HELP: can't get slide off G19

[greenLED]

Need help from y'all Glock troubleshooting gurus...

I field-stripped my Glock to add some glow in the dark paint onto the sights. When I was putting things back together, I most likely neglected to push the recoil assembly fully into place, and now both the barrel and the recoil spring are sticking out of the slide about half an inch. The slide is about 1/4" out of battery, and I can't get figure out how to take the gun apart. Here's a pic of what the gun looks like right now:




I can pull the slide back to where I can pull the trigger (with a little resistance at first, but it does go off - but I don't want to force anything; don't want to mess with the trigger safety), but not back enough that I can engage the slide stop lever and lock the slide to the rear (still need 1/8" or so of an inch to get the slide to the lockback position).

I tried pulling the slide as far back as it went, pulling the trigger, and then lowering the slide lock lever, but that doesn't release the slide.

I'm laughing at myself for being such a clutz and messing up something so straight-forward. I'd greatly appreciate it if you had any suggestions as to how I could fix this.

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[Ram Rod]

I'd like to see the whole thing, and maybe the side with the ejection port. Your picture only gets part of it. Are all four frame lugs in the slide rails?
How about pushing the muzzle up against something solid?

[dukalmighty]

Try pulling the slide to the rear,then pull down on the slide release while letting slide go forward,

[greenLED]

A really good friend of a mine is a Glock Armorer, and he was able to help me (thanks!!).

Are all four frame lugs in the slide rails?
How about pushing the muzzle up against something solid?

Yup, the four frame lugs were properly seated in the slide rails.
I did not try pushing the muzzle up like that (we thought that might have been part of the initial problem).

Try pulling the slide to the rear,then pull down on the slide release while letting slide go forward,

None of the usual ways of getting the slide off worked. So, I zip-tied the slide as further back as I could and then took the slide innards apart by removing the base plate. Only then I was able to remove the slide.

After that, reassembly and safety checks all went without a glitch.

Thanks for all the suggestions!

[OldVet]

Dang! I was going to tell you it was trashed and that I'd scrape it out for you for free.