The industry of firearms underwent a huge revolution in 1982 when the pistol Glock 17 was introduced to the world, an industry icon that would soon become one of the world’s indispensable pillars in military and law enforcement firearms. That the Glock 17 managed to top a list of very illustrious contemporaries such as the Steyr GB, Heckler & Koch P7 M13, and SIG-Sauer P220 is a tribute to the genius of its Austrian mastermind, Gaston Glock. This was the beginning of the legend that would take Glock pistols to become some of the most popular, most reliable handguns in the world.
The Genesis of Glock
Gaston Glock had made curtain rods previously but turned to the manufacture of firearms when he heard that the Austrian military was looking for a new service pistol to replace the Walther P-38. He surrounded himself with experts in this area, and using his experience with some very advanced polymers, he achieved what every other gun manufacturer had to this day been unable to do: develop a lightweight yet virtually indestructible pistol frame. The Glock 17, named for the company’s 17th patent, introduced a few innovations of its own, such as the ferritic nitrocarburizing process, known as Tenifer, which allowed it a high resistance to corrosion and durability.
Evolution Over Generations
The history of Glock pistols is that they have come a long way and have had substantial evolutions. There are roughly five generations of Glock pistols, each of them having new improvements to answer modern-day needs and user demands.
Gen1 (1982): The original models of the Glock pistols were equipped with a smooth, pebble-textured grip. They featured no accessory rail, the Glock safe-action trigger, as well as a polygonally-rifled barrel. The first models created were the Glock 17 and the full auto version named the Glock 18.
Gen2 (1988): This added a steel plate in front of the trigger for serial number compliance, a further strengthened magazine spring, and a fully enclosed/coiled recoil spring. The texture of the frame was also changed to checkering, and new models like Glock 19 and 22 were added.
Gen3 (1998): included the finger grooves for the grip, the Universal Glock Rail to add attachments, modified the extractor to double as a loaded-chamber indicator, and new models like Glock 34 and 36.
Gen4 (2010): Arrived with a Glock Modular Backstrap System that allowed users to modify the size of the grip. The magazine release lever was also enlarged and made reversible. The design was updated with a dual recoil spring for more durability.
Gen5 (2017): In the sixth design change, a Marksman barrel is used to enhance accuracy. It now features an ambidextrous slide release and flared magazine well. The finger grooves have been removed, and the frame and slide have been slightly enlarged to increase strength.
Glock 17 vs Glock 19
Two of the most popular models in the Glock lineup are the Glock 17 and the Glock 19, with these two models serving two different roles. However, their similarities are great. Both are in the 9mm, and both feature the same width, but the Glock 17 is a bit longer and taller. It’s got a capacity of 17 rounds against the Glock 19, which has 15 rounds.
The Glock 17 is the favorite solution for both police and military units because of its full-size frame, making it adequate for use at work and at home. The Glock 17 is also quite popular for the competition because of its longer barrel and sight radius.
On the other hand, the Glock 19 takes pride in its versatility. It’s of a size small enough to consider concealed carry yet large enough to give a full-sized grip and capacity. That makes the Glock 19 so balanced between size and firepower that most police and military units issue it.
Introduced into service with the Austrian Army in 1982, the Glock 17 has found its way into service use in most parts of the world. Countries like Norway, Sweden, Britain, and France have introduced Glock pistols into their military and police units. In 1992, 250,000 Glocks were sold in the United States alone. It became the benchmark for a reliable, high-performance handgun.
The ingenious design, reliability, and adaptability of Glock pistols raised the bar for modern firearms. Whether military, law enforcement, or civilian service, one would expect Glock to be at the forefront of any handgun sphere. From the original Glock 17 to the newest Gen5 models, the brand has come a long way but remained very true to its roots, able to meet the ever-changing needs of the end-user.