Introduction
Glock has received a lot of love and criticism throughout the years for its method of “upgrading” products. Some generations had finger groves, some took them away and many other changes get lost in the shuffle. So, to make it easier for you to compare the various Glock Generations, we put together an infographic that gives a detailed list of all impactful changes made on everyone’s favorite polymer-framed, striker-fired pistol from 1984 to present day. [Check out our aftermarket Glock barrels for many popular Glock pistols and P320 barrels!]
Glock Gen 1 (1982-1987)
Gaston Glock, an Austrian engineer, founded his company GLOCK in 1963. Early in the company's history they manufactured knives, grenade casings, and machine gun belt links for the Austrian military. The first Glock 17 was made in the early 80's after winning a contract with the Austrian military, and quickly gained a reputation for its reliability, easy cleaning, and accuracy. Glock quickly gained contracts with both Norway and Sweden, and attracted the attention of U.S. Law Enforcement, entering the U.S. market in 1986. [Shop aftermarket Glock 17 barrels from Bear Creek Arsenal.]
Glock Gen 2 (1988-1997)
Glock made several key changes to its "perfect" handgun in 1988, the most notable being it's 6 part upgrade kit that addressed some safety concerns with the Gen 1 models. Checkering was added to the front strap and backstrap for the first time and many additional calibers and models were introduced, including the ultra-popular Glock 19 and subcompact Glock 26. [Shop our aftermarket Glock 19 barrels and Glock 26 barrels here.]
Glock Gen 3 (1998-2009)
Generation 3 Glocks were introduced in 1998 with mostly minor changes being implemented including the addition of an accessory rail to allow for optics and lights to be attached. The controversial finger grooves and thumb rests were also included in this generation, beginning years of arguing over their usefulness. Glock also expanded into new calibers during this era with the addition of the Glock 31 (.357 Sig) and Glock 37 (.45 GAP) and began offering new finishes (FDE and Olive Drab).
Glock Gen 4 (2010-2016)
Glock Generation 4 was launched in 2010 at SHOT Show. The most notable difference between Gen 4 and 3 being the introduction of the Glock Modular Backstrap that allowed users to swap backstraps for various trigger reaches. Dual magazine springs were added to reduce felt recoil and "Gen 4" is now engraved on the side of the stock slide. Many new Glock models were unveiled, including the Glock 19X which blended the best of the Glock 17 and 19 models by offering a full-length grip that accepted Glock 17 magazines with a Glock 19 length slide.
Glock Gen 5 (2017-Present)
At last, we arrive at Generation 5, Glock's present attempt at achieving perfection. Some aesthetic changes were made, most notable being the nDLC Coating on the slide. Finger grooves were not included for the first time since Generation 2 models and the slide stop lever was made ambidextrous to accommodate left-handed operators. Glock also decided to modify the magazine well for easier reloading by adding a slight bevel and flare. Finally, Glock Marksman Barrels were introduced, with tighter tolerances for improved accuracy.
Final Shots
While some would argue nothing has changed for Glocks other than calibers and aesthetics, hopefully this infographic clarifies that this is not the case and gives you a better idea of which generation would be the best fit for you. Bear Creek Arsenal offers aftermarket Glock Barrels for 9mm Glock 17, 19, and 26 handguns for those looking to improve the accuracy and look of their stock components. We also offer 9mm conversion Glock 22 barrels and Glock 23 barrels which allow you to enjoy the lower recoil and cheaper ammo of 9mm. Watch our YouTube video to see how we manufacture replacement barrels for Glock handguns completely in-house here in Sanford, NC and check out our Sig P320 barrels as well!
