GLOCK, Inc.

GLOCK, Inc. is the US-based subsidiary of Glock Ges.m.b.H., located in Smyrna, Georgia. It was created in 1985, and at that time its stated primary mission is/was to import Glock pistols into the United States.

GLOCK, Inc.
6000 Highlands Parkway
Smyrna, GA 30082
USA

Phone:770-432-1202
FAX:770-433-8719
http://us.glock.com/ ⇒

Facts

      • About 65% of the law enforcement agencies in the United States use Glock pistols as their department service weapon.
      • The .45 Glock Action Pistol (G.A.P) cartridge was developed in 2003 as a response to comments that the large frame .45 Automatic Glock was too big. The .45 G.A.P. cartridge was developed from the .45 Automatic cartridge and its shorter overall length allows it to fit in a standard frame Glock pistol. Thus, the .45 G.A.P cartridge provides performance that close to the .45 Automatic cartridge in a standard frame Glock pistol.
      • The Glock G19 (standard frame, compact size, 9x19mm Parabellum) is the most carried legal concealed carry gun across the United States. 1
      • The Glock Gen4 Simunition pistols have a polymer slide that has an aluminum insert. This makes the Gen4 models quite a bit lighter than the previous versions.
      • Glock models are numbered for Gaston Glock’s patent sequences. The Glock G17 was Mr. Glock’s first pistol but it was his seventeenth patent. He designed the G18 next.
      • The Glock G18 was initially designed for airport security in Austria.
      • Glock barrels are hammer forged. The rifling and chamber are formed at the same time.
      • The Glock G18 is not a modified G17. For importation into the United States, it has a different slide, a different frame, and different parts.
      • The Glock G18’s rate of fire, in full-auto, is 1,200 rounds per minute. Thus, it will shoot 33 rounds in just under 1.4 seconds.
      • Glock barrels have hexagonal / octagonal rifling (depending on caliber). This provides better bullet to barrel fit, better gas seal, higher and more uniform projectile velocity, and increased accuracy over conventional rifling.
      • All Glock G18’s were/are imported after May 1986. Thus, there is no such thing as a transferable G18. They are all restricted from civilian ownership.
      • Glock Ges.m.b.H is still a privately owned company under the leadership of its founder Gaston Glock.

Guns

General

Most Glock pistols are locked-breech recoil-operated double-action-only semiautomatic pistols. They are fed by detachable box magazines.

The Glock Simunition pistols are blowback recoil-operated double-action-only semiautomatic pistols.

One of the great benefits of the Glock design is that there isn’t any part fitting required.

Frame Types

Glock has two frame types. They are the standard frame and the large frame. The frame size is determined by the overall length of the cartridge. The standard frame will accept a cartridge up to about one inch in overall length (.380 Automatic 2, 9×19mm Parabellum, .40 S&W, .357 SIG, and .45 G.A.P.). The large frame will accept a cartridge up to about one-and-a-quarter inches in overall length (.45 Automatic, and 10mm Automatic).

Frame Sizes

The standard frame type has three sizes – full, compact, and subcompact. The large frame type has only two sizes – full, and subcompact.

Compensated

Compensated, C Model, Glock Pistols have a ported barrel and slide that uses the gasses generated from burning propellant to reduce muzzle / barrel jump during firing. All C Model Glocks were discontinued in January 2014.

I feel that the compensation ports do not offer enough benefit to the shooter to make the additional noise and flash worthwhile. However, there is a large group of shooters who disagree with me. Thus, as with many things I chalk it up to the personal preference of the individual shooter. You will most likely have to shoot one to establish where you stand on the matter.

Short Frame

The grip area of a short frame Glock is 4mm (~1/10”) smaller than the grip area of the full-size version of the same gun. The Gen3 G21, Gen3 G30, Gen3 G20, and Gen3 G29 all come in short frame models. As one of the features of the Gen4 Glocks is a short frame, all Gen4 Glocks come in short frame.

Gen4

The Gen4 Glocks have a short frame and are shipped with two add on backstraps (small w/o backstrap, medium backstrap, and large backstrap), a reversible magazine catch, and a stainless steel dual recoil spring assembly.

Beavertail Grip

Some Gen4 Glocks also ship with medium and large beavertail backstraps (the beavertail configuration is not available in small (w/o backstrap) as there is no backstrap used and the frame is not available with a beavertail).

Parts Interchangeability

From Full Size to Compact Size about 3/4ths of the parts are interchangeable. From Compact Size to Subcompact Size about 3/4ths of the parts are interchangeable. Across all three sizes, from Full Size to Compact Size to Subcompact Size about 2/3rds of the parts are interchangeable.

This aids agency armorers by reducing the number of spare parts that they need to keep on hand even if they are supporting all three sizes.

Red Guns

The training models (practice (P) and reset (R) models; identified by their red frames) are inert, non-firing pistols. The slides have solid breech faces (no firing pin hole) and the firing pins are cut off to ensure that firing them is not possible.

Serial Numbers

Nearly all Glock pistols are made in Austria. Thus, the guns have to be imported into the US. Due to US import laws the frames, slides and barrels are shipped in serialized sets. However, the official serial number (for ATF reporting purposes) of a Glock pistol is the one on the frame.

The serial number evolution of Glock pistols imported into the US: 3

      • two letters / three numbers / suffix US
      • three letters / three numbers / suffix US
      • three letters / three numbers
      • four letters / three numbers (US made guns only)

On guns with the US suffix, the suffix appears in the serial number on the frame but does not appear in the serial number on the slide or the barrel.

By Cartridge & Size

CartridgeFull-SizeCompact-SizeSubcompact-SizeSubcompact-Size, SlimlineFull-Size,
Long Slide		Full-Size, Competition Slide
9x19mm

G17

standard
frame

G19

standard
frame

G26

standard
frame

G34

standard
frame
.40 S&W

G22

standard
frame

G23

standard
frame

G27

standard
frame

G244

standard
frame

G35

standard
frame
10mm Auto

G205

large
frame

G296

large
frame
.45 Auto

G217

large
frame

G308

large
frame

G36

large
frame

G41

large
frame
.45 G.A.P.

G37

standard
frame

G38

standard
frame

G39

standard
frame
.380 Auto

G25

standard
frame;
LE only

G28

standard
frame;
LE only

G42

standard
frame
.357 SIG

G31

standard
frame

G32

standard
frame

G33

standard
frame

Pistols not listed: G18 (LE only), G30S, Cutaway Models (LE only), Practice Models (LE only), Reset Models (LE only), Training Models (LE only).

 

related:

 

Footnotes / Sources:

GLOCK is used 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).

1 -This was said by a Glock professional in my presence. It very well may be true, but I am not sure how this statement could be made with certainty. I include it here to pass it along. I make no assertion as to the veracity of the statement.

2 – The G42 is a new design (meaning different from all the other Glocks). I am assuming that the G42 is a standard frame Glock until told otherwise by Glock.

3 -Agencies can order a custom serial number range. I have no information regarding allowable formats or lengths.

4 -The Glock G24 is discontinued. It was replaced by the Glock G35.

5 -The Glock G20 Gen3 is discontinued.

6 -The Glock G29 Gen3 is discontinued.

7 -The Glock G21 Gen3 is discontinued.

8 -The Glock G30 Gen3 is discontinued.

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