The Meaning of Glock Model Numbers
The “model numbers” of Glock pistols (such as Glock 17, 19, 18, 26, etc.) do not actually represent caliber or magazine capacity, but rather correspond to the sequential patent numbers obtained by Glock during development.
Common Models Explained
| Model | Meaning / Features |
|---|---|
| Glock 17 | The first official military and police handgun, representing the 17th patent obtained by Gaston Glock (9mm caliber). |
| Glock 18 | Full-auto version of the Glock 17 (selective fire, full automatic). |
| Glock 19 | Compact version of the Glock 17 (shorter version for easy carrying). |
| Glock 20 | Version using 10mm Auto ammunition. |
| Glock 21 | Version using .45 ACP ammunition. |
Further Reading
To learn about representative models from each generation, please refer to Glock Gen 1-5 Representative Models.