The Glock 17, instantly recognizable with its strong identity — black, rectangular and compact — is the essential sidearm of the Municipal Police. Let's dive into the history of one of the most renowned pistols in the world.
Designed and manufactured in 1980 by the Austrian weapons manufacturer Glock, the Glock 17 is a semi-automatic pistol intended for police forces and the military. There are five main generations of the Glock 17. Since the third, grooves have been added for greater stability.
The different variants and features of the Glock 17
The Glock 17L is a sport-shooting version, fitted with a 15 cm barrel.
The Glock 17M is intended for combat divers and marine commandos. This variant is equipped with a firing pin kit featuring water drainage slots so that water cannot prevent the pistol from firing during or after immersion.
The Glock 17C is fitted with a recoil compensator that reduces muzzle rise when firing. This compensator has two ports on the top of the slide and holes on the top of the barrel, allowing the gases produced by the burning powder to escape.
The Glock 17F, for its part, is fitted with a threaded barrel. (A barrel thread is characterized by its outside diameter measured at the crest of the threads. Its pitch is the number of threads over a given length, or the distance measured between the crests of each thread. The angle of these threads is 55° or 60°.)
The Glock 17, a pioneering firearm
The Glock 17 is one of the most renowned pistols in the world, not only for its light weight and compact design, but above all for its pioneering nature.
Indeed, when it was released, the Glock 17 was the first pistol to be made of polymer. At the time, using this material for a firearm was highly innovative. Polymer is a material that offers many advantages, such as the ability to use the weapon in extreme temperatures, very low production costs, zero oxidation, and reduced recoil thanks to the flexibility of the material.
As a further innovation, it features a striker-fired mechanism, which makes it possible to re-cock the weapon without changing the cartridge if a round fails to fire. This system reduces jamming. Finally, the Glock 17, which uses 9 mm Parabellum ammunition, has a 17-round magazine. When it went into production, the smallest-capacity magazine on the market held 12 rounds and the largest 15 rounds.
As mentioned above, the Glock 17 is recognizable because it has a strong identity. The weapon is matte black. It has grip serrations at the front and rear of the grip, as well as a rectangular trigger guard that tapers to a point at its lower section. The model marking can be found on the front left of the slide.
In France, the Glock 17 is a weapon commonly used by the Municipal Police, but certain elite units such as the GIPN, the GIGN and the RAID are also equipped with it.
The latest generation of this weapon (generation five) is now standard issue for the French army, replacing the PA MAS G1 and PA MAC 50. Once again, it was chosen for its qualities such as light weight, reliability, power and ergonomics. In recent years, lightness and ergonomics have been increasingly sought after in the law enforcement sector. Today, in addition to polymer weapons, you can also find neoprene Glock 17 holsters, which are likewise lighter than those made of other materials.
The light weight of this pistol makes it an accurate firearm in all situations. The serrations on the slide allow the weapon to be handled with great dexterity, even with wet or clammy hands. It is important to mention that this weapon is ambidextrous and can be operated by both right-handed and left-handed users.
By 1992, Glock was already equipping the military and law enforcement of 45 countries. In 2007, more than sixty countries were equipped with the Glock 17. Here are a few countries that use it:
United States: In the 1990s, it was used by numerous police departments such as the Baltimore Police Department, the Miami-Dade Police Department and the Saint Paul Police Department.
United Kingdom: It is used by the Special Air Service and the British Special Forces, but also by all the armed forces since 2013, replacing the Browning GP.
Canada: Since 2013, it has been used by officers of the Sûreté du Québec, and since 2021 the Quebec correctional services have also been equipped with the Glock 17.
How to maintain and clean your Glock 17?
Regular maintenance of the Glock 17 is essential to ensure optimal performance and longevity. Here are a few tips for maintaining and cleaning your weapon:
- Store the Glock 17 in a cool, dry place to prevent corrosion.
- Use only cleaning and lubrication products recommended by the manufacturer.
- Regularly inspect the parts for signs of wear or damage and replace them if necessary.
Required equipment: Firearm oil, cleaning solvent, barrel brushes, cotton cloths, cleaning rod, bore brush, etc.
Maintenance frequency:
- After each use: A quick cleaning to remove powder and residue.
- Monthly: A full servicing if the weapon has not been used.
- After 500 rounds: Thorough cleaning and detailed inspection of the components.
The Glock 17 in popular culture
The Glock 17 is one of the most widespread pistols in film and television since the mid-1980s. On television, it can also be seen in the hands of many police officers or criminals, notably in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Alarm für Cobra 11, CSI and so on. It often replaces the Glock 22, which is the model actually used by US police officers.
On our screens, the Glock 17 also appears in several video games such as Rainbow Six, The Last of Us Part II and Call of Duty Modern Warfare II. It often appears under a different name or with features that differ from the real version.
In short, the Glock 17 is a weapon that has made a lasting impression thanks to its innovative spirit, but also over the long term with its reliability and its compact, rugged design.
Why choose GK Pro accessories and holsters for the Glock 17?
At GK, the Glock 17 is at the heart of our product range. We have developed several holsters to secure your weapon on a daily basis, such as the Tactiknight Holster, our famous injected civilian retention holster and the Strium Retention G3 holster
Discover all our holsters and accessories for your Glock 17 here
Injected civilian retention holster
Inside universel stg
Medium-ride retention holster