One of the most popular types of small arms, adopted in more than thirty countries around the world, are Glock pistols. With their appearance, they revolutionized the gun industry and deservedly become the best of the best.
The first Glock-17 appeared in 1980, when the Austrian army decided to upgrade weapons. The founder of the company, Gaston Glock, recruited a team of the best gunsmiths in Europe and after 3 months presented a 9-mm pistol with a magazine for 17 rounds at the competition. Two years later, Glock pistols were adopted by the Austrian army, and in 1986 they were already delivered to the United States.
There are rumors about the elusiveness of this brand by a metal detector frame at airports thanks to ceramic details. This is not true - instead of ceramic, high-strength plastic is used, from which the gun frame is cast. The remaining parts - the shutter, mechanism and barrel - are made of steel. The myth of the metal detector was personally dispelled by Gaston Glock to reassure the US Secretary of Defense. He personally went through the frame several times at the airport, holding a Glock-17 pistol in his hands. The metal detector clearly reacted to the presence of weapons.
Why are Glock pistols so good? Their main advantage is low weight - only 870 grams with a full store (Glock-17). For comparison: the equipped 15-charge Beretta weighs 1095 g. This relief was made possible thanks to a plastic frame. The use of polymers also increases corrosion resistance, and the processing of steel parts using a unique technology makes them only slightly inferior in strength to diamonds. Another indisputable plus is the release by the family of companies for all pistol calibers - from 9 mm Luger / Parabellum to 11.43 mm with .45ACP. Each family has three models: full-size, subcompact and compact. In addition, many parts from different pistols of the same caliber are interchangeable and do not require adjustment. The ergonomic handle makes it equally convenient to shoot with both your right and left hand. And one cannot fail to mention the reliability and durability of the Glock - during the tests it was drowned in water and dirt, cleaned of grease dry, a truck was parked on it - and the gun continued to shoot, as if nothing had happened!
Of course, there are also disadvantages. Firstly, in the cold, the polymer of which the frame is made becomes very fragile - dropping a pistol in a 40-degree frost can be “broken”. Secondly, the trigger mechanism does not allow re-tipping the capsule in case of misfire - it is easier to distort the shutter by sacrificing one cartridge. Thirdly, the absence of external fuses often leads to a shot when trying to holster a gun. Quite a lot of American policemen after switching to the Glock ended up in hospitals with shot legs because of the bad habit of not taking their fingers off the trigger, covering their weapons.
Despite everything, Glock pistols are very popular all over the world. The company itself, updating the armament of the police, sells used pistols to the public. Buyers in the secondary market risk buying a used Glock pistol - the price of treating a shot leg will block the cost savings. The new Glock-17 in the United States costs about $ 800.