Why Does Glock Have G17, G18, G19 Numbering?
The Truth Behind Glock Numbering
The “numeric designation” of Glock pistols (such as Glock 17, 19, 18, 26, etc.) does not represent caliber or magazine capacity, but rather the sequential numbering of patents during Glock’s development.
Common Model Explanations
| Model | Meaning / Features |
|---|---|
| Glock 17 | The first official military and police pistol, Gaston Glock’s 17th patent (9mm caliber). |
| Glock 18 | Full-auto version of Glock 17 (select-fire, full-auto). |
| Glock 19 | Shortened version of Glock 17 (compact version, easier to carry). |
| Glock 20 | Version using 10mm Auto ammunition. |
| Glock 21 | Uses .45 ACP ammunition. |
Further Reading
To learn about representative models of each generation, please refer to Glock Gen 1-5 Representative Models.