While I was on an upgrade kick for my Glock 19, I came across Angled Spade and their compensated Imperium 9C slide assembly. I was able to get one in my hands and do a side-by-side comparison with my existing Glock 19 slide and see if the fuss was worth the price tag.
ANGLED SPADE IMPERIUM 9C
Haven’t heard of Angled Spade? It’s an American company with some solid know-how, creating some interesting things.
The Imperium 9C slide offers a fully compensated slide package complete with proprietary ports and a 3.25” barrel that provides less recoil and muzzle rise for faster follow-up shots. The complete slide assembly keeps the same overall length as the original Glock 19, is compatible with all generations of Glock 19s, and is compatible with standard G19 holsters.
Manufactured from 416R stainless steel for both the slide and barrel, the Imperium 9C slide has a Melonite QPQ finish to keep the components protected and durable. The slide comes optics-ready with the end user able to choose their desired optic: RMR, ACRO, or 509T. Also included on the slide are custom blacked-out Ameriglo raised sights with a serrated front and flat rear that allow for a lower 1/5 cowitness with the optics.
According to information from Angled Spade, the Imperium 9C is slightly lighter than stock slides and considerably lighter on similarly equipped slides. Additionally, the Imperium 9C is said to improve split times by nearly a quarter when compared to stock slides. Further, the proprietary barrel with the Imperium 9C does not have porting for recoil management, meaning the barrel keeps the full crown when the projectile is fired.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
Straight out of the box, the Imperium 9C looks and feels solid. The complete slide is a nice package, so little components or other upgrades don’t have to be dealt with. Slide off the old and slide on the new. The finish looks clean and even. I also really like the slanted serrations on the slide since I feel like I get better manipulations with them.
The Imperium 9C doesn’t come with a printed owner’s manual; however, there is a QR code on the side of the packaging that takes you straight to it. It’s a good thing to look at the instructions for installation, since there is an important item of note. Since the Imperium 9C is compatible with all generations of Glock 19, if the owner has a Gen 1-3 model, the dust cover spacer is at the front of the slide (it’s being held in place with the recoil spring). I didn’t notice that the first time I tried to seat the slide and couldn’t figure out why it wouldn’t go on the way on. Don’t be like me.
CURRENT vs. NEW
Currently, my Glock 19 has a Brownells RMR cut optic slide installed. The jump from that to the Imperium 9C isn’t all that big. Both slides weigh about the same, with the Imperium 9C weighing only about an ounce or so less. So, the feel of the gun is basically the same to this non-expert.
A quick glance from the side, the slide assemblies look very similar, with the slanted serrations and the small inset rectangle on the side of the Imperium 9C being the only difference. From the top, the integrated compensator is visible.
ON THE RANGE
I took my current Glock 19 with the Brownells optic cut slide to the range along with the Imperium 9C to do a head-to-head. I used the same Glock 19 frame and CCI Blazer 9mm 116-grain FMJ ammunition to keep things consistent.
First up was my current slide assembly with the Brownell’s slide and the original factory Glock components. It has been a bit since I last shot my Glock 19 (I currently carry a different pistol), so I wanted to take a magazine or so to reacquaint myself with the handling.
As I remembered, the Glock 19 has some serious flip/muzzle rise to contend with, but not unmanageable. It was comfortable to shoot, and I was able to get back on target in a reasonable amount of time. Satisfied with my mental notes from the first option, I moved on to the second option.
After swapping out the slide assembly (see note above about the dust cover unit), the spring felt heavier than the broken-in factory spring, so I was a bit concerned about how it would handle for me. Getting settled in to take mental notes for the Imperium 9C, I was immediately impressed with the noticeably less felt recoil and less flip from the muzzle.
The Glock 19 with the Imperium 9C slide assembly felt more manageable in my hand, and I was able to get back on target very quickly. I was able to comfortably able to fire several rounds and kept coming back for more. Oh, and the spring felt smooth after the first few magazines, so it was no issue after all.
CONCLUSIONS
After shooting both slide assemblies at the range, I really like and will probably keep the Imperium 9C slide installed on my Glock 19. The less felt recoil and lower muzzle rise help me feel more in control of the firearm. With no difference in weight, and with the same RMR cuts as my other slide, I don’t see why I won’t use it.
The ONLY downside I have for the Imperium 9C is that it does not have a threaded barrel. As someone who prefers to shoot suppressed, it’s a bummer but not a dealbreaker so far.
The Angled Spade Imperium 9C is available through the company’s site and has an MSRP of $680. Check it out if you’re in the market for an integrally compensated slide assembly.
