So, I decided to detail strip and clean my new, unfired, just-got-it-yesterday Glock 48, as it is my experience that new Glocks often come with a lot of oil and such in the pistol's innards, particular in the striker channel, which should be kept clean and dry to prevent crap from getting stuck in there and you ending up with a gummed-up Glock. I checked and double checked to make sure the pistol was clear and all was safe before proceeding. I even removed the magazine into another room, making sure my that work area was as safe as it could be.
Next, I field stripped the gun; easy peasy; done it a million times. All is good so far. Then I takes me handy little Glock tool and depress on the striker from inside the slide in order to be able to slowly, and carefully ease the slide cover plate off. Again; no sweat, done this a million times too. I know that just underneath the slide cover plate, is the extractor depressor plunger, with spring. Welp, I must have moved that cover plate a silly millimeter too far as suddenly, and much too my surprise... SPROING! The spring, with the little plunger that presses against the inside of the cover plate that keeps the extractor in place so that one has a functional weapon instead of a club, launches itself into the air. I take immediate action and drop to the floor, bright flashlight in hand, seeking to recover the spring and plunger and carry on. Not gonna be my day. No spring and plunger to be found. Zip. Zero. Nada. I searched every square inch of the floor, even checking on top of the dresser, my work table, and any other flat surfaces. So here I am, crawling around with my dog now in my face thinking it's play time, and silently cursing to myself as I spy the large, clear plastic bag on a nearby shelf that I usually do small work like this in. But did I bother to use it for this job? Nooooo. "Easy peasy" I thought; "Done it a million times" I thought...
Resigned, I resort to ordering the part, only to find that I have to order the entire extractor depressor plunger assembly as one cannot order just the spring and tiny piece that goes with it. $14 bucks, plus like $5.95 shipping. Oh well; it shows that it is at least in-stock and should be here in a few days. I decide to go gather all the rest of the parts and secure them in a magnetic parts tray and hide it all in the back of the safe pending receipt of the new assembly so I can put the pistol back together. As I enter the room, I flip on the light and there, right beneath my table, glaring up at me all shiny and bright, lies the spring and small plunger.
I grab the large clear plastic bag and reassemble the pistol. All is well. Except I never did wipe out the striker channel.
Next, I field stripped the gun; easy peasy; done it a million times. All is good so far. Then I takes me handy little Glock tool and depress on the striker from inside the slide in order to be able to slowly, and carefully ease the slide cover plate off. Again; no sweat, done this a million times too. I know that just underneath the slide cover plate, is the extractor depressor plunger, with spring. Welp, I must have moved that cover plate a silly millimeter too far as suddenly, and much too my surprise... SPROING! The spring, with the little plunger that presses against the inside of the cover plate that keeps the extractor in place so that one has a functional weapon instead of a club, launches itself into the air. I take immediate action and drop to the floor, bright flashlight in hand, seeking to recover the spring and plunger and carry on. Not gonna be my day. No spring and plunger to be found. Zip. Zero. Nada. I searched every square inch of the floor, even checking on top of the dresser, my work table, and any other flat surfaces. So here I am, crawling around with my dog now in my face thinking it's play time, and silently cursing to myself as I spy the large, clear plastic bag on a nearby shelf that I usually do small work like this in. But did I bother to use it for this job? Nooooo. "Easy peasy" I thought; "Done it a million times" I thought...
Resigned, I resort to ordering the part, only to find that I have to order the entire extractor depressor plunger assembly as one cannot order just the spring and tiny piece that goes with it. $14 bucks, plus like $5.95 shipping. Oh well; it shows that it is at least in-stock and should be here in a few days. I decide to go gather all the rest of the parts and secure them in a magnetic parts tray and hide it all in the back of the safe pending receipt of the new assembly so I can put the pistol back together. As I enter the room, I flip on the light and there, right beneath my table, glaring up at me all shiny and bright, lies the spring and small plunger.
I grab the large clear plastic bag and reassemble the pistol. All is well. Except I never did wipe out the striker channel.
