The Glock 17 pistol
Like many other major gun manufacturers, the Austrian firm Glock has seen its name widely used in popular culture. It is therefore not uncommon to hear in the cinema, or even in song lyrics, that so-and-so carries a Glock, has drawn his Glock, etc... If we guess that, in the imagination, the name is synonymous with power, we rarely know what it refers to precisely. In fact, the firm has long had the habit of developing its weapons every year, or even several times a year. The same model can thus be declined in a multitude of nuances. The Glock 17, a semi-automatic pistol produced since 1980, has gone through five major generations, five phases of more or less significant modifications that have improved its system.
A strong identity
While models vary in detail, the Glock 17 nonetheless carries a strong identity. A Glock 17 is black, its shape rectangular. It is compact, easy to hold thanks to its palm-friendly grip. Since the third generation, grooves have been added to make it more stable. It is also a very light pistol for a weapon of this power.
The innovative aspect of the Glock 17 is that it is simply the first handgun designed in polymer. In addition to the weight advantage this provides, the polymer allows the weapon to be used in all circumstances, regardless of the temperature. The recoil shock at the time of firing is much less significant as it is a flexible material, which also does not undergo oxidation. Finally, the polymer has made it possible to drastically reduce production costs and to market this weapon at a very competitive price.
Another innovation is that the Glock 17 has a firing pin. This means that if a round is misfired, it can be re-cocked without having to eject the round. The risk of the weapon jamming is therefore limited.
Finally, the Glock 17, which fires 9 mm Parabellum ammunition, has a 17-round magazine. At the time of its production launch, the lowest capacity magazines on the market were 12 rounds, the largest 15 rounds. The Glock 17 thus had an advantage.
A widespread weapon with many variants
Competitively priced, highly reliable, with a maximum cartridge capacity, the Glock 17 had everything it needed to become very popular. In fact, in the early 1990s, the Glock 17 was used by the armed forces and law enforcement agencies of more than 40 countries around the world.
In France, it is used by the elite GIGN, GIPN and RAID units. In the United States, many police services have made it their service weapon. In Germany, the Glock 17 is the weapon of choice for the elite federal police, particularly the rapid intervention units. A large number of variants of the Glock 17 exist and are dedicated to specific uses. These include the Glock 17M, designed for combat swimmers, with its slits on the firing pin allowing water to drain away, and the Glock 17L, a sport shooting weapon equipped with a 15 cm barrel.
At the same time, the Glock 17 is, as already mentioned, very much a part of popular culture and, in film and television, it is a weapon used by both good and bad guys.
The latest model: Glock 17 Gen 5
As its name indicates, the modifications to this weapon constitute the fifth generation. It is the one that now equips the forces of the French army, replacing the PA MAS G1 and the PA MAC 50.
Once again, its robustness, reliability, lightness and ergonomics are highlighted. Its lightness makes it a weapon that allows precision shooting whatever the circumstances. The serrations on the slide allow the weapon to be handled with great dexterity, even with a wet or sweaty hand. This highly effective weapon is ambidextrous, so it can be used by both right and left handed users, which is not insignificant. The barrel has polygonal rifling and a crown to further improve shooting accuracy.
The replicas available on the gun shop
At Jean Pierre Fusil, we offer several replicas of the Glock 17 under the brand Umarex. These are alarm pistols or rubber ball guns used for home defence.
Glock 17 Gen 5 Alarm Pistol
Blank or gas ammunition
Comes with several accessories
