History Of Glock - A very common question for new Glock buyers is "What generation is my Glock from?" Before the release of the fourth generation, Glock was not officially recognized by more than model numbers, which contributed to the idea that "A Glock is a Glock is a Glock: they're all the same." But early collectors noticed the differences and informally settled on three main iterations, or "generations," by which they could be classified. The nomenclature became so commonplace that Glock followed suit with the release of the Gen 4 in 2008, and their promotional literature now highlights the previous Gens in several places.
The pictures below will help you clearly identify which generation your Glock is a part of, but keep in mind that there is a lot of overlap as the models slowly transitioned. Also, 3rd generation guns are still being manufactured due to California firearms restrictions, so you could have a 5th generation gun that is actually older than your 3rd generation. The main features are consistent throughout a generation, but minor changes to markings and internals can be found at different intervals, and sometimes back and forth, within the same generation. Thus, the heavy breaks between releases mark only significant revisions to the framework, with many parts being interchangeable between two or more, but some changes lasting only a short time in one version.
History Of Glock
The first generation was a generation of constant change. The initial design, although reliable, was still under development. One constant feature is the grip texture that wraps around the entire mount (no cracks on the front or back strap). It has a softer feel compared to later generations and is considered a "pebble texture" by collectors. Early guns had a thinner stainless steel barrel with a Parkerized finish introduced early (no later than the AD prefix) and the barrel wall thickness increased no later than the AN prefix. There are several variations on the charger, the case, and also small internal parts. All weapons will have Austrian proof marks, but not a consistent placement or number of marks. Very early (pre-US) pistols and those intended for European markets do not have a serial plate on the frame. Most early guns were also equipped with sights that were called "Weak Sights" because of their fragility. The standard (fixed) sights are also period accurate, although the target version will have a premium. All frames had a crescent shaped embossment on the bottom of the front straps except for the few 19's that were made.
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The second generation is what many novice collectors or even uninformed dealers will refer to as "Generation 1". The confusion stems from two factors: 1. Gen 1s are very rare and many casual observers may not have seen them before. 2. Many models were introduced in the 2nd Gen line and some consider them "1st Gen" because that is the first number of that particular model. To make things clear, if you have a model 20 or higher, you have a Glock Gen 2 even though it is the first version of that gun. The clear difference between 1 and 2 for the 17-19 models is that checks were added to the front and rear straps, as well as a change in the texture of the side panels (deeper than in the first generation). Generation 2 also saw the introduction of 5 additional calibers and all non-.380/9mm pistols were fitted with a second locking pin to prevent frame breakage due to higher recoil. It is important to note that the number of pins does NOT indicate generation, as many believe. 9mm frames only have two pins from Gen 1 to Gen 3 production, while all other calibers will have 3 pins. All full size frames are carried over the hole relief at the bottom of the front strap.
By the late 1990s, Glock had become the dominant force in the American gun market, and other manufacturers were quick to copy the design. This created some pressure to "innovate" the Glock design to try to stay ahead. The Gen 3 changes actually began with the release of the subcompact models in 1995. It was believed that the grip would be too small for many to grasp, so toe grooves were molded into the front strap to try to increase purchase and prevent rotation due to kickback. This began a 3-year transition period until the full changes hit all models in '98. Some of the larger transitional frame patterns are quite rare (especially in ported variations); see https:///transitional/ for more information. The Gen 3 will have finger grooves on the front strap, thumb rest recesses on the top of the handle, and an extra rail inserted into the dust cover. As mentioned above, for 9mm calibers ONLY, you will still find 2-pin layouts during the early Gen 3 series. Frames were simplified to all 3-pins in the early 2000s.
By the time the fourth generation was released, Glock had become a ubiquitous "pistol", but was once again challenged by more innovative designs. One of the trends that caught the attention of consumers was to have interchangeable back straps to better adjust the grip to different hand sizes. Glock first experimented with narrower grips on the Gen 3 SF models (they were only available in .45 and 10mm calibers). The modular rear strap system brought SF proportions to all frames with two top size options and even Beavertail adapter inserts. The internals were redesigned from the ground up and actually built with the .40S&W recoil profile in mind, then downsized to 9mm (where Gen 1-3 were designed the opposite way). This should make the .40 models more durable while continuing the legendary reliability of the 9s. The grip texture was also changed to a more aggressive pattern on the side panels; this, again, was first experienced in a short run of late Gen 3 guns with the so-called "RTF2" texture. The RTF2s are technically Gen 3, possibly Gen 3.5 and were only produced (aside from the occasional special editions) from 2009 to 2011; see the image at the bottom of this page.
The first Gen 5 models were actually preceded by the release of the new slim subcompact Models 42 and 43. These models started out as ground-up redesigns with all new internals to accommodate the smaller dimensions and the FBI played a role in these changes. on the larger guns with their requirement for M models. The 19X, 42, 43, 43X, 44, 45, and 48 models do not technically carry a Gen 5 designation on the slide, but they still align more closely with the other Gen guns. 5. The 17 and 19 were officially announced as Gen 5 in 2017 and were followed by the other 9mm and .40 S&W offerings, but no .357 Sig, 10mm, or .45 ACP offerings have been produced to date. Major changes of note include a "shooter" barrel, fully ambidextrous controls, flared magwell, and removal of the front toe strap grooves.
Glock' By Paul Barrett: Interview And Excerpt
One can find (at least) two other designs that are either really beyond generational differences or are different enough to be difficult to identify from the old talk: 1. Third generation RTF2 and 2. FBI M-series.
RTF2 stands for "Rough Texture Frame, Version 2". The first version was only made as a prototype and was never released, although at least one is on display at the Cody Firearms Museum. The designers landed on the second version and new molds were made to incorporate this grip texture into the standard third generation design. All internal parts are the same, so the only difference will be the texture of the handle. As you can see in the enlarged picture, the entire handle is covered in little pyramids, and let me tell you, they are sharp! This gun will really stick to your hand, even when wet. Glock primarily sold them to law enforcement from 2009 to 2011, but the design is a clear stepping stone between the third- and fourth-generation weapons. The pyramid concept was carried forward, but with larger pyramids, as the RTF2s were prone to wear and tear and wear through clothing. See https:///rtf2g/ for more photos.
Finally, we also need to talk about the FBI's M-series pistol. The 17M and 19M actually preceded and may have inspired the Gen 5 weapons. They were built to the specifications required by the FBI as new service weapons and incorporated some of the design changes from the mini 42/ models. 43, as well as some new ideas. These were the first Glocks with ambiguous controls and changes to the rifling designed to improve accuracy. From the outside, however, the M gun will look and feel almost exactly like the Gen 5; the main differences are internal, so most collectors would consider them part of the Gen 5 family. However, for the right person, the added "M" to the model designation will make a difference in the price you want. to pay.
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