Glocks are a pop-culture icon. Theyre also a popular choice of handguns for law enforcement. Gaston Glock designed his first pistol for the Austrian military. The resulting Glock 17 was lightweight, reliable and interchangeable. It ushered in a new paradigm of pistol design. Eventually the sleek Austrian gun would make its way into Hollywood movies and two-thirds of all US police departments.

History

Until 1999, Glock was enjoying a comfortable life. The company had expanded, and upper-level executives like Charles Ewert reaped generous bonuses for their work. Then, in spring of that year, a Geneva employee who had been fired for embezzlement called a meeting and alleged that Ewert was siphoning off corporate funds for personal expenses.

Glock listened, and made some changes. The result was the Gen 4 pistol, which featured a new recoil spring assembly, a rough-textured frame, and interchangeable backstraps for different hand sizes.

Police departments quickly embraced the new model, which was easier to maintain than its predecessors. And Glock capitalized on the Assault Weapons Ban, letting police departments trade in their old equipment for new Glocks at a discounted rate. The company also gained more publicity in the form of screen time in Law and Order, and by getting a rubber hammer to hit Bruce Willis’s character in Die Hard 2. Glock now had a firmly established reputation.

Design

Gaston Glock set out to design a pistol that would have the highest reliability, lowest weight and be simple and safe to handle. He also wanted it to be efficient to manufacture. Glock’s internal safety features – trigger, fire pin and drop safeties – ensured that the gun could not accidentally discharge or be operated incorrectly. These safety features have helped to establish Glock as a popular handgun among law enforcement.

In the 1990s, Glock began producing compact models to serve as backup guns and concealed carry handguns. These are based on the same general Glock design but have reduced magazine capacity and a smaller grip size. They often have an accessory rail for laser sights and other accessories. The frame was also modified with finger grooves and thumb rests to improve grip ergonomics.

Function

Glock pistols are designed to be easily field stripped for cleaning and maintenance. Learn the right way to disassemble a Glock and use the appropriate tools. The Glock has a safety that prevents the trigger from firing until it has been cleared by the user. It also has a drop safety that keeps the gun from firing when dropped.

There are several accessories available for the Glock to boost its performance and aesthetics. For example, polymer empty chamber flags are manufactured in bright orange to instantly show that the weapon is unloaded and safe to handle.

Magazine base plates are also available with textured finger grooves that promote comfort and control during shooting. They are often designed with flared bottoms to facilitate reloading and make magazine changes easier.

Performance

Glock has long enjoyed a reputation for reliability, accuracy, and durability. The pistols are a staple of law enforcement and armed security, used around the world. The Glock trigger is smooth, crisp, and light for a modern service pistol. There are modern match-type triggers that may beat it, but the Glock design works well for duty and self-defense use.

Its design allows a wide grip that distributes recoil in a comfortable, controllable manner. That helps shooters manage longer strings of fire and deliver the rounds precisely on target.

Glock also offers a variety of polymer holsters and magazines. The company produces replacement slide releases and maritime spring cups that allow a gun to be fired after being submerged in liquids. Its trigger tuning products, such as the Glock Performance Trigger, are popular among marksmen.

Accessories

One of the best accessories for Glock is a night sight, which improves accuracy and speed without bulking up your slide. Unlike lasers and red dot optics, these sights don’t require you to take your hands off the gun to operate, which can make all the difference in a home defense or concealed carry scenario.

Another essential accessory is a mag release extender, which makes it easier to manipulate the magazine during reloading. This can save precious seconds in a time-sensitive situation.

Conclusion

There are also several different types of holsters for Glock that meet various needs and preferences. Safariland offers a variety of options, including models that support weapons-mounted lights and accommodate extended barrels. However, when modifying a duty weapon, law enforcement professionals should be sure to consult their department armorer and adhere to agency policies.