Mankind has always gravitated towards a compact but powerful version of personal weapons, which, in fact, was the glock 17 pistol, created by the Austrian company of the same name. However, his active participation in Hollywood projects made him legendary, which affected arms sales around the world. Various modifications are still used by the police and intelligence agencies of NATO countries.

Today we will talk about the ancestor of this line, the model under the index 17, which included only 34 parts, so a trained fighter without any effort could disassemble it in less than one minute. The weapon is distinguished by its small size, light weight, as well as practicality, because it has the ability to fire underwater.

The history of the creation and development of the Glock pistol

When World War II ended and Austria became an independent state, its newly created army was equipped with pre-war pistols - Walther P38 and Colt M1911A1. The situation was worse for the police: they received a model produced in the 20s - Walther PP. However, Austria did not fight with anyone and maintained a clear neutrality in the Cold War, so they only thought about modernization in 1980, when the state organized a competition to create a new pistol, which would be received by both the police and the military.

The new version of the service weapon had to meet the requirements issued by the country's military ministry:

  • 9 × 19 mm Parabellum cartridges;
  • the minimum number of cartridges in the store is 8 units;
  • the pistol must be safe, so even when falling from a height of 2 meters there should not be a spontaneous shot;
  • for every thousand shots there should be only 2 misfires;
  • interchangeability of parts.

All these requirements Glock met or exceeded the recommended data.

The competition was strong, and few expected that the tiny Austrian company, founded back in 1963 under the name Glock, would win. However, she has been engaged in this project since 1970, which allowed her to present the best version of an automatic pistol. I was also bribed by the fact that the model of this company, with high performance, was 25% cheaper than its competitors. As a result, Glock easily outperformed its competitors, and already in 1983 it was adopted by the Austrian army and police.

However, it is possible that if the pistol had been used only in Austria, it would have remained a locally successful option. However, the fact is that the Glock is almost entirely made of high-strength and heat-resistant plastic, so the screenwriters used it in the movie Die Hard 2. After that, these weapons began to be shown in almost all films, one way or another connected with shootings, which had a very good effect on sales and the overall popularity of the model.

In addition, another jump in popularity was that it began to be used in computer tactical shooters. Until now, it is Glock that remains the symbol of the legendary computer game Counterstrike.

Gun design

Structurally, the Glock had several innovations that eventually made it one of the most popular pistols in the world. First of all, the automation, which was incorporated in the first model, almost never changed, and all the variations are just an increase in the magazine, caliber and barrel length. There is only one exception - the model under the index 18 - it is capable of firing at speeds up to 1100 rounds per minute, so the internal parts of the sample were changed.

In addition, the original design of the automatic safety: it, being combined with the trigger, is removed only when the two components of the structure are pressed simultaneously. The magazine release button is located on the left side of the pistol, just below the trigger guard. Despite the large volume of the magazine (in some modifications, such as glock 20 -13 rounds), the weight is still one of the smallest in the world. The trigger guard was specially increased in order to be able to fire with two hands.

Principle of operation

The whole point of the work of automatic pistol is the recoil of the barrel with a short stroke. The designers decided to use the proven, but somewhat modernized Colt-Browning scheme. The essence of the operation of this system is as follows: a tide with an inclined groove is created under the breech breech, it coincides with the guide ledge of the frame. The Austrian designers made a groove at the required angle, which causes the driving barrel to decrease and it disengages from the shutter-casing. Then it stops, as a result of which the shutter rolls back.

Additions to the pistol

On this moment There are two main additions to the Glock 17. The first is the sighting device, which is made of high-strength plastic and is installed in special transverse grooves, which we know as the "dovetail". To fire in low light, the designers put a luminous dot on the front sight, and a luminous frame on the rear sight. Starting in 1988, a special guide element was also installed on the glock, on which a tactical flashlight or a laser-type pointer is attached.

In addition, the weapon can be equipped with a silencer. However, only elite units get this modification without applying the luminous frame. There are, of course, custom additions, which are made in an artisanal way, and always belong to the pneumatic variants of weapons. The most popular of these was glock under the index 21.

Technical characteristics of the Glock 17 model

TTX of the first glock serial:

  • Type: self-loading;
  • Caliber - 9 × 19 mm Parabellum;
  • Barrel length - 114 mm;
  • Overall length - 186 mm;
  • Weight without clip - 0.625 kg;
  • Weight with a full magazine - 0.905 kg;
  • The standard number of rounds is 17, but can be increased to 33;
  • starting speed bullets - 375 meters per second;
  • Maximum effective range- 50 meters.

In general, for 1980, in terms of its characteristics, the Glock was one of the best.

Used ammunition

The Glock 17 uses the 9×19 mm Parabellum cartridge, which was developed back in 1902 by the Austrian gunsmith, the legendary Georg Luger, who used the projectile in his pistol of the same name. After the cartridge was adopted by the German Navy in 1904, it still remains relevant. At the moment, it is of interest not only to the NATO bloc, but also Russian Federation, whose gunsmiths modify the Parabellum.

According to its design, the ammunition is a shortened cartridge case from 7.65 × 21 mm Parabellum. So it does not have a bottle-type shape, but a cylinder. The energy of the bullet is enough to inflict serious injury on a person, but not kill him. Therefore, Glock is used by the police and special services, who must stop the criminal and not bring the matter to a lethal outcome. Of course, the cartridge is not enough to break through a bulletproof vest, however, the resulting shock wave may well knock a person down.

Other ammo:

  1. Cartridge 10 mm Auto. It was developed specifically for FBI agents, had a caliber of 10.16 mm, was used in modifications under the index 20, 29, 40. It has great lethal power, as a result of which it was necessary to abandon the use of these cartridges when training cadets;
  2. Cartridge .40 S&W - quite popular in the USA, created in 1990. Caliber 10.16 mm, in fact, is an analogue of the 10 mm Auto cartridge, with reduced bullet energy;
  3. The Glock 21 used the .45 ACP cartridge, developed at the beginning of the 20th century by Browning. In fact, this is a modernization of an even older .45 Colt cartridge. Caliber 11.51 mm;
  4. Another cartridge designed by Browning, the .380 ACP 9mm, was used in the Glock 25;
  5. In one of the current modifications under the index 31, the .357 SIG cartridge, developed in Switzerland, was used, caliber 9 mm.

Until now, Glock is being upgraded for various ammunition, which confirms its relevance in the world of weapons.

Glock pistol models

At the moment, the line has grown to a huge size, but we will list only the main models:

  1. 17L is the very first modification of the main pistol, the only difference of which is the elongated barrel. Was established in 1988;
  2. 18 - a specialized version for firing bursts;
  3. 19 is a more compact model. Has a short barrel 102 mm (original version - 114 mm). Until 1990, this modification had a Compact postscript, which was eventually abandoned;
  4. 20 - this sample differs in that it was created specifically for the 10 mm Auto cartridge, and also has an enlarged magazine and a built-in compensator;
  5. 21 - it is often thought that this is a special Glock model for 45 caliber, however, the .45 ACP cartridge, contrary to its name, has a caliber of 11.51 mm. Clip increased to 15 charges;
  6. 22 - a model that was specially created in order to be used by the FBI. This version was created under caliber 40 S&W. Created back in 1990, the model is still relevant, and at the moment there is no news that they will change service weapon in this US government structure;
  7. 34 - one of the best modifications, which has an elongated barrel, has an increased accuracy of fire. In fact, this model was created in Austria specifically in order to be exported. And now the US police are armed with it, in almost all of its structures, as well as in Chile and Malaysia;
  8. 39 is the penultimate sample of Glock, which is a shortened and reduced modification of it. In general, now there is a tendency to create from the Glock, which is already a small pistol, some kind of "ladies' weapon" of a completely miniature look.

Almost all options are export goods, which are developed under the order of other states.

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Since the 1980s, the Austrian company has produced thirty-three models of polymer pistols that have become popular all over the world. So what is special about each individual model?

We bring to your attention short description all models of pistols bearing the "Glock" engraving on the barrel.

Glock 17 Gen4 MOS

Let's start with new products, namely the MOS line. Every year, some kind of "bomb" is expected from Glock - and this year the fans were not disappointed again: the company added two models G17 and G19 to the MOS line.

Previously, the shooters tried in every possible way to independently modernize the shutter casing of this model, trying to install a collimator sight on it. But now, and, as hard as it may be to believe, has taken the G17 models to a new level.


Glock 19 Gen4 MOS

The second most popular model of the company also did not stand aside from the convenience that is gaining popularity today. collimator sights appreciated not only by participants in various competitions - armed citizens also cast their vote in favor of this device.


Models chambered for 9x19mm

Models under this cartridge are the most popular all over the world. The cartridge diameter allows the use of capacious magazines, and the recoil force is one of the softest in the service weapon category.

Glock 43: A backup plan for every day

Glock has a variety of handguns in a variety of sizes, whether it's the G17 or the compact G26. Who wanted to buy the smallest Glock, bought the G42 chambered for .380 ACP. But this ammunition did not suit everyone, and soon the company released the 9mm G43 model.

Thanks to the single-row magazine for 6 rounds, its width does not exceed 26 mm, which means that it is perfect for concealed carry. In addition, it has all the distinguishing characteristics of "adult" models, including the Safe Action trigger.


Glock 17: Origin

Started the "Glock revolution". Today it is the most common pistol among law enforcement Worldwide.


Glock 19: Workhorse

A more compact version of the G17 and the favorite pistol of the 40,000-strong army of New York police and UN security forces. Due to its light weight and size, he once replaced revolvers chambered for .38 ACP.


Glock 34 Gen4 MOS

This model, known as "Practical / Tactical", also received the ability to install red dot sights. This means that for a pistol that has already won in all major shooting competitions, new categories have opened up in which it is sure to win.


Glock 34: A model with sporting ambitions

The same G17, but with a slightly elongated barrel. Comparable in size to the M1911 Government.


Glock 26: Bodyguard

In terms of size and weight, this model is comparable to snub-nosed revolvers chambered for .38 ACP, which he replaced. In addition, it uses a more powerful cartridge, and the magazine holds 11 rounds.

An ideal fallback for those whose main weapon is the G17 or G19. Like the full-size models, it also has a double recoil spring, a magazine release button that is moved to the other side of the frame, and a textured grip for a secure grip on the weapon.


Models chambered for .40 S&W

This cartridge was introduced in 1990 as a cross between the powerful .45 AUTO and the compact 9x19mm. Gained popularity with both the police and ordinary citizens. The recoil of such weapons is stronger than that of 9mm models.

Glock 22: Favorite

The most popular pistol among the police in the United States. For its size, this pistol has the largest magazine capacity of any Glock model.


Glock 23: Versatile

The same G19, but with a wider bore. It is solid enough for the police, and quite compact for concealed carry. The favorite choice of professionals for undercover work.


Glock 27: Mighty Kid

This pistol can be carried in a pocket or in an ankle holster. Despite its size, it holds 10 rounds. The small size did not affect its accuracy or ease of handling in any way.


Glock 35 Gen4 MOS: King of the Competition

Another twin brother of the G34. It has a special double recoil spring to help dampen recoil and ensure reliable performance in the harshest conditions. And the MOS system provides him with many options for mounting sights.


Glock 35: "Practical Tactical" in .40

The same G22, but enlarged to M1911 Government size.


Models chambered for 10mm Auto

It is the most powerful handgun cartridge and is available in several versions, from comparable to the .40 S&W cartridge to hunting options that exceed 900 joules of energy. The G20 and G29 models, due to their lightness, reliability and soft recoil, are considered the best option for such cartridges. .

Glock 40 Gen4 MOS: Ammo Power 10mm Auto

The six-inch barrel of this pistol ensures that each of the 15 powerful rounds in the magazine will be delivered right on target without a hitch. The MOS model has a 2kg trigger pull and all the innovations that were introduced in the fourth generation: double recoil and a magazine release button that can be mounted on both sides of the frame.

Hard and corrosion-resistant coating of the slide and barrel, made using rotational forging technology, guarantees trouble-free operation of the pistol in the most severe conditions.


Glock 20 Gen4: 10mm Auto in Full Size

One of the few models that for many years has withstood all the tests that this cartridge brings down on it. The model has unsurpassed accuracy and reliability with a fairly soft return.


Glock 20 SF: Maximum power in a fairly compact size

The company introduces the SF design (Short Frame - a short frame) and in the model chambered for 10mm caliber. Despite the reduced frame, the length of the aiming line of the pistol guarantees high shooting accuracy. It can also be fitted with a 6" barrel for even greater accuracy.


Glock 29 Gen4: 10mm Auto Concealed Carry

The G29 delivers the reliability of the full size G20 and features a roomy 10+1 magazine.


Glock 29 SF: Maximum power in a compact format

A short bezel is also available for the G29. This sub-compact frame has a new and more ergonomic trigger placement.


Models chambered for .45 Auto

This high-powered cartridge has been instilling fear in its opponents for over 100 years. There are both full-size and pocket pistols on the market for a variety of variations of this caliber.

Glock 41 Gen4 MOS: Victorious

Another "Practical / Tactical" pistol with the MOS system, but already chambered for the high-precision .45 Auto cartridge.


Glock 41 Gen4: The .45 Auto Champion

He was born in order to give odds to other rivals in the competition. Its long casing-shutter provides the maximum length of the aiming line, which has a positive effect on the accuracy of shooting.


Glock 21 Gen4: Standard among models chambered in .45 Auto

With this model, even a beginner will feel all the advantages of this cartridge. Double return spring and guarantee the shooter a comfortable grip and shooting.


Glock 21 SF: An American Legend

This pistol is renowned for its accuracy and soft recoil. This powerful and lightweight handgun is a reliable workhorse on both sides of the poles.


Glock 30 Gen4: Undercover

A compact version of the G21 that is great for concealed carry and outperforms most competitors in accuracy.


Glock 30 SF: The right choice for concealed carry

This model has a shortened frame and is the right choice of fighters of various special forces.


Glock 30S: Excellence

The Slim model (narrow) combines power, high magazine capacity and convenient concealed carrying. Engineers have managed to combine the G36 .45 breechblock with the narrow frame from the G30 SF.


Glock 36: The power of a .45 Auto cartridge in a compact size

The frame of this model has been flattened, which guarantees comfortable handling for people with short fingers. The magazine holds 6+1 rounds, and thanks to its width, which does not exceed 25 mm, it is great for concealed carry.


Models chambered for .45 G.A.P.

The .45 Glock Auto Pistol is designed to provide the shooter with the power of the .45 Auto cartridge in 9mm pistol format.

Glock 37: Massive power in a perfect format

This model combines two of the most desirable characteristics among shooters: the power of the .45 Auto cartridge and the convenience of the original G17. This model has it all: Safe Action, a polymer frame, a rotationally forged barrel, and an extremely durable cover-gate.


Glock 38: Compact

The second stage in the evolution of models for this ammunition. A capacious magazine for 8 + 1 powerful cartridges in a compact format was appreciated by both professionals and armed citizens.


Glock 39: Maximum power in the most compact format

A subcompact version offering the power and accuracy of the .45 GAP cartridge. The right choice for pros who want to experience all the charms of this brand in a compact size.


Model chambered for .380 Auto

With this cartridge, usually, acquaintance with weapons begins with most shooters. and people with short fingers. In addition, the small size makes it easy to hide them under clothing.

Glock 42: Back up plan

Set a new standard for ultra-compact handguns. It has a large 6+1 magazine and is very easy to handle. It is also the smallest pistol from Glock.


Model chambered for .357

Imagine a .40 S&W case with a neck that has been narrowed for a 9mm bullet and you have a .357 cartridge. Such a cartridge provides energy for the Magnum revolver cartridge in pistol ammunition format.

Glock 31: Ammo Power.357

This is a full size pistol with a magazine capacity of 15+1 high powered .357 cartridges.


Glock 32 and Glock 33: The power of the .357 cartridge in a compact format

These models can offer the shooter the compactness of older .38 revolvers and the power of .357 with much softer recoil.



1,0 1 -1 2

First generation Glock 17 pistol


second generation Glock 17 pistol


third generation Glock 17 pistol


fourth generation Glock 17 pistol


Glock 18 pistol (automatic)


9mm Glock pistols. The .357 and .40 families of weapons look the same and have similar dimensions


.45 caliber Glock pistols


9x17 caliber Glock pistols (.380)


Glock 17 pistol on x-ray. All bright, contrasting details are made of steel, and only the plastic frame and trigger are visible as a faint outline.

TTX pistolsglock caliber9x19

Glock 17

Glock 19

Glock 26

Glock 34

with hammer preload

Length, mm

Barrel length, mm

Capacity, cartridges

performance characteristicspistolsglock caliber9×17

performance characteristicspistolsglock caliber.357SIG

performance characteristicspistolsglock caliber.40S&W

Glock 22

Glock 23

Glock 27

Glock 35

with hammer preload

40S&W (10x22mm)

Length, mm

Barrel length, mm

Capacity, rounds

performance characteristicspistolsglock caliber10mm Auto

TTX pistolsGlock caliber .45gap

performance characteristicspistolsglock caliber.45ACP

Glock 21

Glock 30

Glock 36

Glock 41

with hammer preload

45ACP (11.43×25)

Length, mm

Barrel length, mm

Capacity, rounds

In 1980, due to the moral and physical obsolescence of the pistols in service in Austria, a competition was announced for a new army pistol called the Pistole 80. Pistols from such experienced manufacturers as Beretta, Heckler-Koch, Steyr took part in the competition, but in 1982 the Austrian The army officially adopted the pistol of the hitherto practically unknown company Glock model 17 under the designation P80. Before the start of the competition, Glock was known mainly as a manufacturer of army knives and sapper shovels. Its ambitious owner, Gaston Glock, recruited a team of experienced gunsmiths specifically to participate in the competition and gave them the opportunity to create a pistol “with clean slate', and they succeeded. Using a few unorthodox, but in principle not new ideas, the Glock team managed to create an exceptionally simple, reliable and inexpensive pistol to manufacture.
Building on the existing positive experience the use of polymers in the creation of small arms in pistols (VP-70 of the German company Heckler-Koch) and assault rifles (AUG of the Austrian company Steyr), Glock engineers created a pistol with a polymer frame. This decision made it possible to reduce the cost of production, increase survivability and corrosion resistance, and lighten the weapon. To ensure the most simple handling of weapons, the Austrians abandoned manual fuses, leaving only automatic fuses. USM striker design with pre-cocking drummer was inherited from the Austrian pistol Roth-Steyr model 1907, automatic safety on the trigger - from German pistol Sauer 1930, modified Browning barrel locking system - from the SIG-Sauer P220 pistol. The total number of parts of the new pistol, including the magazine, was only 33.

For more than 30 years since the appearance of the first model 17 Glock pistol, the company has created several dozen models on its basis in all the most popular pistol calibers (9x17, 9x19, .357SIG, .40SW, .45ACP) and even tried to create its own cartridge. 45GAP (Glock Auto Pistol), which turned out to be not so successful. Glock pistols have gained worldwide popularity as an army weapon (they are in service not only in Austria, but also in the UK, Sweden and many other countries). In addition, these pistols are popular as police weapon(particularly in the USA), as well as civilian weapons for self defense and sports.

Over the years of the release of Glock pistols, they have changed four generations of models.

The first generation of Glock pistols actually consisted of Glock pistol 17 / P80, which had smooth handles with fine corrugation "in a circle".

The second generation of Glock pistols, which appeared in 1988, additionally included the first compact Glock 19 model and was distinguished by the presence of larger notches on the front and back of the handle.

The third generation of Glock pistols, which appeared in 1998, received a guide for attaching a lantern or laser sight under the barrel, notches for fingers and a "shelf" for the thumb on the handle of the weapon and a new ejector, which additionally serves as an indicator of the presence of a cartridge in the chamber.

Fourth generation of Glock pistols, launched in a series in 2010 and produced in parallel with the 3rd generation models, received pistol grips of a reduced cross section with interchangeable pads on the back of the handle, allowing you to adapt the weapon to shooters with the most different sizes palms. In addition, the 4th generation pistols received an enlarged magazine ejection button, which can be rearranged on both sides of the weapon, and a number of smaller design improvements.

Standing apart from this entire line of weapons is the Glock 18 automatic pistol. Designed for law enforcement, this pistol was never commercially available and was produced in small numbers.

As mentioned above, the main advantages of Glock pistols are ease of construction and use, high reliability, significant resource, and relatively low weight. The disadvantages of these pistols are usually not the most convenient shape of the handle (corrected in the current 4th generation of pistols), as well as the absence of any manual safety catches, which, with insufficient user training, periodically leads to accidental shots.
Widely exaggerated in the media mass media the "plastic" design of the Glock pistol, allegedly leading to the fact that the pistol is invisible in x-rays and is not detected by metal detectors is nothing more than a fabrication of the press. In fact, any Glock pistol consists of metal for more than half of its mass and is perfectly detected by any special means.

The automation of all pistols of the Glock series (except pistols of models 25 and 28 in 9x17 caliber) is based on the Browning scheme with a short stroke of the barrel and a rigid locking of one protrusion in the breech breech behind the window for ejecting cartridges in the bolt. The skew of the breech for its unlocking and locking is carried out by the interaction of the figured tide under the barrel with a steel insert in a polymer frame. The gates are made of steel by precision casting and have a special coating highly resistant to external influences. Trunks have polygonal rifling. The trigger mechanism is a striker, with a preliminary cocking of the mainspring and its additional cocking by the shooter's muscular strength at the moment the trigger is pressed. To pre-cock the mainspring, it is enough to pull the bolt back about 15mm and release it. The gun does not have non-automatic (manual) fuses. The system of automatic fuses (safeaction) includes a safety on the trigger (blocking its movement if it is pressed incorrectly), blocking the drummer when the trigger is not pressed and blocking the drummer from breaking off the sear when strong blows. The frame of the pistol is made of high-impact plastic in black or (more recently) olive green. Steel guides for the slide are integrated into the frame when it is cast, as well as a small metal plate on which the serial number of the weapon is engraved. In front of the frame of modern pistols there is a guide for attaching a combat flashlight or a laser designator. Sights are open, with white contrasting or luminous inserts. Glock pistols with the index "C" after the model number have a barrel toss compensator, made in the form of upward holes in the muzzle of the barrel and the shutter casing. On the frame above the trigger guard on both sides there are sliders, when pressed down, incomplete disassembly pistol (removing the barrel, return spring and bolt from the frame). Cartridges are fed from box-shaped double-row plastic magazines with cartridges exiting in one row (with the exception of the most compact models 36 and 42, which have single-row magazines).

The Glock 18 automatic pistol differs from the basic Glock 17 model by the presence of a fire mode translator on the left on the shutter. For this pistol, extended magazines with a capacity of 33 rounds have been developed and are being produced, also compatible with 9mm Glock pistols models 17, 19 and 26.

PERFORMANCE AND TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Caliber, mm9
Cartridge9x19 mm "Parabellum"
Weight (equipped), kg0,87
Weight (without magazine), kg0,62
Length, mm188
Barrel length, mm114
Sighting line length, mm165
Muzzle velocity, m/s350
rifling6, right hand
Magazine capacity, cartridges17

Pistol Glock 17(17 - from the capacity of the magazine for 17 rounds) was developed by an Austrian company glock for the Austrian army, while this was the first experience of creating pistols for this company. Nevertheless, the pistol turned out to be extremely successful, reliable and convenient, and was adopted by the Austrian army under the designation P80. In addition, the Glock 17, and then its younger brothers, took their place among the most popular pistols for police and self-defense.

Currently, there are several families of Glock pistols for all major pistol calibers(9mm Parabellum, .40 S&W, 10mm Auto, .357 SIG, .45 ACP, .380/9x17mm Kurz).

The frames of all pistols are made of impact-resistant plastic. The valves are made of steel by high-precision casting and subjected to special treatment to improve corrosion and wear resistance. Early releases of pistols had handles with flat cheeks and corrugated front and back surfaces.

Pistols of later releases have notches for fingers on the front side of the handle and small "shelves" under thumb on their sides. In addition, on the frame of full-size and semi-compact models, now fashionable guides for attaching accessories (a laser designator or a flashlight) appeared under the barrel.

For most modifications, versions with an integrated barrel toss compensator are available. The compensator is made in the form of a group of holes in the upper muzzle of the barrel, and corresponding cutouts in the bolt next to the front sight. The compensator is designed to reduce barrel vibrations. For such models, the letter "C" is added to the name. The following models are equipped with a compensator: G17C, G19C, G20C, G21C, G22C, G23C, G31C, G32C.

All families (except caliber .380) consist of a full-size, compact and sub-compact model and are built according to the scheme with a short stroke of the barrel and locking with a lug on the barrel that enters the window of the shutter for the extraction of cartridge cases. The lowering of the trunk is carried out by a curly tide made under the trunk.

.380 caliber pistols are built according to the blowback scheme. All pistols have a striker trigger of the so-called "safe action" (Safe Action), with 3 automatic fuses, including one on the trigger. A feature of the “safe action” trigger is that during the reloading cycle of the pistol, the drummer is cocked only partially, while it is blocked by an automatic safety lock. The cocking of the drummer occurs only when the trigger is pressed, while the drummer remains blocked from moving forward until the trigger is fully squeezed out.

Thus, it is possible to achieve a uniform force on the trigger from the first to the last shot, which has a positive effect on the accuracy of shooting. The trigger force is adjustable from 2.5 to 5 kgf by replacing the spring.

The disadvantages of this design sometimes include the inability to re-fire a cartridge that misfired. Another unfortunate consequence of the design without manual safety is a fair number of accidents among American police officers, with enviable regularity shooting themselves in the legs in the process of holstering a pistol.

In the absence of proper skills, they often try to holster the pistol without removing their finger from the trigger, the finger bumps into the edge of the holster, squeezes the trigger ... and urgently call 911. However, this is of course more a question of lack of skills than the design of the pistol.

The sights of the Glocks are made removable and are installed in transverse grooves of the dovetail type. As standard, non-adjustable sights with applied white or luminous (tritium) dots for ease of aiming in poor lighting conditions. On "sports" models (for example Glock17 L) adjustable rear sight and front sight can be installed.

Another widely advertised feature of the Glock 17 pistols (and only the Model 17) is the ability to fire underwater. To do this, a special return spring is installed on the gun. By itself, such an opportunity is not of particular value, since shooting can only be carried out at small (on the order of several meters) depths and at ultra-small ranges (a meter or two).

On the other hand, such tricks firstly demonstrate high structural strength and, secondly, allow the weapon to be used in the presence of water in the barrel (in the rain, for example), which in some other pistols can lead to swelling or even rupture of the barrel.

Glock brand pistols, with their birth, revolutionized the production of small arms. What legends about them did not go - and go so far. Bruce Willis, as hero cop John McClain in Die Hard 2 (1990), authoritatively explains to an airport security officer that the Glock is a German china pistol that can't be picked up by metal detectors and costs a fortune.

In fact, the Glock is not at all German, but an Austrian pistol, porcelain and ceramics are completely absent in its design, but plastic is present in a considerable amount, and plastic has always been cheaper than steel.

Previously, gunsmiths have already tried to create weapon with plastic elements. Back in the late 1960s - early 1970s, the designers of the German company Heckler & Koch developed pistols of the VP 70 and P9S models, some of the parts of which were made of plastic, or rather, of plastic reinforced masses. However, then the idea was not approved - there was an opinion that the weapon should be made of steel, and other materials only reduce the strength of the unit.

In 1980, the Austrian military decided to upgrade their weapons and announced an order for the development of a new pistol to replace the Steur model. The future star of Austrian gunsmiths, engineer Gaston Glock at that time owned a small company Glock GmbH, which he himself founded back in 1963 in the town of Deutsch-Wagram near Vienna. Initially, Glock was engaged in the production of machine tools for completely peaceful purposes, and later retrained as a manufacturer of military products - combat knives, entrenching tools, sapper shovels, spare parts for MG74-3 and MG42 machine guns (7.62 mm NATO), hand grenades and machine gun belts. In the course of his activities, Glock graduated from the Ferlach Higher Weapons Technical School and decided to try his hand at the weapons field. He did not himself design a pistol under the order of the military, but recruited a team of gunsmiths from all over Europe.

After 3 months, a prototype 9-mm pistol was ready, called the Glock 17 (since the magazine had a capacity of 17 rounds). After passing the tests, in 1982 the pistol was adopted by the Austrian army. After some time, Glock was already in the service of the armies of Norway and Sweden, and in 1985 Gaston Glock's company began to take an active interest in the American market. In the same year, the Glock GmbH product manufacturing company was established in Georgia, and in January 1986, final approval was received to import the pistol into the States.

Glock pioneered the production of "plastic" pistols. The use of plastic in the manufacture of most parts turned out to be logical in a world where plastic was steadily gaining ground in industrial production.

First of all, the plastic body significantly reduced the weight of the pistol - the Glock 17 with a full magazine weighs only 870 grams. For comparison, the weight of the Beretta 92 with 2 rounds less magazine is 950 grams.

For the manufacture of the frame and magazine of the pistol, a high-strength polymer is used, like a monocoque, which is able to withstand temperatures up to 200 degrees. True, severe frost remains a threat - if the frozen Glock is unsuccessfully dropped, then it can simply split.

Plastic is an order of magnitude more durable than steel, and the steel parts of modern Glocks are processed using Tennifer technology, which is a unique development of Glock GmbH. As a result of such treatment, the surface to a depth of 0.05 mm acquires a hardness of about 69 Rockwell units (the hardness of technical diamonds is 71-72). Even the Americans assemble Glocks in their factories only from parts sent from Austria, since this technology is a closely guarded secret of the company.

The special processing of the parts makes the gun exceptionally resistant to corrosion. He is not afraid of salt water and sand. Unlike many other pistols, the Glock can shoot even underwater, though not far and slightly.

The tale about the Glock's elusiveness for a metal detector was refuted by Gaston Glock himself. He personally paraded several times with a pistol in his hand through the arch of a metal detector at the airport in front of US Secretary of Defense Kasper Weinberger. The metal detector honestly pointed to the presence of weapons with each pass.

In addition to the above, it should also be noted that other advantages of Glocks, which were also appreciated by civilians. All pistols of this brand consist of only 34 parts, including the magazine. Parts from one model are mostly suitable for other Glock models. The plastic frame provides unusually soft feedback. Glock shoots accurately and accurately, while the barrel can withstand up to 350 thousand shots.

Modifications of Glock brand pistols differ mainly in caliber, barrel length and sights.

There is a heated debate about the safety of Glocks. Proponents of this weapon claim that in the US, in 99.9% of cases, the cause of the "crossbow" with the participation of Glock pistols is mishandling it. This is motivated by the fact that the pistol uses the Safe Action system - a proprietary development with a DAO (Double Action Only) trigger, consisting of three independent fuses. However, according to official statistics there are too many accidents. The Glock 21 is especially famous in this regard. It is this model that takes the first place in the statistics of misfires and spontaneous firing, and Glock GmbH is on the list of 15 weapons manufacturing companies that have been sued for damages.

Gaston Glock's website reports that in the US alone, 65% of his guns are used. state structures, the largest of which are the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the New York City Police Department. At the same time, the Glock company is actively promoting supported pistols to civilians. And they get used pistols from the same policemen in exchange for newer models. Here's a marketing ploy. One trouble. In hand civilians weapons that have already served their time fall, which again leads to new victims - this time among civilians, but loving weapon population. Naturally, Glocks are also spreading among the criminal community. Perhaps that is why the Glock appears so often in American action films. It is Glocks that are armed with Michael Douglas in Basic Instinct, Arnold Schwarzenegger in The Eraser, Tommy Lee Jones in The Fugitive, etc.

It should be noted that Mr. Glock himself turned out to be no less stable than his famous weapon. In March 2003, an attempt was made on his life. 70-year-old Glock received 7 blows to the head with a rubber mallet, rested in the clinic and returned to the post of head of his company. The attacker turned out to be Charles Ewert, a stealing Glock financier.

The performance characteristics of the pistol Glock 17

Cartridge 9×19 mm "Parabellum"
Job on the principle of recoil with a short stroke of the barrel, self-loading
Shutter locking method barrel descending with cams
Nutrition box magazine with a capacity of 17 rounds
Weight of unloaded pistol 620 g
Empty magazine weight 41 g
Loaded magazine weight 250 g
Length 188 mm
barrel length 114 mm
rifling hexagonal profile, right hand cut
sights fixed or movable; front sight and rear sight
starting speed about 350 m/s
muzzle energy about 500 J

And I would take the Glock-18, it has the ability to conduct automatic fire ...