Glock pistol

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Glock pistol
The Glock 17, early model (first generation).
Type	Semi-automatic pistol
Place of origin	Austria
Service history
In service	1980–present
Used by	See Users
Production history
Designer	Gaston Glock
Designed	1980
Manufacturer	Glock GmbH
Produced	1980–present
Variants	See Variants
Specifications
Cartridge	9x19mm Parabellum 10mm Auto .45 ACP .40 S&W .380 ACP .357 SIG .45 GAP
Action	Short recoil, locked breech, tilting barrel (straight blowback for .380 ACP variants)
Feed system	Box magazine, see Variants for capacities
Sights	Fixed, adjustable, and self-luminous night sights

Glock is the name of a family of pistols designed and produced by the Austrian company Glock GmbH of Deutsch-Wagram, founded in 1963 by engineer Gaston Glock to manufacture high-strength synthetic and steel components.

Contents 1 History 2 Design details 3 Variants 4 Users 5 References 6 Bibliography 7 External links 7.1 Video links

[edit] History

In May 1980, the company was invited to bid on a contract to supply the Austrian military with a new duty pistol to replace the World War II-era Walther P38 service handgun. Samples were submitted for assessment trials and, after passing all of the exhaustive endurance and abuse tests, Glock emerged as the winner with the 9mm Glock 17 model.^[1][2][3][4] The handgun was adopted into service with the Austrian military and police forces in 1982 as the P80 (Pistole 80).^[5] Shortly thereafter, the pistol was accepted into service with the Dutch, Norwegian, and Swedish Armed Forces. The Glock 17 gave rise to a range of modified versions with alternative caliber chamberings, external dimensions, and weights, while retaining the basic design elements of the model 17. By 1992, some 350,000 pistols had been sold in more than 45 countries, including 250,000 in the United States.^[5]

[edit] Design details

The Glock 17 (so named because it was the 17th patent of the company) is a 9mm short recoil-operated locked breech semi-automatic pistol that uses a modified Browning cam-lock system adapted from the Hi-Power pistol.^[6] The firearm’s locking mechanism utilizes a linkless, vertically tilting barrel with a rectangular breech that locks into the ejection port cut-out in the slide. During the recoil stroke, the barrel moves rearward initially locked together with the slide approximately 3 mm (0.12 in) until the bullet leaves the barrel and chamber pressure drops to a safe level. A ramped lug extension at the base of the barrel then interacts with a tapered locking block integrated into the frame, forcing the barrel downward and unlocking it from the slide. This camming action terminates the barrel's movement while the slide continues back under recoil, extracting and ejecting the spent cartridge casing. The slide's uninterrupted rearward movement and counter-recoil cycle are characteristic of the Browning system.^[7]

The slide features a spring-loaded claw extractor and the stamped sheet metal ejector is pinned to the subframe.^[5] The striker firing mechanism has a spring-loaded firing pin that is cocked in two stages, powered by the firing pin spring. When the pistol is charged, the firing pin is in the half-cock position. As the trigger is pulled, the striker is fully cocked. At the end of its travel, the trigger bar is tilted downward by the disconnector, releasing the striker to fire the cartridge. The disconnector also resets the trigger bar so that the striker will be captured in half-cock at the end of the firing cycle. This is known as a pre-set trigger mechanism, referred to as the "Safe Action" trigger by the manufacturer. The disconnector also ensures the pistol can only fire in semi-automatic mode.

The Glock features a triple safety system that secures the firearm against accidental discharge and consists of three independent safety mechanisms: an external trigger safety^[8] and two automatic internal safeties – a firing pin safety^[9] and a drop safety.^[10] The external safety is a small inner lever contained in the trigger. Pressing the lever activates the trigger bar and sheet metal connector. One of the internal safeties is a solid hardened steel pin that, in the secured state, blocks the firing pin channel (disabling the firing pin in its longitudinal axis). The firing pin safety is only pushed upward to release the firing pin for firing when the trigger is actuated and the safety is pushed up through the backward movement of the trigger bar, the second, drop safety guides the trigger bar in a precision safety ramp that is only released when a shot is triggered by pulling the trigger right back. The safeties are systematically disengaged one after another when the trigger is squeezed and then automatically re-activated when the trigger is released. Passive safeties allow the pistol to be carried with a cartridge in the chamber thus reducing the time required to deploy the pistol. This allows the user to concentrate on tactical considerations, rather than manipulation of levers, hammers or external safeties found in other, conventional handguns.^[5]

The Glock 17 feeds from a double-column box magazine with a 17-round capacity or an extended 19-round magazine. Magazines feature a steel body overmolded with plastic. A steel spring drives a plastic follower. After the last cartridge has been fired, the slide remains open on the slide stop. The slide stop release lever is located on the left side of the frame directly beneath the slide and can be manipulated by the thumb of the shooting hand.

The Glock 17 has a fixed polymer combat-type sighting arrangement that consists of a ramped front sight and a notched rear sight with white contrast elements painted on for increased acquisition speed—a white dot on the front post and a rectangular border on the rear notch. The rear sight can be adjusted for windage as it has a degree of lateral movement in the dovetail it is mounted in. Three different factory rear sights are available apart from the standard 6.5 mm (0.26 in) height sight: a lower impact 6.1 mm (0.24 in) sight and two higher impact versions—6.9 mm (0.27 in) and 7.3 mm (0.29 in).^[11] Adjustable and illuminated night sights are also offered.

The hammer-forged barrel has a polygonal profile^[12] with a six-segment right-hand twist. Each depressed segment within the interior of the barrel is the equivelant of a groove in a conventional barrel. Thus the interior of the barrel consists of six smooth arcs of steel rather than six sharply defined slots. The stabilization of the round is not by conventional rifling, utilizing lands and grooves, but rather through a polygonal profile consisting of a series of six small arcs connected by flat surfaces. The method by which Glock barrels are rifled is somewhat unusual; instead of using a traditional broaching machine to cut the rifling into the bore, the Glock process involves beating a slowly rotating mandrel through the bore to obtain the hexagonal shape.^[13] As a result, the barrel's thickness in the area of each groove is not compromised as with conventional square-cut barrels. This also has the advantage of providing a better gas seal around the projectile as the bore has a slightly smaller diameter, which translates into more efficient use of the combustion gases trapped behind the bullet,^[13] greater consistency in velocities, increased accuracy and ease of maintenance.

The Glock's frame, magazine body and several other components are made from a high-strength nylon-based polymer invented by Gaston Glock and called Polymer 2.^[14] This plastic was specially formulated to provide increased durability and is more resilient than carbon steel and most steel alloys. Polymer 2 is resistant to shock, caustic liquids and temperature extremes where traditional steel/alloy frames would warp and become brittle.^[14] The injection molded frame contains 4 hardened steel guide rails for the slide: two at the rear of the frame, and the remaining pair above and in front of the trigger guard. The trigger guard itself is squared off at the front and checkered. The grip has a non-slip, stippled surface on the sides and both the front and rear straps. The frame houses the locking block, which is an investment casting that engages a 45° camming surface on the barrel's lower camming lug. It is retained in the frame by a steel axis pin that also holds the trigger and slide catch. The trigger housing is held to the frame by means of a plastic pin. A spring-loaded sheet metal pressing serves as the slide catch, which is secured from unintentional manipulation by a raised guard molded into the frame.

The rectangular slide is milled from a single block of ordnance-grade steel using CNC machinery.^[15] The barrel and slide are finished with a proprietary nitriding process called Tenifer. The slide and barrel undergo three hardening processes prior to the final coating, applied in a 500°C nitrate bath.^[14] The Tenifer finish is between 0.4 mm (0.016 in) and 0.5 mm (0.020 in) in thickness is characterized by extreme wear and corrosion resistance; it penetrates the metal and coated parts have similar properties even below the surface to a certain depth.^[16] The Tenifer process produces a matte, non-glare surface with a 64 Rockwell C hardness rating (by comparison, an industrial diamond has a rating of 70 HRC) and a 99% resistance to salt water corrosion (which meets or exceeds stainless steel specifications),^[15] making the Glock particularly suitable for individuals carrying the pistol concealed as the highly salt-resistant finish allows the pistol to better endure the effects of perspiration.^[16] Glock pistols with their Tenifer finish are also more corrosion-resistant than analogous guns on the market with any other type of finish, including Teflon, bluing, hard chrome plating, phosphates and other alloys.^[16]

A current production Glock 17 consists of 34 parts. For maintenance, the pistol disassembles into five main groups: the barrel, slide, frame, magazine and recoil spring assembly.

The firearm is designed for the NATO-standard 9x19mm Parabellum pistol cartridge (bullet weight – 7.5 g, muzzle velocity – 350 m/s), but can also use high-power (increased pressure) +P and +P+ ammunition with either full metal jacket or jacketed hollow point projectiles.

The Glock was modernized several times throughout its production history. In 1991 a modified version of the recoil spring and recoil spring tube was introduced that is now a single integrated recoil spring assembly that does not disassemble. Additionally the magazine was slightly modified (the magazine floorplate was changed and the follower spring was fitted with a resistance insert at its base) and the trigger pull was increased (optionally). The factory standard trigger has a trigger travel of 12.5 mm (0.5 in) and is rated at 25 N (5.6 lb_f), but by using a modified connector it can be increased to 35 N (7.9 lb_f). In response to a request made by American law enforcement agencies for a two-stage trigger Glock introduced the so-called NY (New York) trigger module, which features a flat spring in a plastic housing that replaces the trigger bar’s standard coil spring. This trigger upgrade is available in two versions: New York and New York Plus that are rated at 34 N (7.6 lb_f) to 40 N (9.0 lb_f) and 41 N (9.2 lb_f) to 50 N (11.2 lb_f) respectively, which require approximately 20 N (4.5 lb_f) to 30 N (6.7 lb_f) of force to disengage the safeties and another 10 N (2.2 lb_f) in the second stage to fire a shot.

A mid-life upgrade to the Glock series involved the frame’s grip, which received checkering on the front strap and serrations to the rear (these pistols are sometimes called the generation 2 models). To meet BATF regulations, a steel plate with a stamped serial number has been embedded into the dust cover in front of the trigger guard. In the late 1990s the pistol’s frame was further modified with a Universal rail adapter (used to mount laser pointers and tactical flashlights), thumb rests on both sides of the frame and finger grooves on the front strap of the pistol grip (generation 3 upgrade). The extractor has also been changed twice and the locking block was enlarged along with the addition of another pin.^[17]

The Glock pistol accessories include several devices for tactical illumination, such as front rail mounted lights with optional lasers and an adapter to mount a flashlight on the bottom of a magazine. Polymer holsters in various configurations and matching magazine pouches are also available. Glock also produces optional sights, triggers, recoil springs, slide stop levers, and underwater spring cups. Three open sight systems are produced.

In 2003, Glock announced the Internal Locking System (ILS) safety feature. The ILS is a manually activated lock that is located in the back of the pistol's grip. It is cylindrical in design and, according to Glock, each key is unique. When activated, the lock causes a tab to protrude from the rear of the grip giving both a visual and tactile indication as to whether the lock is engaged or not. When activated, the ILS renders the Glock unfireable as well as making it impossible to disassemble. When disengaged, the ILS adds no further safety mechanisms to the Glock pistol. The ILS is available as an option on most Glock pistols. Glock pistols cannot be retrofitted to accommodate the ILS. The lock must be factory built in Austria and shipped as a special order.

[edit] Variants

Following the introduction of the Glock 17, numerous variants and versions have been offered. Variants that differ in caliber, frame, and slide length are identified by different model numbers with the exception of the Glock 17L. Other changes not dealing with frame and slide length are identified with suffixes such as "C", which denotes compensated models. Minor options such as frame color, sights, and included accessories are identified by a separate model code on the box and do not appear anywhere on the firearm.

Glock pistols come in three main sizes, all modeled after the original full-size Glock 17. "Standard" full-size models are designed as duty firearm with a large magazine capacity. "Compact" models are a slightly smaller with reduced magazine capacity and lighter weight while maintaining a usable grip length. "Subcompact" models are designed for easier carry being lighter and shorter and are intended to be used with two fingers on the grip below the trigger guard. .45 ACP and 10mm models are slightly larger than smaller cartridge pistols and are not offered in the 'compact' size. Glock produces a special single-stack "Slimline" .45 ACP pistol, the Glock 36. "Competition" versions have longer barrels and slides, adjustable sights, and extended slide and magazine release.

Beginning in 2007, Glock introduced several "short-frame" models designated by the suffix "SF". The short frame was originally designed to compete in the now canceled U.S. military's Joint Combat Pistol trials for a new .45 ACP pistol to replace the M9 pistol. Glock's entry featured an optional ambidextrous magazine release and MIL-STD-1913 rail along with a reduction in the size of the grip front to rear, most pronounced at the base of the grip. The Glock 21SF is currently available in three versions: one with a Picatinny rail and ambidextrous magazine release and two with a Universal Glock rail available with or without the ambidextrous magazine release. Current 10 mm and .45-caliber Glock magazines are being made with ambidextrous magazine release cutouts at the front of the magazines. As of January 2009, the Glock 20, 21, 29, and 30 were offered in short-framed variations. These models incorporate 2.5 mm (.10 inch) reduction in trigger reach and full-sized pistols also feature a 4 mm (.16 inch) reduction in heel depth. This reduction in heel depth also corresponds to an overall reduction in length for those models.^[18][19][20]

Some Glock pistols are available as "C" models (for "compensated"), which have slots cut in the barrel and slide to reduce muzzle climb and perceived recoil.^[21][22]

• Glock 17: Standard 9x19mm model.
• Glock 17C: Introduced in 1996 and incorporated slots cut in the barrel and slide to compensate for muzzle rise and recoil. Many other Glock pistols now come with this option, all with a "C" suffix on the slide.

• Glock 17L: Introduced in 1988 and incorporates a longer slide and extended barrel. Initially, the 17L had three holes in the top of the barrel and a corresponding slot in the slide; however, later production pistols lack the holes in the barrel. The Glock 17L is effectively discontinued and replaced by the Glock 34.

• Glock 17A: Variant produced with a 120 mm (4.7 in) extended barrel that protrudes from the slide visibly. It is intended for the Australian market to conform to local laws regarding barrel length created after the Monash University shooting and are supplied with 10-round magazines.^[23][24]

• Glock 17S: Glock 17 variant with an external, frame-mounted, manual safety. Small numbers of this variant were made for the Tasmanian, Israeli, Pakistani and perhaps several South American security forces.^[25] They are stamped "17", not "17S". They resemble, but are distinguishable from, standard Glock 17 pistols that have been fitted with the after-market Cominolli safety.^[26]

• Glock 17T: Training pistol that fires paint or rubber bullets. There are two versions and they are both easily recognizable from their bright blue frames: the Glock 17T 9 mm FX, which fires Simunition FX cartridges and the Glock 17T 7.8x21 AC, which fires cartridges with paint and rubber bullets powered by replaceable pressurized air cartridges.

• Glock 17P: Training dummy for practicing hand-to-hand combat, loading and unloading of the pistol. The G17P is identical to a standard Glock 17 except for its red frame, an inert barrel (without a chamber, thus preventing the accidental chambering of a live cartridge) and no firing pin hole in the breech face (thus preventing someone from using a live barrel with the training slide).

• Glock 17Pro: Version produced exclusively for the Finnish market.^[27] It has the following alterations from the standard Glock 17: factory tritium night sights, an extended, threaded barrel, marine spring cups, modified magazine release, extended slide release (factory standard in newer models), extended +2 magazine base plates, 3.5 lb force connector, and factory Glock pouch.^[27]

• Glock 17DK: Version for Denmark, where handguns must, by law, be at least 210 mm (8.3 in) long. The Glock 17DK has a 122.5 mm (4.8 in) barrel, making the pistol 210 mm (8.3 in) long overall.

• Glock 17MB: Version with ambidextrous magazine catch. The G19 and G21SF are also available as MB-variants.

• Glock 18: Selective fire variant of the Glock 17, developed at the request of the Austrian counter-terrorist unit EKO Cobra. The Glock 18 is not available to the civilian market. This machine pistol-class firearm has a lever-type fire-control selector switch, installed on the left side of the slide, in the rear, serrated portion (selector lever in the bottom position – continuous fire, top setting – single fire). The firearm is typically used with an extended 33-round capacity magazine. Early Glock 18s were ported to reduce muzzle rise during automatic fire. Another compensated variant was also produced, known as the Glock 18C. It has a keyhole opening cut into the forward portion of the slide, not unlike the opening on the Glock long-slide models, although the G18 has a standard-length slide. The keyhole opening provides a venting area to allow the four, progressively-larger (from back to front) compensator cuts machined into the barrel to accomplish their job, which is to afford more control over the rapid-firing machine pistol. The compensator cuts, of varying widths start about halfway back on the top. The rear two cuts are narrow, while the front two cuts are wider. The slide is also hollowed, or dished-out in a rectangular pattern between the rear of the ejection port and the rear sight. The pistol’s rate of fire in fully automatic mode is approx. 1100-1200 rounds/min. Most of the other characteristics are equivalent to the Glock 17, although the slide, frame, and certain fire-control parts of the Glock 18 are not interchangeable with other Glock models.^[28][29].

• Glock 19: Effectively a reduced-size Glock 17, called the “Compact” by the manufacturer. It was first produced in 1988, primarily for military and law enforcement. The Glock 19 has a barrel and pistol grip that are shorter by approx. 12 mm (0.5 in) compared to the Glock 17 and uses a 15-round magazine (the pistol remains compatible with standard and high-capacity factory magazines). To preserve the operational reliability of the short recoil system, the slide's mass was kept the same. With the exception of the slide, frame, barrel, locking block, recoil spring, guide rod, and slide lock spring, all of the other components are interchangeable between the models 17 and 19. In 1990 the Glock 19 was accepted by the Swedish Army and entered service as the Pistol 88B.

• Glock 20: Developed for the then-growing law enforcement market for the 10mm Auto, security forces and introduced in 1991. The pistol will handle both full-power as well as reduced "FBI" loads that have reduced muzzle velocity. Due to the longer cartridge and higher pressures, the pistol is dimensionally larger than the Glock 17, approx. 2.5 mm (0.1 in) wider and 7 mm (0.3 in) longer. Though many small parts interchange (close to 50% parts commonality), the major assemblies are scaled-up and do not interchange. In 2009, Glock announced they would offer a 152 mm (6 inch) barrel as a drop-in option.^[30]

• Glock 21: .45 ACP version of the Glock 20 designed primarily for the American market.^[31] The barrel, like all other .45 models, features an octagonal bore^[12] and the slide is lighter to compensate for the lower-energy cartridge. The Glock 21 magazine is of the single-position-feed, staggered-column type with a capacity of 13 rounds.

• Glock 22: .40 S&W version of the Glock 17 introduced in 1990. The pistol uses a modified slide, frame, and barrel.

• Glock 23: .40 S&W version of the compact Glock 19. It is dimensionally identical to the Glock 19 but is slightly heavier and uses a modified slide, frame, .40 S&W barrel and 13-round magazine.

• Glock 24: .40 S&W competition variant of the Glock 22 similar in concept to the target Glock 17L model. The Glock 24 was officially discontinued upon the release of the Glock 34 and 35.^[32]

• Glock 25: A derivative of the Glock 19, adapted to use the .380 ACP (9x17mm Short) cartridge. Due to the relatively weak cartridge, the pistol features an unlocked breech and operates via straight blowback of the slide. This method of operation required modification of the locking surfaces on the barrel as well as a redesign of the former locking block.

• Glock 25 Secretara de la Defensa Nacional or Glock 25 SDN: Version of the Glock 25 used by Mexican law enforcement with S. D. N. MEXICO DF engraved on the slide.^[27]

• Glock 26: 9 mm "Subcompact" variant designed for concealed carry and introduced in 1995, mainly for the civilian market. It features a small frame with a pistol grip that supports only two fingers, a short barrel, slide, and a 10-round double-stack magazine. More than a shortened Glock 19, design of the subcompact required extensive rework of the frame, locking block, and spring assembly.

• Glock 27: .40 S&W version of the subcompact Glock 26, with 9-round, double-stack magazine.

• Glock 28: .380-caliber subcompact version of the blowback-operated Glock 25.

• Glock 29: 10 mm Auto equivalent of the Glock 26 introduced along with the Glock 30 in 1997. The pistol has a 96 mm (3.8 in) barrel and a 10-round magazine.

• Glock 30: .45 ACP version of the Glock 29.

• Glock 31: .357 SIG (9x22mm) variant of the full-sized Glock 22.

• Glock 32: .357 SIG (9x22mm) variant of the compact Glock 23.

• Glock 33: .357 SIG (9x22mm) variant of the subcompact Glock 26.

• Glock 34: Competition version of the Glock 17. It is similar to the now-discontinued Glock 17L but with a slightly shorter slide and barrel than its predecessor. It was developed and produced in 1998 and features a 21 mm (0.8 in) longer barrel and slide. It also has an extended magazine release, extended slide stop lever, 20 N (4.5 lb_f) trigger pull, and adjustable rear sight. The top of the slide is milled out, creating a hole designed to reduce front-end muzzle weight to better balance the pistol.^[33]

• Glock 35: .40 S&W version of the competition Glock 34.

• Glock 36: "Slimline" version of the .45 ACP Glock 30 that features an ultra-compact frame and is chambered for the .45 ACP cartridge; the barrel, slide, and magazine, are unique to the model. It has a 6-round capacity, and is the first Glock to be manufactured with a single-stack magazine.^[34]

• Glock 37: .45 GAP version of the Glock 17. It uses a wider, beveled slide, larger barrel, and different magazine, but is otherwise similar to the Glock 17. The Glock 37 first appeared in 2003. It was designed to offer the stopping power of the .45 ACP with the frame size of the Glock 17. The concern with the size of the Glock 20/21 has also been addressed by the Glock 36, 21SF, and 30SF all of which featured reduced-size frames.

• Glock 38: .45 GAP version of the compact Glock 19.^[35]

• Glock 39: .45 GAP version of the subcompact Glock 26.

• Glock Mariner/Glock Tactical: Versions of various Glock pistols sold in the Philippines with an adjustable rear sight, extended slide stop, maritime spring cups and an engraved slide with either the words MARINER or TACTICAL.^[27]

Model number	Cartridge	Total length		Barrel length		Magazine Capacity[36]		Weight (unloaded)		Style
		(mm)	(in)	(mm)	(in)	Standard	Optional	(g)	(oz)
17, 17C	9x19mm	186	7.32	114	4.49	17	10, 19, 33	625	22	Standard
17L		225	8.86	153	6.02	17	10, 19, 33	670	23.6
18, 18C		185	7.28	114	4.49	33	10, 17, 19	620	21.9
19, 19C		174	6.85	102	4.01	15	10, 17, 19, 33	595	21	Compact
20, 20C, 20SF	10mm Auto	193	7.60	117	4.61	15	10	785	27.7	Standard
21, 21C, 21SF	.45 ACP					13	10	745	26.3
22, 22C	.40 S&W	186	7.32	114	4.49	15	10, 17	650	22.9
23, 23C		174	6.85	102	4.01	13	10, 15, 17	600	21.2	Compact
24, 24C		225	8.86	153	6.02	15	10, 17	757	26.7	Competition
25	.380 ACP	174	6.85	102	4.01	15	17, 19	570	20.1	Compact
26	9x19mm	160	6.30	88	3.46	10	12, 15, 17, 19, 33	560	19.8	Subcompact
27	.40 S&W					9	11, 13, 17	560	19.8
28	.380 ACP					10	12, 15, 17, 19	529	18.7
29, 29SF	10mm Auto	172	6.77	96	3.78	10	15	700	24.7
30, 30SF	.45 ACP					10	9, 13	680	24
31, 31C	.357 SIG	186	7.32	114	4.49	15	10, 17	660	23.3	Standard
32, 32C		174	6.85	102	4.01	13	10, 15, 17	610	21.5	Compact
33		160	6.30	88	3.46	9	10, 11, 13, 15, 17	560	19.8	Subcompact
34	9x19mm	207	8.15	135	5.31	17	10, 19, 33	650	22.9	Competition
35	.40 S&W					15	10, 17	695	24.5
36	.45 ACP	172	6.77	96	3.78	6	-	570	20.1	Slimline
37	.45 GAP	189	7.44	116	4.56	10	-	735	25.9	Standard
38		174	6.85	102	4.01	8	10	685	24.2	Compact
39		160	6.30	88	3.46	6	8, 10	548	19.3	Subcompact

• Glock pistols designated by "C" after the model number are equipped with ported barrels and slides to compensate for muzzle rise.

• Glock 18/18C pistols are 9x19mm Parabellum select fire machine pistols and not available to the general public in most countries.

• Glock pistols designated "SF" are "short-framed". They have a 2.5 mm (.10 inch) shorter trigger travel and the heel of the pistol is narrowed by 4 mm (.16 inches) for the full-sized framed Glock 20 and Glock 21.

• Glock 25 or 28 pistols are not available to the general public in the United States, because a small pistol chambered for the .380 ACP cartridge does not meet the "sporting purposes" criteria for importation of pistols under the Gun Control Act of 1968, according to the BATFE's point system.^[37]

[edit] Users

•  Afghanistan: Afghan National Police.^{[citation needed]}
•  Australia: Royal Australian Air Force (Glock 19), Australian Customs (Glock 17), and all Australian police services (Glock 17, 19, 22, 23, 26, 27) except the South Australia Police and Victoria Police. A Glock 17 outfitted with a thumb safety was designed specifically for the Tasmania Police.^[38]
•  Austria: Austrian Armed Forces (Glock 17 designated Pistole 80).^[39][40]
•  Belgium: Belgian police (Glock 17),^[40] Belgian State Security Service.^[41]
•  Brazil: Federal Police Department (Glock 17, Glock 19, or Glock 26 according to agent preference).^{[citation needed]}
•  Canada: Calgary, Edmonton, Ottawa, Saskatoon, South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority Police Service, Toronto.^[40]
•  Ecuador: National Police, various special police units such as the GOE and GIR.^[40]
•  Finland: Police and border guard.^{[citation needed]}
•  Fiji: Tactical Response Unit.^[42]
•  France: French Army—certain naval and parachute units (Glock 17).^[43]
•  Germany: GSG 9 of the German Federal Police,^[40] Spezialeinsatzkommandos (special response teams) of several state police departments.
•  Hong Kong: Special Duties Unit, Hong Kong Police Force.^[40]
•  Iceland: Icelandic National Police, Víkingasveitin, ICRU.^[44][45][46]
•  India: Special Protection Group and National Security Guards (both use the Glock 17).^[40]
•  Indonesia: Indonesian Army Kopassus, Indonesian National Police Force, Detachment 88.
•  Iraq: Iraqi security forces (largest user with 125,163 bought Glock 19s[1].
•  Israel: military and paramilitary units (Yamam, Shayetet 13, Shabak).
•  Italy: Italian special forces—GIS, NOCS, "Col Moschin" Regiment, COMSUBIN, Intelligence and State Security.
•  Jordan: Presidential Guard.^[40]
•  Latvia: Latvian Military (Glock 17), police.^[47]
•  Lithuania: Lithuanian Armed Forces (Glock 17).^[48]
•  Malaysia: Malaysian Armed Forces, numerous other military and law enforcement agencies (9 mm Glock variants).^{[citation needed]}
•  Mexico: Secretaria de Marina.^[40]
•  Netherlands: Military of the Netherlands (Glock 17),^[49] Dutch police (Glock 17).^[50]
•  New Zealand: New Zealand Police (Glock 17). ^[51]
•  Norway: Royal Norwegian Army (Glock 17 designated P-80).^[40]
•  Pakistan: Pakistan Army and Pakistan Air Force, PROVOST Units and Military Police.^{[citation needed]}
•  Philippines: Philippine National Police, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA), Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).^[40]
•  Poland: Polish police,^[52] Polish Military Police (Glock 17).
•  Portugal: Used in the police PSP, GNR (Glock 19) , In the Portuguese armed forces (Glock 17)... Glock 18c is also used in the DAE.
•  Romania: Issued to deployed and several special operations units.
•  Slovenia^{[citation needed]}
•  Spain: Guardia Civil's UEI (Glock 17).^[53]
•  Sri Lanka: Sri Lanka Police Service.^{[citation needed]}
•  South Korea: South Korean Army, Blue House Security (Glock 19).^{[citation needed]}
•  Sweden: Swedish Armed Forces (Glock 17 designated Pistol 88 and Glock 19 as Pistol 88B,^[54][55]) Swedish Customs Service, Swedish Coast Guard.
•  Taiwan: Garrison Command. National Intelligence Coordinating Agency.
•  Thailand: Police (Glock 17).^[40]
•  United Kingdom: Greater Manchester Police, Tactical Firearms Unit Specialist Firearms Command of the London Metropolitan Police Service^[56], Police Service of Northern Ireland (Glock 17).^[57]
•  United States: FBI, Department of Treasury IRS Criminal Investigation Division^[58], DEA,^[59], EPA Criminal Investigation Division, New York City Police Department, Los Angeles Police Department, thousands of other agencies at the national, state, and local levels.
•  Venezuela^[40]

[edit] References

[edit] Bibliography

• Boatman, Robert H. Living With Glocks : The Complete Guide to the New Standard in Combat Handguns . Paladin Press, Boulder. 2002. ISBN 1-58160-340-1.
• Kasler, Peter Alan. Glock : The New Wave In Combat Handguns. Paladin Press, Boulder. 1992. ISBN 0-87364-649-5.
• Kokalis, Peter (2001). Weapons Tests And Evaluations: The Best Of Soldier Of Fortune. Boulder, Colorado, USA: Paladin Press. ISBN 978-1-58160-122-0. 
• Sweeney, Patrick. The Gun Digest Book of the Glock: A Comprehensive Review : Design, History, Use. kp books, Iola. 2003. ISBN 0-87349-558-6.
• Taylor, Robin. The Glock In Competition, 2nd edition. Taylor Press, Bellingham. 2005. ISBN 0-9662517-4-1.
• (Polish) Woźniak, Ryszard (2001). Encyklopedia najnowszej broni palnej—tom 2 G-Ł. Warsaw, Poland: Bellona. ISBN 83-11-09310-5. 

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Glock

• Glock's official website
• Ken Lunde pictures of various Glock models
• Patent information on Google Patents
• Glock Armorer's Manual
• Interactive Glock pistol animation

[edit] Video links

• Glock 18 Fully Automatic Pistol at Internet Archive
• Video of operation at YouTube (Japanese)
• Video of operation (Glock 18) at YouTube (Japanese)
• Video showing how to disassemble a Glock pistol at YouTube