Glock G48
- Category
- Pistol
- Barrel
- 106 mm
- Weight, empty
- 524 g
- Introduced
- 2019
About
What it is, and why it matters
The Glock G48 is a semi-automatic pistol chambered in 9x19mm Parabellum, produced by Glock Ges.m.b.H. since 2019. 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 10-round magazine capacity, this pistol offers adequate firepower for defensive carry. 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 4.2-inch barrel provides an excellent balance between sight radius and portability, making it equally suitable for duty carry and recreational shooting. At 524g (18.5 oz) unloaded, this lightweight firearm is optimized for comfortable all-day carry without creating undue fatigue or printing concerns. 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.
The G48 is often called the 'Slim 19' because it delivers G19-class performance in a significantly thinner package. When paired with Shield Arms S15 magazines, the G48 achieves 15+1 capacity -- matching the G19 -- while remaining nearly a quarter-inch thinner. This combination made the G48 one of the most popular concealed carry setups in America, proving that Glock's slim-frame experiment was a massive commercial success. The G48 and G43X together essentially created a new market segment for slim-profile, high-capacity compact pistols.
The G48 was released simultaneously with the G43X in January 2019. While the G43X has the shorter G43 slide on the new 10-round grip frame, the G48 stretches the slide to 4.17 inches, providing a longer sight radius and additional barrel length. Like the G43X, the G48 is compatible with aftermarket Shield Arms S15 steel magazines that increase capacity to 15+1 rounds. The initial release featured the silver nPVD finish, but all-black versions followed. MOS and Rail variants were later introduced. The G48 MOS accepts the Shield RMSc footprint for micro red dot sights. The slim mounting rail on Rail variants accepts compact weapon-mounted lights like the Streamlight TLR-7 Sub.
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
- 2019
DimensionsAs issued, without a magazine or an optic.
- Barrel
- 106 mm
- Overall length
- 185 mm
- Height
- 128 mm
- Width
- 28 mm
- Sight radius
- 152 mm
- Weight, empty
- 524 g
- Weight, loaded
- 688 g
ActionHow it cycles, what trips it, and what feeds it.
- Action
- Short recoil
- Firing mechanism
- Striker fired
- Trigger
- Safe action
- Trigger pull
- 24.0 N
- Capacity
- 10
- Magazine
- Detachable box
MaterialsEach swatch is the material itself, not a colour chosen to stand for it.
- Frame
- Polymer
- Slide
- Steel
- Barrel
- Steel
- Finish
- NPVD silver
BallisticsFrom the service cartridge, not a handload.
- Muzzle velocity
- 365 m/s
- Muzzle energy
- 496 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.
Slimline frame
Built in beavertail
Marksman barrel
Front serrations
Reversible mag release
Slim mounting rail- Orange magazine follower
Modified dual recoil spring
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 | 524 g | 765 g | Lighter than about 90% |
| Overall lengthAmong 559 9x19mm Parabellum pistols | 185 mm | 191 mm | Shorter than about 70% |
| Barrel lengthAmong 569 9x19mm Parabellum pistols | 106 mm | 105 mm | Near the median |
| Magazine capacityAmong 571 9x19mm Parabellum pistols | 10 | 15 | Holds fewer rounds than about 80% |
Answers
Questions about the Glock G48
How much does the Glock G48 weigh?
The Glock G48 weighs 524 g (1.16 lb) empty and 688 g (1.52 lb) loaded.
What caliber is the Glock G48?
The Glock G48 is chambered in 9x19mm Parabellum.
How many rounds does the Glock G48 hold?
The Glock G48 holds 10 rounds, fed from a detachable box magazine.
How long is the Glock G48?
The Glock G48 is 185 mm (7.28 in) long overall, with a 106 mm (4.17 in) barrel.
Who makes the Glock G48?
The Glock G48 is made by Glock Ges.m.b.H. (Austria). It was designed by Gaston Glock.
When was the Glock G48 introduced?
The Glock G48 was introduced in 2019.
How does the Glock G48 operate?
The Glock G48 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
- Various U.S. Law Enforcement Agencies
- United States
- Civilian Concealed Carry Market
- 2019
Provenance
Confidence in this record
92%
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-g48' \ --header 'X-API-Key: your_key'{ "id": "glock-g48", "name": "Glock G48", "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": 2019, "barrel_length_mm": 106, "weight_empty_g": 524, "action_type": "short_recoil"}