Glock 17
- Category
- Pistol
- Barrel
- 114 mm
- Weight, empty
- 625 g
- Introduced
- 1982
About
What it is, and why it matters
The Glock 17 is a semi-automatic pistol chambered in 9x19mm Parabellum, produced by Glock Ges.m.b.H. since 1982. This Austrian-manufactured firearm reflects the engineering traditions and quality standards of its country of origin, designed to meet the demands of both civilian and professional users in a competitive global marketplace. Featuring a 17-round magazine capacity, this pistol offers generous firepower for duty use and home defense. The striker-fired action provides a consistent trigger pull for every shot, simplifying training and reducing the manual of arms - a design philosophy that has become the dominant paradigm in modern defensive handguns. The 4.5-inch barrel provides an excellent balance between sight radius and portability, making it equally suitable for duty carry and recreational shooting. Weighing 625g (22.0 oz) empty, this firearm strikes a practical balance between manageable carry weight and sufficient mass to moderate felt recoil during shooting. The polymer frame construction reduces weight while providing a textured, ergonomic grip surface designed for secure handling in all conditions. This firearm represents its manufacturer's commitment to delivering a well-engineered, reliable product that serves the needs of discerning shooters seeking quality, accuracy, and dependable performance from a proven platform.
Gaston Glock was a curtain rod manufacturer with zero firearms experience when he designed the Glock 17 in his garage workshop. After overhearing Austrian military officers discussing their need for a new pistol in 1980, the 52-year-old engineer spent months studying existing handguns, then created a revolutionary design that beat 8 established firearms manufacturers to win the Austrian military contract in 1982. His outsider perspective led to innovations that industry veterans had never considered.
The name 'Glock 17' refers to it being Gaston Glock's 17th patent, not the magazine capacity, though the coincidence is often noted. The original Gen1 models (1982-1988) had distinctive pebbled grip texture and lacked an accessory rail. Gen2 (late 1980s-1998) added checkered grip panels. Gen3 (1998-2010) introduced finger grooves, thumb rests, and an accessory rail. Gen4 (2010-2017) added modular backstraps and dual recoil spring. The Safe Action trigger system consists of three independent safeties: trigger safety, firing pin safety, and drop safety. Optional magazine capacities include 10, 19, 24, 31, and 33 rounds. Over 5 million Glocks had been produced by 2007, with estimates of 10-15 million total by the 2020s.
Specification
Everything measured
IdentityWhat it is, who built it and when.
- Manufacturer
- Glock Ges.m.b.H.
- Category
- Pistol
- Country
- Austria
- Status
- In production
- Produced
- 1982
DimensionsAs issued, without a magazine or an optic.
- Barrel
- 114 mm
- Overall length
- 204 mm
- Height
- 139 mm
- Width
- 32 mm
- Sight radius
- 165 mm
- Weight, empty
- 625 g
- Weight, loaded
- 905 g
ActionHow it cycles, what trips it, and what feeds it.
- Action
- Short recoil
- Firing mechanism
- Striker fired
- Trigger
- Safe action
- Trigger pull
- 28.0 N
- Capacity
- 17
- Magazine
- Detachable box
MaterialsEach swatch is the material itself, not a colour chosen to stand for it.
- Frame
- Polymer
- Slide
- Steel
- Barrel
- Steel
- Finish
- Tenifer
BallisticsFrom the service cartridge, not a handload.
- Muzzle velocity
- 375 m/s
- Muzzle energy
- 519 J
- Effective range
- 50 m
- Maximum range
- 1800 m
Trajectory
What the round does downrange
Solved from the muzzle figures and the bullet. The dashed rule is the effective range on the record, and the crosses are the steps the solver returned.
Features
What it has
What the record lists as fitted, drawn from the catalogue.
Polymer frame
Safe action trigger
Hexagonal rifling
Accessory rail
Ambidextrous slide stop
Textured grip
Reversible magazine release
Striker fired
Standing
How it compares
Each figure against the firearms of the same type and cartridge that record it, or of the same type where that cartridge has too few. Positions are read to the nearest tenth.
| Measurement | This firearm | Median | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Empty weightAmong 560 9x19mm Parabellum pistols | 625 g | 765 g | Lighter than about 80% |
| Overall lengthAmong 559 9x19mm Parabellum pistols | 204 mm | 191 mm | Longer than about 70% |
| Barrel lengthAmong 569 9x19mm Parabellum pistols | 114 mm | 105 mm | Longer than about 70% |
| Magazine capacityAmong 571 9x19mm Parabellum pistols | 17 | 15 | Holds more rounds than about 80% |
Answers
Questions about the Glock 17
How much does the Glock 17 weigh?
The Glock 17 weighs 625 g (1.38 lb) empty and 905 g (2.00 lb) loaded.
What caliber is the Glock 17?
The Glock 17 is chambered in 9x19mm Parabellum.
How many rounds does the Glock 17 hold?
The Glock 17 holds 17 rounds, fed from a detachable box magazine.
How long is the Glock 17?
The Glock 17 is 204 mm (8.03 in) long overall, with a 114 mm (4.49 in) barrel.
Who makes the Glock 17?
The Glock 17 is made by Glock Ges.m.b.H. (Austria). It was designed by Gaston Glock.
When was the Glock 17 introduced?
The Glock 17 was introduced in 1982.
How does the Glock 17 operate?
The Glock 17 uses a short recoil action, and its firing mechanism is striker fired.
Compatibility
Which parts fit this firearm
Studio
Every part that mounts on this, resolved
Not a list the maker typed out: the answer comes from the mounts this firearm exposes and the interface each part needs, so it stays right when either one changes.
- Every part that mounts on any firearm in the catalogue
- Interface standards, platforms and fit overrides
- The same answers through the API and the MCP server
Requires a signed-in GunSpec account on the Studio plan. The answer is computed per part, so it is not part of the public record.
Provenance
What the record holds
Every figure above was taken from one of these pages. The confidence reflects how much of the record came from a page a claim can be checked against.
In service
- Austrian Armed Forces
- 1982
- British Armed Forces
- 2013
- Norwegian Armed Forces
- Norway
- Finnish Defence Forces
- 2008
- Swedish Armed Forces
- Sweden
- Dutch Armed Forces
- 1994
- Swiss Armed Forces
- 2011
- Portuguese Army
- Portugal
- Iraqi Security Forces
- Iraq
- Latvian Military
- Latvia
Provenance
Stockists
Where to buy
Offers link straight to the shop. GunSpec never takes the order.
No shop has listed this firearm yet
Stock and prices come from the shops themselves. If you sell this firearm, you can list it and it appears here.
List a firearmMCP
Ask an assistant about it
The same record, reached the way a person asks for it rather than the way a program does.
Ask GunSpec
Works with
Point an MCP client at GunSpec and it answers from the catalogue rather than from memory. A free key covers the read tools.
API
The call that returns this record
The same fields, in the same units, from the same endpoint the page reads.
curl --request GET \ --url 'https://api.gunspec.io/v1/firearms/glock-g17' \ --header 'X-API-Key: your_key'{ "id": "glock-g17", "name": "Glock 17", "manufacturer": { "id": "glock", "name": "Glock Ges.m.b.H.", "countryCode": "AT", "foundedYear": 1963, "website": "https://www.glock.com", "logoUrl": null, "description": null, "status": null, "defunctYear": null, "stateOwned": null, "makesFirearms": null, "parentId": null, "predecessorId": null, "createdAt": "2026-02-11 23:44:38", "updatedAt": "2026-02-18 03:43:49", "version": "3082b5f3edc3e54ca4f0993c68dba8c456b4f86e8759e3310ef604da566477d6" }, "category": { "id": "pistol", "name": "Pistol", "description": "Handguns designed to be fired with one or two hands" }, "country_of_origin": "AT", "year_introduced": 1982, "barrel_length_mm": 114, "weight_empty_g": 625, "action_type": "short_recoil"}