Glock rookie question here guys.  What is the difference between the 1st, 2nd and 3rd generation Glocks?

Well I am no expert by any means, but the later generations added finger grooves and light rails...

1st gen and 2nd gen are similar, with 2nd gen having more texture to the grip.  It's been a while since I've seen a 1st gen so I can't quite recall the exact difference( I'm thinking the front and back strap on the grip were the major difference).  Some models actually weren't manufactured until the 2nd gen came out.  For instance, the Glock 21 first gen is actually a 2nd gen if you compare it to the Glock 17.

3rd gen has the finger grooves and light rail and is current manufacture.

Somebody will post a pic soon that shows the three Gens....

When the do I'll save it and post it in the links above.

Told ya 3 minutes , man thats a record MAX!!!

Thanks for your help guys!  Once again, the folks on AR15.com have came through!

hail2.gif

FYI - The G17 was the only Glock produced as a 1st Generation pistol. You'll find that most of the remaining models were produced as 2nd generation and 3rd generation pistols. I do stress most and not all as those like the G37 are 3rd Generation only.

One of my G17 1st Generation Pistols - It's even serial numbered to my initials ATH !!!

When did glock go to the plastic guide rod with an encapsulated spring?  Was it 2nd or 3rd gen?  Other than the the spring and the grips Glock also added a 2nd locking block pin on the .40 and .357 sig, because of the high pressure.  I believe that this was only done on the .40 and .357sig.  If I am wrong what calabers did they add the 2nd pin to?

Quoted: When did glock go to the plastic guide rod with an encapsulated spring?  Was it 2nd or 3rd gen?  Other than the the spring and the grips Glock also added a 2nd locking block pin on the .40 and .357 sig, because of the high pressure.  I believe that this was only done on the .40 and .357sig.  If I am wrong what calabers did they add the 2nd pin to?

I thought they always had a plastic guide rod with encapsulated spring...

Can't comment on the 2nd pin since I have only owned 9mms.

Would it be to much to hope to find a gen 2 1/2 g20 with rail and straight grip?

Shadowblade

I could be totaly wrong, or I might be confusing two guns.  Just out of intrest, I am going to check in to it.  I will post what I find out.  

you guys left out the  a big difference between 1gen & 2nd  & 3rd. Drop free mags. That's why we all have that  finger hole in our back strap. Why glock hasn't sealed it up is beyond me. Some nasty stuff can fall into it and cause real problems.

I am not sure who makes it but their is a sholder stock for Glocks that mounts in that whole.  Drop free magizines dont always drop free.  According to Glock you should still sweep the mag to makesure it comes out.  They added the mettal to the magizines to increase the strength of the mags not to make them drop free.  

What do you mean by "sweep the mag"?

yeah i know there is a back strap plug for glocks, i have one in all  of mine.  glock started making full metal jacketed mags  not only do they increase the service life of the mag but they  help retain the value  of the mag if it's a hi-cap.

I just found out today that the Gen 1 Glocks did not have an encapsulated spring and guide rod settup.  The encapsulated spring and guide rod will work with the Gen 1 Glocks so many people have replaced them with the newer ones.  

The origional Glock mags where completely plastic so they would swell sightly when loaded if you pressed the mag release with and their where a few rounds in the mag it would not drop.  So you Sweep you hand across the mag well pulling the mag out.  It is i good tecknique to do.  Some times mags for varous reasons don't fall out.  Tf you are under stress and you are expecting the mag to fall free during a mag change and for some reason it did not fall free.  You grabbed you full mag and the O' shit what do I do now factor jumps in.  You can eliminate that from hapining if you practice sweeping your mag insted of expecting it to drop free.  I have been practiceing sweeping for awhile now, it does not take any more time to do it.  

Quoted: FYI - The G17 was the only Glock produced as a 1st Generation pistol. You'll find that most of the remaining models were produced as 2nd generation and 3rd generation pistols. I do stress most and not all as those like the G37 are 3rd Generation only. One of my G17 1st Generation Pistols - It's even serial numbered to my initials ATH !!!

Actually there are some 1st Gen Glock 19s out there but not very many and they're worth a lot to collectors.

Wouldnt there technically be 4 generations?? The very first glocks I shot where back in the early
80's. I dont remeber much about them except they were green.  These were the original Austrian army ones. The color was a major drawback to the us market. How times change I hear they are back to producing them in colors.

Quoted: Wouldnt there technically be 4 generations?? The very first glocks I shot where back in the early 80's. I dont remeber much about them except they were green.  These were the original Austrian army ones. The color was a major drawback to the us market. How times change I hear they are back to producing them in colors.