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?
