Glock U. S. opened its doors 25 years ago with three desks, an IBM PC and a water cooler — and then grew to 250 employees selling 450,000 pistols a year over the course of its rise to dominance in the U. S. pistol market.
Glock U. S. says its pistols are used by 65 percent of the nation's law enforcement agencies as well as by units within the Army and Marine Corps. Heck, 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 19's rough texture frame grip does plenty to set the 25th anniversary model apart. In addition to the silver badge, the top of the slide is tampon printed 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 badge and the stamp on the slide, the rest of the pistol is a bone stock 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 all of the advancements in design, materials and performance that 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 Glock's unique Safe Action, are displayed with their most recent Gen4 updates such as adjustable backstrap, 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 eggcrate 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 Glock set the price at $850.
Glock's golden anniversary hits in 2036. I'm holding out for two things for Glock's 50th, that the anniversary pistol will be a solid gold Glock 19, and that I'll be around to see it.
We'd also like to thank our friends at Virginia Arms in Manassas, Va., for helping us with the transfer of the pistol on such short notice. The guys are professional and pleasant to work with... and let's face it, that's rare for a gun shop. And before anyone asks, the pistol is on a Mayflower Research and Consulting Low-Profile Assault Armor Carrier with a Blackhawk Serpa CQC holster.
[nggallery id=380]
