Glock 19
Compact version of the Glock 17 in 9×19 mm: shortened slide and barrel, 15-round double-stack magazine, widely adopted as a service, backup and concealed-carry sidearm.
Glock 19
Community
Data trust
- Reliability
- Unverified
- Sources
- Sources pending review
Identity
- Designation
- Glock 19
- Manufacturer
- Glock GmbH
- Country
- Austria
- Year
- 1988
- Category
- Pistol
- Status
- In service
Ballistics
- Caliber
- 9×19 mm Parabellum
- Muzzle velocity
- 360 m/s
- Effective range
- 50 m
Dimensions
- Barrel length
- 102 mm
- Overall length
- 187 mm
- Empty weight
- 0.595 kg
- Loaded weight
- 0.85 kg
Mechanics
- Operating system
- Corto rinculo della canna, chiusura Browning modificata
- Bolt / action
- Striker-fired, Safe Action
Feed
- System
- Caricatore bifilare amovibile
- Standard capacity
- 15 rounds
Fire modes
Historical profile
Development and Genesis of the Compact Series
Following the global success of the Glock 17 during the 1980s, the Austrian company responded to the growing demand for a more manageable firearm suitable for concealed carry and investigative units. The Glock 19 project was initiated to bridge the gap between full-size pistols and ultra-compact models, leading to the official presentation of the first model in 1988 based on the Second Generation architecture.
Development focused on reducing frame and slide dimensions without compromising the reliability of the short recoil system designed by Gaston Glock. The main engineering challenge lay in recalibrating the masses of the cycling components and the recoil spring tension to ensure flawless operation with the 9mm Parabellum caliber in a shortened frame.
Technical Features and Design
The Glock 19 features a 102 mm barrel and a standard 15-round magazine, offering an ideal balance between firepower and concealability compared to its larger sibling. The weapon integrates the iconic Safe Action system with three independent automatic safeties, eliminating the need for external levers and ensuring extreme speed of engagement in stressful situations.
The high-strength polymer used for the frame helps keep the weapon's weight to approximately 670 grams with an empty magazine, making it ideal for prolonged duty shifts. Backwards magazine compatibility allows the Glock 19 to housing 17, 19, or 33-round magazines from the full-size series, significantly increasing logistical versatility for field operators.
Operational Service and Military Adoptions
In addition to its massive distribution among US and European police forces, the Glock 19 has secured prestigious military contracts, being designated as the M007 by Marine Corps Systems Command for MARSOC personnel. The United States Army Special Operations Command has extensively distributed the Gen4 variant to Rangers and Green Berets, preferring it over the Beretta M9 for special operations and clandestine environments.
In Iraq and Afghanistan, the weapon was supplied in large quantities to new local security forces due to its training simplicity and resistance to desert climates. Numerous federal agencies, including the FBI and the Secret Service, have transitioned to the Glock 19 as their primary service sidearm, citing intrinsic accuracy and ease of maintenance as decisive factors.
Model Evolution and Legacy
Through five generations of improvements, the Glock 19 has evolved by introducing accessory rails, interchangeable grip textures, and the MOS configuration for mounting reflex optics. The Glock 19X variant, developed for the US Army's XM17 Modular Handgun System program, later gave birth to the Glock 45, combining a full-size frame with a compact slide.
Today, the Glock 19 is considered the universal benchmark in the polymer striker-fired pistol segment, profoundly influencing every competing manufacturer over the last thirty years. Its popularity in the civilian market and among defensive shooting instructors has solidified its status as the most iconic firearm of the modern era, setting the standard for mechanical reliability.
Variants
Main users
Stati Uniti (USMC M007, FBI) · Norway · Paesi Bassi · oltre 50 paesi
Key components
- ●Slide — Slide compatta in acciaio nitrurato.
- ●Telaio — Frame in polimero con rail accessori frontale.
- ●Grip — Grip compatto in polimero con texture.
- ●Grilletto — Trigger Safe Action con sicura integrata.
- ●Magazine — Caricatore bifilare amovibile da 15 colpi.
