(Review) Glock’s 17 Semi-automatic pistol

In 1963, a young gentleman named Gaston Glock began his professional career in working with plastics and metals. After spending the next 18 years learning his trade, Gaston founded Glock GES.M.B.H. in 1981and then proceeded to introduce a profound series of engineering feats that literally redefined what was possible in a modern pistol! In fact, today, Glock is the leading manufacturer of pistols worldwide and, their reputation for safety, durability, reliability, and ease of use has created a dedicated civilian and law enforcement following.

In fact, the model 17 was Glock’s first introduction to the market and it took us all by surprise because it is a polymer framed, striker fired, handgun with a steel slide and barrel chambered for the 9 x 19mm Parabellum cartridge. Also, it features a 4 1/2” barrel with Glock’s proprietary, right-hand twist, hexagonal, rifling with a twist rate of 1in 9.84 inches and a 17 round magazine (made of a hardened steel insert covered in high tech polymer) for a total capacity of 18 rounds. In addition, has a fixed front sight with a drift adjustable rear sight and features Glock’s “Safe Action” trigger with a standard trigger pull of 5 1/2 lbs. and a standard trigger travel of 1/2”. Plus, it also features a full length recoil spring guide, a molded rail under the barrel for mounting a laser or a tactical flashlight, and low profile slide and magazine releases. Last, it has an overall length of 8 inches and an overall height of 5 1/2″ and has an unloaded weight of 22 oz. and a loaded weight of 32 oz.

However, what really sets the Glock 17 apart from the other pistols that were available when it was first introduced is the fact that it has no hammer. Instead, it has an internal, spring-loaded, Striker very similar to a standard pistol’s firing pin. Consequently, when the slide is racked, the striker is partially drawn to the rear where it is held in place by the internal safety mechanism in a half-cock position. Then, when the safety lever on the “Safe Action” trigger is depressed, a small bar is drawn downwards; thus unlocking the striker which then requires a 1/2” pull on the trigger itself to reach the fully cocked position where it is then released to strike the cartridge’s primer. Also, by removing the hammer from the rear of the pistol, the lock time is decreased for greater accuracy. In addition, while some firearms enthusiasts may disparage this type of firing system, it does have the advantage of being double-action-only which can possibly decrease your liability in a situation where you are forced to use your handgun to defend yourself or your family and are then faced with a criminal or civil law suit. Plus, striker fired pistols tend to place the web of the shooter’s hand farther forward for better balance which tends to lead to better accuracy. Furthermore, the angle between the bore plane and the grip has been carefully calculated to be very ergonomic and thus, it does an excellent job of absorbing recoil and doesn’t cause the muzzle to rise alarmingly when the pistol is fired. Also, the pebbled sides combined with the checkered back strap, the checkered finger grooves, and the concave trigger guard, give the Glock 17 pistol a very comfortable feel that allows the muzzle to be pointed very naturally at the target without undue effort required to align the sights. In addition, regardless of whether you are a civilian with a concealed carry permit or a law enforcement officer, you undoubtedly know just how arduous it can be to have to carry a fully loaded, steel frame, pistol all day long. Consequently, the polymer framed Glock 17, weighing a mere 32 oz. when fully loaded, makes this an excellent pistol for all day carry.

Thus, considering that the Glock 17 is the most widely used pistol of choice by law enforcement officers worldwide with a civilian following that is just as large, it would appear that consumers have exercised their economic vote resoundingly for the Glock 17 pistol. Plus, with several other very popular models available in numerous different calibers, it would appear that Glock will with be with us for a long time to come.