Happy 25th, Glock U.S. - Off Duty, Sports, Hunting, Fishing - Navy Times

Happy 25th, Glock U.S.

Glock U.S. opened its doors 25 years ago with three desks, an IBM PC and a water cooler — and then grew to dominate the U.S. pistol market with 250 employees selling 450,000 pistols a year.

Glock U.S. says its pistols are used by 65 percent of the nation’s law enforcement agencies and units within the Army and Marine Corps. Even NASA’s SWAT team uses Glocks, so we can say that a Glock has got a good shot at becoming the first pistol in space.

Twenty-five years means a silver anniversary, so we were a little disappointed when Glock didn’t issue a functioning pistol made from sterling silver. But the silver badge inlay in the model 17’s rough textured frame grip does plenty to set the 25th anniversary model apart. In addition to the silver badge, the top of the slide is stamped with a 25th anniversary message.

Glock is releasing 2,500 pistols over the next few weeks — a number that allows enough people to get them without flooding the market and gutting their value as collectibles, according to Glock spokesperson Randi Rogers.

Other than the insert and stamp, the rest of the pistol is a bone stock Gen4 G17, just as Gaston Glock intends them to be sent into the world.

Glock chose to issue the Gen4 as the anniversary pistol because it showcases the advancements in design, materials and performance Glock has made over its 25-year history in the U.S.

Glock’s innovations such as the polymer frame, cold hammer forged barrel with polygonal rifling, and unique Safe Action are displayed with their most recent Gen4 updates such as adjustable grip panels, rough textured frame surface and the new enlarged and reversible magazine release.

Even the signature plastic Glock “Tupperware” pistol case has been dressed up in silver for the occasion. The inside features classy foam cutouts instead of the standard Glock egg-crate foam, along with a letter of authenticity. You get a pair of magazines — speed loader — along with the cleaning rod and brush normally sold with any Glock. The price is set at $850.

I’m hoping Glock U.S. will issue a solid gold Glock 19 for its golden anniversary in 2036, and that I’ll be around to see it.