Glock Number System - A common question for new Glock buyers is "What generation is my Glock?" Prior to the release of the fourth generation, Glock was not officially recognized by more than a model number, contributing to the idea that "A Glock is a Glock is a Glock, all the same." But early collectors noticed the difference and informally decided on three main iterations, or "generations," used for sorting. The nomenclature became so common that Glock followed suit with the release of the Gen 4 in 2008 and their promotional literature now highlights the previous Gen in several places.
The images below will help you clearly identify which generation your Glock is part of, but be aware that there is a lot of overlap as the models move slowly. Also, the 3rd gen rifle is still in production due to California gun restrictions so you could have a 5th gen rifle that is actually older than your 3rd gen. Image captions identify major features that are consistent across generations, but small changes in markings and internals can be found at different intervals (and sometimes back and forth) within the same gene. Thus, hard breaks between generations only dictate major frame revisions, with many parts being interchangeable between two or more, but some changes only being short-term within a generation.
Glock Number System
The first generation is a generation that is constantly changing. The initial design, while reliable, is still under development. A consistent feature is the grip texture that wraps around the grip (no front or back straps). It has a more refined feel than later generations and has been considered a "pebble texture" by collectors. Early guns featured a thinner stainless steel barrel with a parkerized finish introduced early (no later than the AD prefix) and increased barrel wall thickness no later than the AN prefix. There are some variations in the magazine, box and small interior as well. All firearms will have Austrian proof marks, but not consistent mark placement or number. Very early (pre-US) firearms and those intended for the European market do not have a serial number plate on the frame. Most early rifles were also equipped with target sights that were later called "weak sights" because of their fragility. The standard (fixed) sight is also period correct, although the target version will have a premium. All frames have a half-moon relief on the bottom of the front strap, except for some 19s.
Mm Glock Models [ultimate Guide]
The second generation is what many novice collectors or uninformed dealers will refer to as "Gen. 1". The confusion comes from two factors: 1. The first generation is extremely rare and many casual observers may never have seen it before. 2. Many models were introduced in the Second Generation lineup and some consider it "First Generation" because it was the first issue of that particular model. To top things off, if you have a model 20 or higher, you have a Gen 2 Glock even though it was the first version of the gun that was made. The obvious differentiator between the 1 and 2 for the 17-19 models is that a box has been added to the front and rear straps and the texture of the side panels changes (deeper than Gen 1). Gen 2 also saw the introduction of 5 additional calibers and all non-.380/9mm barrels were fitted with a second locking pin to prevent frame cracking by heavier coils. It is important to note that the number of pins does NOT indicate generation, as many believe. 9mm frames only have two gen 1 pins well into gen 3 production, while the other calibers will have 3 pins. All full size frames carry a magnetic well relief at the bottom of the front strap.
By the late 1990s, Glock had become the dominant force in the American firearms market, and other manufacturers were scrambling to copy the design. This led to some pressure to "innovate" the Glock design to try to stay ahead of the pack. The Gen 3 changes really started with the launch of the subcompact model in 1995. It was believed that the grip would be too small for many to hold, so a finger slot was molded into the front strap to try and increase purchase and prevent rotation. due to the recoil. This started a 3 year transition period until the full changeover came to all models in 98. Some larger frame transition models are quite rare (especially in offset variations); see https:///transitional/ for more information. The Gen 3 will feature a finger slot on the front strap, a thumb recess at the top of the grip, and an accessory rail molded into the antipo case. As mentioned above, ONLY for the 9mm caliber, you will still find the 2-pin design during the early 3rd gen. The frame was simplified to all 3 pins in the early 2000s.
By the time the fourth generation was released, Glock had become the ubiquitous "gun" but once again found itself facing challengers with more innovative designs. One of the trends that caught the attention of consumers was having an interchangeable back strap to better fit the grip on different hand sizes. Glock first experimented with narrower grips on the Gen 3 SF model (that was only available in .45 and 10mm calibers). A modular rear strap system brings SF proportions to all frames with two oversize options and even a beavertail adapter. The internals were redesigned from the ground up and were actually built with the .40S&W recoil profile in mind and reduced to 9mm (where the Gen 1-3 was designed backwards). This should prove to make the .40 model more durable while continuing the legendary reliability of the 9. The grip texture has also changed to a more aggressive pattern on the side panels; this, again, was first experienced in the short term of last generation 3 rifles with the so-called "RTF2" texture. The RTF2 is technically a Gen 3, maybe a Gen 3.5 and was only produced (apart from period special editions) from 2009 to 2011; see the image at the bottom of this page.
The first Gen 5 models were actually preceded by the release of the new slimline subcompact models 42 and 43. These models started as a basic redesign with all new internal components to accommodate the smaller dimensions and the FBI played a role in this change. to the larger guns with their requests for the Model M. The 19X, 42, 43, 43X, 44, 45, and 48 models don't technically carry the Gen 5 designation on the slide, but they are always in line with other Gen 5 guns. The 17 and 19 were officially released as Gen 5 in 2017 and were followed by other 9mm and .40 S&W offerings, but so far no .357 Sig, 10mm, or .45 ACP offerings have occurred. Major notable changes include the "shooter" barrel, fully ambidextrous controls, flared magwell, and removal of the front strap finger slot.
Glock Gen 4 Competition Pistol
There are (at least) two other possible designs found that are either really outside the generation gap or different enough to be difficult to identify from the above discourse: 1. Third generation RTF2 and 2. FBI M series.
RTF2 stands for "rough texture frame, second version". The first version was only made as a prototype and was never released although at least one is on display at the Cody Firearms Museum. The designers came up with the second version and a new mold was created to incorporate this grip texture into the standard 3rd generation design. All the internals are the same, so the only difference is the texture of the grip. As you can see in the exploded photo, the entire grip is covered in a small pyramid, and let me tell you, it's sharp. This gun will stick to your hand very well, even when it's wet. Glock marketed this primarily to law enforcement between 2009 and 2011, but the design is a clear stepping stone between the third- and fourth-generation guns. The pyramid concept was carried forward but with a larger pyramid as the RTF2 is prone to wear from clothing. See https:///rtf2g/ for more images.
Lastly, we should also talk about the FBI M Series Pistol. The 17M and 19M actually preceded and perhaps inspired the Gen 5 weapon. They were built to specifications requested by the FBI as the department's new service weapon and incorporated several design changes from the mini 42/43 models as well as some new ideas. . These were the first Glocks with ambidextrous controls and changes to the rifling designed to improve accuracy. On the outside, however, the M pistol will look and feel almost identical to the Gen 5; the main difference is the interior, so most collectors will consider it part of the Gen 5 family. However, for the right people, the "M" added to the model designation will make a lot of difference in the price they want
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