Glock

Glock is a brand of polymer-framed, short recoil-operated, locked-breech semi-automatic pistols designed and produced by Austrian manufacturer Glock Ges.m.b.H. The firearm entered Austrian military and police service as the P80 in1982 after becoming the top performer in reliability and safety tests.

Glock pistols have become the company's most profitable line of products, and have been supplied to national armed forces, security agencies, and police forces in at least 48 countries. Glocks are also popular firearms among civilians for recreational and competition shooting, home- and self-defense, both in concealed or open carry.

The Glock Pistol series came about because of trials announced in 1980 by the Austrian army. These were held with the intention of obtaining a new military handgun. In 1982, Glock assembled a team of Europe's leading handgun experts.  Within three months, Glock had developed a working prototype that combined proven mechanisms and traits from previous pistol designs. In addition, the plan was to make extensive use of synthetic materials and modern manufacturing technologies, which led to the Glock 17 becoming a cost-effective candidate. The Austrian armed forces later adopted the Glock 17 as the P80.

The pistols use a short recoil, tilting barrel mechanism and with a ‘safe-action’ trigger system has a firing pin, with the mainspring being preloaded during the reloading cycle. The full cocking of the striker is achieved only by the pull of the trigger. There are no manual safeties on Glock pistols. Automated safeties include the trigger safety, which blocks the trigger if it is not pulled properly, the firing pin block, and the out-of-battery disconnector, which does not permit fire if the barrel is not fully locked to the slide.

The Glock pistols are easy to use, affordable, reliable, and modular. Because of this, the Glock has a huge aftermarket for it, it has become the AR-15 of the pistols. And it is still sitting on top of the throne.

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