Glock – Reliable among pistols

Austrian semi-automatic pistols Glock are the most commonly used service pistols in the world. Both their durability and reliability place them at the top among this type of firearms. The first Glock, model 17 (known as the P80), was not the first pistol with a polymer frame, but it was the first hugely successful polymer pistol.

History

The creator of Glock pistols, Gaston Glock, the founder of Glock GmbH from Deutsch-Wagram, had no experience in firearms production but had experience in polymer manufacturing. When in the mid-1980s, the Austrian Armed Forces announced a competition for a new military pistol to replace the outdated Steyr GB, Glock entered the competition. Gaston Glock brought in the best European experts in handguns and, with their help, created the Glock 17 prototype in just six months. In 1982, it was adopted by the Austrian military and police as the P80. Shortly afterward, the weapon was introduced into the armament of the Dutch, Norwegian, and Swedish armies. Today, Glocks serve in most military and police forces worldwide and are also very popular among civilian shooters.

Competition

Over the last 40 years, Glock has dominated the polymer pistol industry, but other manufacturers have tried to carve out a piece of the pie. This has led to the creation of many models with varying quality, construction, additional features, and prices, such as the CZ P10 or Beretta APX.

Simple and Reliable

The advantage of this weapon is its simple construction and reliability. Most models consist of only 34/35 parts, while most competing semi-automatic pistols have twice as many parts. Disassembling a Glock doesn’t require special tools, and complete disassembly and reassembly takes just a few minutes.

Glocks were designed to be reliable pistols, and they certainly achieved that goal, but this came at the cost of ergonomics, smoothness, and aesthetics. The grip frames have a large circumference, making them better suited for larger hands. People with smaller hands may find it difficult to reach the trigger and pull it correctly. The trigger mechanism itself is rough and requires either modification, a large number of shots, or simply getting used to it.

Customization

Another advantage of Glock pistols is the huge selection of spare parts and accessories. In fact, the Glock pistol is one of the most customizable firearms in the world, competing only with the Colt AR-15 rifle and the Colt 1911 pistol. It is possible to assemble a Glock with no special effort, without using a single part made by Glock. Frames, slides, barrels, triggers, springs, sights—everything has its replacement. Therefore, outside of law enforcement, it’s hard to find a completely factory-standard Glock. The reliability and ease of modification only increase its popularity. Nearly anyone can customize one of these pistols to their individual needs and preferences.

In the picture, a heavily modified Glock 19 – the so-called "Roland Special."

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