap moisture and you are not fighting a war.

If you use the gun like a normal person, it will last 200 years, maybe more.

Yes, some springs will eventually break, that is wear and tear.
 
Holy crap. Looking at op now. Did Reptile change is name?

What in the hell. A glock is a commodity piece that can be fully rebuilt everything but the slide and frame in 1/2 hour with 100 dollars or less worth of parts. Till the frame is junk….then you can replace it with a new one or off brand one. Rinse and repeat.
 
Mark from ? said:
Holy crap. Looking at op now. Did Reptile change is name?

What in the hell. A glock is a commodity piece that can be fully rebuilt everything but the slide and frame in 1/2 hour with 100 dollars or less worth of parts. Till the frame is junk….then you can replace it with a new one or off brand one. Rinse and repeat.
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I'm thinking the same thing - this must be an alt account for @Reptile.

I'm anticipating we'll soon see another first post by someone pondering whether Noveske lowers are the new Bitcoin and should you get in now before the value skyrockets!
 
You want to hand your kid a 20 year old
Honda civic? No, you just buy a new one every 10 years cause they’re cost effective, and easily serviced.

Use it till it wears out and buy a new one. Rinse, repeat.
 
MAGA99 said:
You want to hand your kid a 20 year old
Honda civic? No, you just buy a new one every 10 years cause they’re cost effective, and easily serviced.

Use it till it wears out and buy a new one. Rinse, repeat.
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Cars wear out and rust away. Have you honestly ever seen a Glock that has worn out (other than replacing a few cheap parts like springs)?
 
Xcuba said:
Been thinking about this lately as I plan to keep my Glock long-term, possibly even pass it down one day. We always talk about round counts and spring replacements, but I started wondering:

If someone lived forever, how long could a Glock actually last, and how would it compare to the oldest surviving firearms?

Turns out, with proper care, storage, and maintenance, a Glock could easily go 200+ years, maybe more, especially with spare parts and smart storage. I put together this little guide just for fun, kind of a thought experiment about what it would take to preserve a Glock like a legacy piece:

How to Make Your Glock Last for Centuries

1. Store it like a museum piece:
Climate-controlled safe, silica gel packs, no UV light, uncocked and unloaded.

2. Maintain it religiously (even if unused):
Use polymer-safe lube, wipe metal with rust preventive oil, clean occasionally just to keep it fresh.

3. Limit use (collector mindset):
Track round counts, clean after each firing, and log wear over time.

4. Keep spare parts:
Recoil spring, extractor, pins, trigger parts, and a spare barrel—airtight and stored with it.

5. Build a legacy folder:
Serial, round count, mod list, photos, and a note for future generations.

6. Treat it with purpose:
It’s not just a tool, it can be a family piece, a time capsule, a relic with a story.
Of course, there are definitely other firearms that could match or surpass the Glock in long-term durability:
  • Steel-framed revolvers like a Ruger GP100 or S&W Model 10
  • Old bolt-action milsurps (think Mosins, Mausers, Enfields)
  • Even some lever guns or mil-spec 1911s that were overbuilt to begin with
But it got me thinking, how far could a modern Glock go if you treated it like a piece of history instead of just a tool?

Fun side fact: the oldest known firearm is the Heilongjiang hand cannon, a bronze Chinese weapon dating back to 1288 AD. It’s 737 years old and still intact. Granted, it’s bronze and was used a few times then shelved, but it shows how long something can last when it’s preserved right.

Would love to hear what other NES members think about this kind of long-term mindset. Anyone else thinking in terms of generational firearms or preservation?
Click to expand...
It's a $500 gun, not a Colt Python. Shoot it until it wears out or you get tired of it

What next, an heirloom Kel-Tec?
 
free said:
Of course you would and I hope you get good answers. But, you cannot say “other members” because you are not a member yourself.
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Ah, gotcha, I signed up with a free account, so I didn’t realize the distinction. I just meant other folks in the community here. Still interested in hearing everyone’s thoughts either way!
 
The biggest possible risk a Glock owner faces is that the polymer becomes brittle with age.

It may be impossible with the polymer used. But I'm speaking conceptually. Generally speaking many polymers get brittler and weaker as they age.

If that's the case with Glock, the best way to store it may be in a freezer. Since the chemical reactions that embrittle polymers slow down at lower temps.

I'm kind of serious. I don't think there will be a problem with any of my Glocks in my lifetime. But if I wanted to store a Glock so that it was usable for the most time possible, I'd vac pack it in Mylar with an oxygen absorber and put the thole thing into a deep freeze.
 
dcmdon said:
The biggest possible risk a Glock owner faces is that the polymer becomes brittle with age.

It may be impossible with the polymer used. But I'm speaking conceptually. Generally speaking many polymers get brittler and weaker as they age.

If that's the case with Glock, the best way to store it may be in a freezer. Since the chemical reactions that embrittle polymers slow down at lower temps.

I'm kind of serious. I don't think there will be a problem with any of my Glocks in my lifetime. But if I wanted to store a Glock so that it was usable for the most time possible, I'd vac pack it in Mylar with an oxygen absorber and put the thole thing into a deep freeze.
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Next level prepping. :)
 
Picton said:
...welcome to NES, OP.[rofl]

I'm chuckling at the idea that some facility like the firearms museum in Cody will one day have a "well-preserved" Gen 2 Glock behind climate-controlled glass, with archaeologists marveling at the "craftsmanship" of those ancient "artisans" that cranked out slides by the thousand in Wagram, without even caring what they were manufacturing.
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Its on par with the stolen amber room and the mona lisa
 
Xcuba said:
I mean, pirates kept muskets stashed away for decades, I’m just trying to see if my Glock’s got what it takes to be a future family heirloom… or at least outlive my coffee maker
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Again, when have you even heard about a Glock wearing out? Chuck Taylor put 300,000 rounds through his Glock. You aren’t going to wear out your Glock. Why are you worrying about this? You won’t believe how much abuse this Glock 17 has taken (2017)
 
If your grand kids survive long enough to where they can not get a replacement Glock or modern year 2,100 substitute - they'll have more important things to worry about.

Glocks have lasted 30 years but now have brittle frames.

That is the weak link.

I bet a modern Glock will last at least 50 years before it cracks up.

Will you be storing ammo, too?

If you get new ammo in 50 years - you'll be likely to find a modern gun of the future as well.

The plastic frame is the weak point.

Buy a metal frame Glock lower and you'll be good for 200 years.
 


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