Glock 17's have a generation?

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The box sounds like the one that came with my Generation 2 Glock 19.

I'm no expert, but I think:

Gen one had smooth side grips.
Gen two has textured grips.
Gen 3 has something (this may have been when rails came out)
Gen 4 has flashlight rail under receiver.


-- John
 
Gen one had smooth side grips.
Gen two has textured grips.
Gen 3 has something (this may have been when rails came out)
Click to expand...
Pretty much. Gen 3 Glocks have tactical rails and finger grooves in the grip.

There's no gen 4 that I'm aware of. (Anybody know?)

Here is a pic from GlockFAQ
framegens.jpg
 
Gen 1 - Grip stippled all around.
Gen 2 - Grip checkered front and back.
Gen 3 - Grip has finger grooves, dustcover has searchlight rail.
 
If it has finger grooves on the grip and a mounting rail on the bottom of the front frame extension it is a Gen 3. If not, it is either a Gen 1 or a Gen 2. The Gen 2 has a checkered front strap and serrated rear. Without these, it is a Gen 1.
 
I have a gen.1 G17 in my police trade in collection.

The grip difference is obvious. I may be mistaken, but I believe that only G17 and G15 pistols were made as gen 1. Other models came later in the newer generation series.

Other indicaters of a generation 1 Glock would be German proofs on slide and barrel, and a black serial plate. Again I could be wrong. I'm a Glock owner and somewhat of a fan, but definately not a Glock expert!
 
I believe the 21sf frame may be considered the first fourth gen with the ambi mag release and piccatinny rail.
 
There are other changes as well. These 'generations' are not consistent and not recognized by Glock. Understand that they have a '2-pin' locking block and a new mold that incorporates a different serial number block. To further confuse things for those who are trying to pigeon-hole the guns into generations, there are THREE versions of the Glock 21 SF frame. One with picatinny rails and ambidexterous release, one with a glock rail and ambi-release, and a third with Glock rail and standard release.
 
For G17, the true (not cosmetic) difference is:

Gen1: original design metal slide/frame rail inserts
Gen2: Much longer inserts in the slide
Gen3: metal inserts of a intermediate length from Gen1 & Gen2.

This has to do with identified problem of original G17s breaking at the metal inserts when dropped and becoming completely inoperable. (Look up "Frisbee test"). Gen2 came out with overcompensated metal insert design & Gen3 resulting in final insert size which seems to have solved the problem.

This is little-discussed nowadays because Glock does not like to admit to design flaws in their firearms.
 
I think that according to the glocktalk forum, there are (unofficially):
Gen 1-the original G17, the selective fire G18, and some very early G19
Gen 2-grip serrations replacing previous smooth surfaces
Gen 2.5-grip serrations, finger grooves, no accessory rail
Gen 3-grip serrations, finger grooves, accessory rail
The latest version of the G21SF is still considered Gen 3, not Gen 4.
These are of course VGR (Visual Glock Rules), in determining the external differences of Glock models.
 
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