Glock G19: A Top-Selling Pistol in 2020

by
posted on January 21, 2021
g19.jpg

Glock wasn’t the first to invent and market a polymer-framed pistol, but there’s no denying it was the company that took the approach mainstream. The company’s first model, the G17, was quickly adopted by the Austrian military and police forces. When the news spread stateside, the firm wisely began marketing its gun in United States.

The G17 quickly gained traction with America’s law-enforcement agencies, consumer interest grew proportionately, and this year marks the 35th anniversary of Glock’s operations and sales in the United States. There’s something else to celebrate, though. In 2020 the Glock G19 was the top-selling semi-auto pistol sold by FFLs using the services of GunBroker.com.

The G19, the company’s first “compact,” arrived only two years after the groundbreaking G17. “By 1988, Glock was ready to introduce the second generation with the release of the first Compact-size model, the G19 9 mm, and the first long-slide version, the G17L,” B. Gil Horman explained in an article for American Rifleman in 2013.

Today the G19 is available in a wide number of variations and generations. In 2016 the company began offering the pistol with slides that feature its MOS system, which allows owners to easily mount red-dot or reflex sights.

When the U.S. Army requested submissions for its Modular Handgun System that would replace the venerable Beretta M92, Glock answered the call with a version of its G19. The company didn’t come out victorious in the open competition, but enthusiasts won when the Glock G19X made its commercial appearance.

The original version of the G19 is still available. Overall length for the 9 mm-chambered semi-auto is 7.36 inches and barrel length comes in at 4.02. Standard magazine capacity is 15 rounds. Loaded weight is 30.16 ounces.

There are also Gen 4 and Gen 5 models, with or without the MOS system, as well as the G19X. Glock doesn’t list MSRPs on its website and after 2020’s record sales, even finding a few on sale was a challenge. We did determine, however, G19X models are averaging around $900, when you can find them, with the few available Gen 5 versions running about the same.

Latest

KelTec PR57
KelTec PR57

KelTec’s PR57: Thinking Outside The (Detachable) Box

KelTec has brought the stripper clip back with the thoroughly unconventional PR57—a carry pistol with an uncommon chambering, an unusual action and no box magazine.

The Armed Citizen® June 9, 2025

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

More Western States Opening Large Shooting Ranges

A number of states in the western U.S. have opened or are planning to open large, versatile ranges to serve the growing need for publicly accessible shooting spaces.

Preview: Sneaky Pete Distressed Leather Perfect Holster

More than just a fresh look made using handcrafted leather, the Sneaky Pete Distressed Leather Perfect Holster has been redesigned to accommodate extra ammunition in addition to a concealed firearm.

New For 2025: Rost Martin RM1S & RM1C Comped

Two new models joined the Rost Martin handgun lineup in 2025, one with subcompact dimensions and another with a built-in compensator that promises to reduce recoil substantially.

CMP Resumes M1911 Pistol Sales

As of January 2025, the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) had resumed sales of surplus U.S. Army M1911/M1911A1 pistols to qualified U.S. citizens.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.