Glock Handguns: An American Mainstay

by
posted on April 21, 2022
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
Glock company logo "Glock Perfection"

Today Glock pistols serve alongside thousands of law enforcement officers nationwide, as well as being the primary self-defense gun for tens of thousands of law-abiding citizens. They’re also serving on front lines manned by militaries across the globe and win competitions, but the company didn’t start as a firearm manufacturer.

Gaston Glock, an Austrian engineer, founded Glock Ges.m.b.H in 1963. The company specialized in the production of injection molded parts at the time. Curtain rods are the most-cited product from the early days, but it also created knives, machine gun belt links and even grenade casings for Austria’s military. 

By the early 1980s, though, Gaston understood the durability of modern polymer made it an ideal solution for pistols. In 1982 the company introduced its first semi-automatic handgun with a frame constructed from the material. That 9 mm Luger-chambered G17 had a 17-round capacity and, despite having only 36 parts in all—and no manual safety—proved to be so unfailing and reliable that the Austrian Army adopted it the next year.

Then in 1984 the handgun passed the NATO durability test with flying colors. The Norwegian Army responded by adopting it as its standard-issue sidearm and enthusiasts across the globe began to take note.

Company expansion accelerated quickly afterward. In 1986 the company established an office in Smyrna, Ga., and the next year it opened a second manufacturing plant in Austria to meet growing demand.

Gen2 models were released in 1988, along with additional chamberings. Accessory rails appeared on Gen3 models a decade later. Today the company is up to Gen5 and offers a wide range of versions, including crossover models with special features, optics-ready pistols and much more.

The innovative company introduces new variants with enviable regularity, despite the fact its established versions continue to be among the top choices. B. Gil Horman included one of them in his “12 Popular Micro Nines for Concealed Carry” report for American Rifleman for this year. “Back in 1994, the Glock G26 was instrumental in establishing the subcompact size polymer-framed, semi-automatic pistol as a standard for more comfortable carry,” he explains. “With Gen 3, 4 and 5 models still in production today, it’s 6.5” long, 4.17” tall (with a flush-fit magazine) and has a slide that's 1” wide.” A pistol released nearly a decade ago ranking in the top dozen speaks volumes about the quality and performance the company packs into its entire lineup.

Latest

Hopkins & Allen Gunmaker
Hopkins & Allen Gunmaker

Hopkins & Allen: The Armsmaking Giant That Didn't Survive

Founded in 1868 in the northeast U.S., Hopkins & Allen grew from a friendly business venture into a prolific maker of affordable guns for brand names such as Merwin & Hulbert and Forehand & Wadsworth.

Burris Optics Celebrates 50 Years Of Fullfield Riflescopes

Firearms and ammunition ballistics have changed greatly over the last half-century, but one of the biggest leaps in performance hit the scene five decades ago, when Burris Optics introduced its Fullfield line of riflesopes.

I Have This Old Gun: Heckler & Koch P7

In the mid-1970s, the German federal police sought a replacement for its existing World War II-era sidearms and put out stringent guidelines for what it wanted in a handgun. The result was the Heckler & Koch P7.

New For 2025: Smith & Wesson Shield X

Smith & Wesson's new Shield X micro-compact handgun combines elements from the company's M&P Shield Plus with some cues from its smaller Bodyguard 2.0 design.

Review: Tisas PX-5.7 FO

The idea that a faster-moving, lightweight projectile can do the same work as a heavier, slower-moving slug has been around for ages, and the math clearly supports it, even if some in the general public don’t.

NRA Awards Grand Scholarships To 2024 Y.E.S. Students

The Y.E.S. program—which launched in 1996—is held each summer in Washington, D.C., and brings together high-achieving high school students from across the country for a week of immersive learning focused on the U.S. Constitution, Bill of Rights and American government.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.