Glock 42 Generations - A very common question for new Glock buyers is "What gen is my Glock?" Prior to the release of the 4th generation, Glock no longer officially recognized model numbers, promoting the idea that "A Glock is a Glock is a Glock - They're all the same." But early collectors noticed the differences and informally settled on three main iterations, or "generations," to classify. The nomenclature became so common that Glock followed suit with the release of the Gen 4 in 2008 and their promotional literature now emphasizes the previous Gens in some places.
The pictures below will help you clearly identify which generation your Glock is a part of, but note that there is a lot of overlap as models have been modified. Plus, 3rd gen guns are still in production due to handgun restrictions in California, so you could have a 5th gen gun that is actually older than your 3rd gen! The captions to the figures identify key features that are consistent throughout the generation, but minor changes in markings and internals can be found at varying intervals - and sometimes back and forth - within the same Gen. Thus, hard breaks between generations indicate only significant frame changes, with many parts being interchangeable between two or more, but some changes lasting only a short time within a generation.
Glock 42 Generations
The first generation was ever-changing. The initial design, while reliable, was still under development. One consistent feature is the grip texture that wraps around the entire grip (no front or rear check). It has a smoother feel compared to later generations and has been considered a "stone finish" by collectors. Early rifles had a thinner stainless steel barrel with parkerized finish introduced early (no later than the AD prefix) and a barrel wall thickness no later than the N prefix. Various variations are also available in magazine, holster and small internal parts. All rifles will have Austrian proof marks, but not consistent placement or number of points. Many early (for US) rifles and those intended for European markets do not have a serial number plate in the frame. Most early rifles were also equipped with sights known as "Weakend Sights" due to their fragility. Standard (fixed) angles are also period correct, although the target version will offer a premium. All frames had a crescent magwell relief at the bottom of the front tires, except for the few 19's that are made.
Test: Glock G41 And G42
2nd Gen is what many novice collectors or even uninformed dealers will refer to as "Gen 1." The confusion stems from two factors: 1. Genus 1 are very rare, and many casual observers may not have seen one. 2. Many models were introduced in the 2nd Gen line and some consider them "1st Gen" because they are the first version of that particular model. To be clear, if you have a model 20 or newer, you have a Gen 2 Glock even though it is the first version of that gun produced. A distinct difference between the 1 and 2 for models 17-19 is the addition of a checkered color to the front and rear tires, as well as a change in the texture of the side panels (deeper than 1st Gen). Gen 2 also saw the introduction of 5 additional calibers, and all non-.380/9mm rifles were equipped with a second locking block pin to prevent frame cracking due to heavier recoil. It is important to note that the number of pins does NOT indicate generation, as many people think. 9mm frames only have two pins from Gen 1 to Gen 3 production, while all other calibers will have 3 pins. All full-size frames carry magwell relief at the bottom of the front deck.
By the late 1990s, Glock had become a dominant force in the American gun market, and other manufacturers struggled to copy the design. This led to some pressure to "innovate" the Glock design in an attempt to stay ahead of the pack. The Gen 3 changes really started with the release of the sub-compact models in 1995. It was thought that the grip would be too small for many people to hold onto, so finger grooves were molded into the front tire in an attempt to increase and prevent seizing. rotation due to backlash. This began a 3-year transition period until all changes reached all models in '98. Some of the larger frame transitional models are quite rare (especially in transit) - see https:///transitional/ for details. The Gen 3 will have a finger groove on the front strap, thumb pumps on the top of the handle, and an accessory track molded into the dust cover. As mentioned above, ONLY for the 9mm caliber you will still find the 2-pin design on the first Gen 3 run. The frames were streamlined to all 3-pins in the early 2000s.
By the time the 4th generation was introduced, Glock had become a ubiquitous "handgun" but once again faced challengers with innovative designs. One of the trends that caught on with consumers was to have interchangeable backstraps to better fit the grip to different hand sizes. Glock first experimented with narrower grips in the Gen 3 SF models (they were only available in .45 and 10mm calibers). The modular backstrap system brought SF proportions to all frames with two options for larger sizes 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 then scaled down to 9mm (where Gen 1-3 were designed the opposite way). This should make the .40 models more durable, while continuing the legendary reliability of the 9s. The grip finish has also been changed to a more aggressive pattern on the side panels - again this was first experimented with in a short run of late Gen 3 rifles with the so-called "RTF2" finish. The RTF2's are technically Gen 3, maybe Gen 3.5 and were only produced from 2009 to 2011 (aside from special editions during that period) - see the picture at the bottom of this page.
The first Gen 5 models were actually preceded by new subcompact smartline models 42 and 43. These models started as basic redesigns with all new internal components to accommodate the smaller dimensions and the FBI was involved in these changes which were in walk . out to the bigger guns with their request for an M model. The Model 19X, 42, 43, 43X, 44, 45, and 48 technically do not carry the Gen 5 designation on the slide, but are never closely aligned with other Gen 5 rifles. The 17 and 19 were officially released as Gen 5s in 2017 and were followed by the other 9mm and .40 S&W offerings but so far no .357 Sig, 10mm or .45 ACP offerings have been produced. Major changes include the "shooter" barrel, fully ambidextrous controls, flared magwell and removal of the front toe grooves.
Duty Package For All Glock Models
There are (at least) two more designs that can be encountered that really fall out of the generation gap or are different enough to be difficult to distinguish from the above discussion: 1. RTF2 3rd Gen & 2. FBI M Series.
RTF2 is short for "Rough Texture Frame, Second Edition." The first version was only made as a prototype and never released although at least one is on display in the Cody Firearms Museum. The designers landed on the second version and new shapes were made to incorporate this grip texture into the standard 3rd Gen design. All internal parts are identical so the only difference will be the texture of the grip. As you can see in the exploded view, the entire artifact is covered in little pyramids - and let me tell you, they are sharp! This gun will really stick to your hand even when wet. Glock marketed it mostly to law enforcement between 2009 and 2011, but the design is a clear step between the third and fourth generation revolvers. The pyramid concept was carried over, but with larger pyramids, as the RTF2s tended to wear and tear through clothing as well. See https:///rtf2g/ for more images.
Finally, we also need to talk about the FBI's M-series pistol. The 17M and 19M actually preceded and perhaps inspired the Gen 5 rifles. They were built to specifications requested by the FBI as a new service weapon and incorporated some of the design changes from the mini 42/43 models as well as some new ideas. These were the first Glocks with dual controls and modifications to the gun designed to improve accuracy. On the outside, however, the M rifle will look and feel almost exactly like the Gen 5 - the main difference is internal, so most collectors will consider it part of the Gen 5 family. For the right person, that "M" added to the model logo will make a big difference in the price they're willing to pay.
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