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Though Glock often gets credit for being the world's first polymer-frame, striker-fired pistol, the H&K VP70, which shares those attributes, actually debuted a full 13 years beforehand. A select-fire, high-capacity oddity, the H&K VP70 utilized design principles that were far ahead of its time. For more on this groundbreaking pistol, check out this "I Have this Old Gun" segment from a recent episode of American Rifleman TV.
Great powers have often used smaller conflicts as test beds for new weapon systems, and also as dumping grounds for obsolete machinery. The Spanish Civil War was one such conflict.