The GLOCK G17 is a standard frame, full-size, locked-breech, recoil-operated, double-action-only, semiautomatic pistol fed by a detachable box magazine and chambered in 9×19mm Parabellum.
| G17 Gen3 | G17 Gen4 | G17 Gen5 | |
| Caliber: | 9×19mm Parabellum | 9×19mm Parabellum | 9×19mm Parabellum |
| Action: | Constant Double Action | Constant Double Action | Constant Double Action |
| Frame Type: | Standard | Standard | Standard |
| Frame Size: | Full | Full | Full |
| Overall Length: | 8.03 inches | 7.95 inches | 7.95 inches |
| Overall Height w/ Magazine: | 5.43 inches | 5.43 inches | 6.14 inches |
| Overall Width: | 1.18 inches | 1.18 inches | 1.34 inches |
| Barrel Height: | 1.26 inches | 1.26 inches | |
| Barrel Length: | 4.48 inches | 4.48 inches | 4.49 inches |
| Sight Radius: | 6.49 inches | 6.49 inches | 6.49 inches |
| Weight (unloaded): | 25.06 ounces | 25.06 ounces | 25.26 ounces |
| Weight (loaded): | ~32.12 ounces | ~32.12 ounces | ~32.14 ounces |
| Trigger Pull Weight: | ~5.5 pounds | ~5.5 pounds | ~5.5 pounds |
| Trigger Travel: | ~0.49 inch | ~0.49 inch | ~0.49 inch |
| Rifling: | Hexagonal Profile right-hand twist 1:9.84 inches | Hexagonal Profile right-hand twist 1:9.84 inches | Hexagonal Profile right-hand twist 1:9.84 inches GLOCK Marksman Barrel |
| Magazine: | Stagger Column | Stagger Column | Stagger Column |
| Magazine Capacity (standard): | 17 cartridges | 17 cartridges | 17 cartridges |
| Magazine Capacity (optional) | 10 cartridges 33 cartridges | 10 cartridges 33 cartridges | 10 cartridges 33 cartridges |
| Number of Safeties: | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Available in MOS Configuration: | No | Yes | No |
GLOCK1 introduced the pistol that would become the G17 in 1981.
In 1982, GLOCK won an Austrian Army service sidearm contract for 20,000 to 30,000 G17 pistols (known as the P80).2
They delivered the first pistols under this contract in 1983. Although I have never seen one (except in pictures), I have read/heard rumors that GLOCK submitted G17 prototypes with external safety switches for consideration as part of this contract.
In 1984, the Norwegian Army adopted the G17 as its standard issue service side arm. This was the first adoption a Glock pistol as a service weapon by a NATO member country.
GLOCK began importing G17s into the United States in 1986.
GLOCK manufactures the G17 under one or more of the following United States Patents:
- US 7,051.468 B2 (30 May 2006) G17
- US 8,156,677 B2 (17 Apr 2012) G17 Gen4 & G17 Gen5
- US 8,528,243 B1 (10 Sep 2013)
- US D,702,308 S (8 Apr 2014)
- US 9,068,789 B2 (30 Jun 2015) G17
- US 9,074,831 B2 (7 Jul 2015) G17 Gen4 & G17 Gen5
- US 9,316,455 B2 (19 Apr 2016) G17 Gen5
- US 9,933,222 B2 (3 Apr 2018)
related:
- G17C
- G17L
- G17P
- G17R
- GLOCK (Timeline)
- GLOCK, Inc.
- GLOCK, Inc. website: http://us.glock.com/ ⇒
- GLOCK website: http://www.glock.com/ ⇒
footnotes/sources:
- I use GLOCK as a general term referring to a collection of companies that manufacture and distribute GLOCK pistols throughout the world. They include but are not limited to, GLOCK Ges.m.b.H (Austria, headquarters), GLOCK, Inc. (United States), GLOCK America S. A. (South America), GLOCK Asia Pacific Limited (Asia Pacific), and GLOCK Middle East FZE (Middle East).
- There is disagreement as to the quantity of guns in the first order from the Austrian Ministry of Defense. The Timeline ⇒ on the GLOCK website states that 30,000 were delivered in the first order. Paul M. Barrett’s book, Glock: The Rise of America’s Gun, states that 20,000 guns were ordered in the first order.