Glock 17

The Austrian Glock firearms are known for their unique combination of speed, safety, and ideal ergonomics. Glock 17 is one such firearm that has gained global recognition since its introduction in 1982. Its designer was Gaston Glock, a former engineer in the Austrian army. He saw an opportunity to develop a new type of handgun that would be more reliable and easier to use than existing designs. It became a favourite of military and law enforcement officers worldwide. The pistol is safe, quick, and easy to fire - precisely what they need in critical situations.

While shooters highly value the impressive magazine capacity of 17 rounds, the number 17 in its name doesn't actually refer to the number of rounds it can hold. It's named after the fact that it was the 17th patent filed by Gaston Glock. The story of the Glock 17 is a testament to its founder's ingenuity and determination. Despite having no experience designing or manufacturing weapons, he created a handgun that quickly gained popularity and has since become one of the most widely used handguns in the world.

Behaviour & construction

This semi-automatic 9mm handgun was built to be simple, reliable, and easy to use, with a striker-fired action. It was the first handgun using a polymer frame made from high-strength plastic. This innovation allowed the Glock 17 to be lightweight, durable, and corrosion-resistant, paving the way for other manufacturers to use polymer frames in their handguns. Its minimalistic design, with only a trigger, slide release, and magazine release, means that it can function in a wide range of conditions and is resistant to fouling and jamming. Plus, it is easy to maintain, with minimal cleaning and lubrication requirements.

Fields of use

The Glock 17 was designed initially as a military and law enforcement sidearm and is used by them worldwide. It is also popular among civilian shooters for self-defence, recreational shooting, and competitive events. This versatile handgun suits various applications, including personal protection, target shooting, and hunting. Following its successful performance in safety and reliability shooting tests by 1982, the Glock pistol was adopted by the Austrian police and military service.

Interesting facts

The Glock 17 has also become a familiar firearm in pop culture, featured in many movies and video games. It is a popular choice for filmmakers due to its widespread use in the military and law enforcement communities and its reputation for unmatched reliability and ease of use. From Die Hard to John Wick, this pistol has made its mark on the silver screen, often being the go-to weapon for action heroes.

Other examples of movies are The Matrix, Lethal, Weapon, 24, The Dark Knight, NCIS, The Walking Dead, Mission: Impossible, Taken, Blackhawk, Down, The Bourne Ultimatum, Terminator 2: Judgment Day, Pulp Fiction, The Fifth Element, The Book of Eli, The Boondock Saints, The Departed, Serenity, The Prestige, Casino Royale, Quantum of Solace, Skyfall and Spectre.

The Glock 17 is often used in first-person shooter games. Its inclusion helps add to the realism and authenticity of the gameplay experience. You can try it out in Call of Duty, Halo, Rainbow Six, Counter-Strike, Battlefield, Grand Theft Auto, Far Cry, Metal Gear, Solid, Sniper Elite, Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six, Doom, Bioshock Infinite, Crysis, Ghost Recon, Gears of War, Killzone: Shadow Fall, Mafia III and Metal Gear Solid.