The Glock 19 has long been the company’s flagship pistol. No matter how many new models Glock releases, the G19 remains a fan favorite. Only recently has it been edged out by newer models like the Glock 45, which combines a Glock 19 slide with a Glock 17 frame.
When Glock released the Glock 47, its big selling point was interchangeability—the ability to use Glock 19 and Glock 17 slides, even mounting the Glock 47 slide on a Glock 19 frame. Even when Glock releases new pistols, many of its designs still trace back to the G19.
Why is the Glock 19 such a cornerstone of Glock’s catalog? Today, we aren’t reviewing the G19 itself, but examining its immense success and lasting legacy in the world of firearms.
What Is a Glock 19?
The Glock 19 is a semi-automatic, short-recoil-operated, compact pistol that chambers the 9mm round. Basically, Glock trimmed the grip and slide to create a slightly smaller platform. The gun’s barrel is a 4.02-inch barrel, and the height is 5.04 inches.
When Glock began producing the G19 in 1988, it joined the Gen 2 series of Glock pistols. Its massive success continues to this day.
Numerous police and military forces have adopted the Glock 19, including SOCOM—the U.S. Special Operations Command. Elite units such as SEAL Team 6 and Delta Force have also fielded the G19.
Several federal law enforcement agencies use the Glock 19 as well, including the FBI, Secret Service, and Customs and Border Protection. Major police departments like the NYPD and LAPD also issue the G19.
Outside of the United States, the gun has been adopted by too many international forces to mention. And we aren’t even mentioning the G19’s massive success in the civilian market.
How did the Glock 19 become such a success?
Nothing happens in a vacuum. If you were to look at any modern firearm company, they all produce a pistol similar to the Glock 19. FN has the 509 Compact, S&W has the M&P 9C, and I could go on. These are all 9mm, striker-fired pistols in a compact format.
Not only has the Glock 19 become massively successful, but it’s also inspired other manufacturers to produce something fairly similar. To see why, we have to look back at the Glock 19 before the industry embraced compact, polymer-frame, striker-fired 9mm pistols.
It wasn’t the first pistol with a compact frame by any means. Let’s look at some popular compact pistols from around that era.
Lightweight
Two popular options from the late 1980s and 90s that are roughly the same size as the Glock 19 are the S&W 5906 and SIG P229. These pistols are hammer-fired, DA/SA guns, famously made out of metal.
While their barrel lengths, heights, and magazine capacities were similar, there was a big difference in weight.
The G19 weighs 23.63 ounces unloaded. The S&W 5906 weighed a hefty 38.3 ounces unloaded. The SIG P229 weighs 30 ounces unloaded. If you’re toting a gun all day, concealed or open, weight makes a difference.
Safariland Glock 19 Holsters
Cost
The Glock 19 was also significantly cheaper. According to a Gun Digest article from 1995, the Glock 19 retailed for $395. The S&W 5906 retailed for $460, and the P229 retailed for $650.
If we dig into the cost of accessories, like spare magazines, the Glock is still much cheaper to own and to field.
The S&W 5906 is no longer made, but the P229 is still in production. The P229 retails for $1000, and a Gen 5 Glock 19 retails for around $550.
The G19 offered a lighter pistol for a lighter price point. Weight and cost gave the G19 a leg up in the world of compact pistols.
Glock Simplicity
What’s great about the entire Glock series is the simplicity. They are very simple guns. The Glock armorer’s course is eight hours long, and the only tool you need to disassemble a Glock is a single punch, affectionately called the Glock tool.
A Glock 19 is made up of only 34 parts, counting every pin and spring. This simplicity and the low logistical requirements to train and equip police and military forces helped propel the pistol’s popularity.
It’s easy to maintain, fix, and upgrade. Glock has an entire aftermarket for replacement parts. Users can customize nearly every aspect of the gun without much difficulty.
I once swapped a trigger in a CZ P09, and the gun proved to be quite complicated. It took a lot of time and a lot of YouTube for me to install a new trigger. Swapping the trigger in a Glock is a much easier affair.
Unmatched Reliability
Glock cracked the code on handgun reliability, as their pistols are ridiculously reliable. There have been some truly ridiculous experiments to make Glocks fail, and they just keep going.
They’ve been dropped from planes, baked into pies, and buried for long periods of time, and they still work! Glock even developed the select-fire Glock 18 to equip select counter-terrorism teams and to test the durability and development of their products.
The G19’s widespread adoption by police and military forces, and its continued presence in their armories, shows that it is a reliable, durable gun that will outlast most shooters. I firmly believe the Glock design set today’s standard for handgun dependability and shaped how we judge even minor failures in modern firearms.
The Glock 19: Now and Forever
Glock—and the Glock 19 in particular—changed the world of firearms. It’s a well-made, accurate, and reliable pistol that was lighter and more affordable to produce than its competitors.
Even as the market evolves, the G19 remains one of the most popular firearms available.
