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type=Semi-automatic pistol|is_ranged=yes

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.

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. The handgun was adopted into service with the Austrian military and police forces in 1982 as the P80 (''Pistole 80''). 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.

The slide features a spring-loaded claw extractor and the stamped sheet metal ejector is pinned to the subframe. Adjustable and illuminated night sights are also offered.

The hammer-forged barrel has a polygonal profile with a 6-groove right-hand twist. The rifling's polygonal profile consists 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 mandrel through the bore to obtain the hexagonal shape. 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, 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. 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. 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),

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.

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 Beretta M9. 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.

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.