Glock became aware of the Austrian Army's planned procurement, and in 1982, assembled a team of Europe's leading handgun experts from military, police, and civilian sport-shooting circles to define the most desirable characteristics in a combat pistol. The normal maximum operating pressure (P max) for the 9mm NATO is 2,520 bar (252 MPa 36,500 psi). The pistol was to then be used to fire an overpressure test cartridge generating 5,000 bar (500 MPa 73,000 psi). After firing 15,000 rounds of standard ammunition, the pistol was to be inspected for wear. The Federal Ministry of Defence of Austria formulated a list of 17 criteria for the new generation service pistol, including requirements that it would be self loading fire the NATO-standard 9×19 mm Parabellum round the magazines were not to require any means of assistance for loading be secure against accidental discharge from shock, strike, and drop from a height of 2 m (6 ft 7 in) onto a steel plate. In 1980, the Austrian Armed Forces announced that it would seek tenders for a new, modern duty pistol to replace their World War II–era Walther P38 handguns. Glock introduced ferritic nitrocarburizing into the firearms industry as an anticorrosion surface treatment for metal gun parts. Glock had extensive experience in advanced synthetic polymers, which was instrumental in the company's design of the first commercially successful line of pistols with a polymer frame. The company's founder, head engineer Gaston Glock, had no experience with firearms design or manufacture at the time their first pistol, the Glock 17, was being prototyped.

2.8 Commemorative, anniversary, engraved, and other rare Glocks.

1.2.4.1 2011 recoil spring assembly exchange program.

In 2020, the Glock 19 was the best selling pistol on GunBroker. Glocks are also popular firearms among civilians for recreational and competition shooting, home- and self-defense, both in concealed or open carry. Glock pistols have become the company's most profitable line of products, and have been supplied to national armed forces, security agencies, and police forces in at least 48 countries. The firearm entered Austrian military and police service by 1982 after it was the top performer in reliability and safety tests. Glock is a brand of polymer- framed, short recoil-operated, locked-breech semi-automatic pistols designed and produced by Austrian manufacturer Glock Ges.m.b.H. Short recoil, locked breech, tilting barrel ( straight blowback for Glock 25, 28 and 44)

Glock 17 serial number