Is Glock the Colt 1911 of the 1980s & earlier?

[HPJeep]

So I was thinking about this today.. Seems like Glock is acting exactly like Colt did in the 1980s and earlier in failing to listen to consumers desires and failing to read the changes in the gun market. People wanted more features in their 1911s as seen in competition and defensive arms offered by custom gunsmiths. However, Colt didn't listen which enabled Springfield Armory and Kimber to come out with 1911s loaded with modern features at a good price. Thus they outsold Colts by a large margin. Looks like Glock is now doing the same and other polymer gun companies have more modern and desirable features that can't be had on a Glock. So this begs the question on what Glock's fortunes will look like in 25 years? Bankruptcy like Colt? Being bought out by a company that's more adept such as CZ? Maybe piddling along in their own myopic ways? What do you think 25 years from now will look like?

 

[tomrkba]

It seems to me that Glock's business is well managed. Colt...well...not so much.

 

[Mark_Mark]

You buy a Glock because it feels all the same. Like a Costco Hotdog; SF, Charlotte, Fort Myers… all taste the same.

I don’t want a bunch of junk in my Glock. my only choice is: to reddot or not

 

[9mmepiphany]

Maybe piddling along in their own myopic ways? What do you think 25 years from now will look like?

You might not be too far off. It did take them a long time before they actually addressed offering a slimmer model or a RF model.

The question is where they are heading now that Gaston is no longer with the company and how flexible his heirs will be

 

[Mark_Mark]

You might not be too far off. It did take them a long time before they actually addressed offering a slimmer model or a RF model.

The question is where they are heading now that Gaston is no longer with the company and how flexible his heirs will be

if they never did anything else but make 17’s & 19’s they would still be fine

 

[9mmepiphany]

if they never did anything else but make 17’s & 19’s they would still be fine

That's what Colt thought about their GM and Commander too

That's the point of the OP

 

[maxxhavoc]

You might be into something. Around here (admittedly in PSA's home country) I am starting to see more PSA daggers at the range than Glocks.

They are basically a Glock with customization options. Reminds me of old Springfield 1911s, then Kimbers with their new beaver tails, angled slide cuts, front slide cuts, Bomar and Novak sights....

At the same time there were the ever shrinking group of people who were sitting there saying "but it's not a Colt!"

 

[Anchorite]

I see the two as vastly different business models and it would be difficult to compare the two. Glock only build pistols, Colt had a more diverse product line up. Colt had products that required hand-fitting, Glock is likely more of the Eli Whitney of modern pistol manufacturing (simplicity of product - not many parts).

At any rate, this ought to be an interesting thread. Admittedly the OPs question never crossed my mind before he presented it.

 

[bangswitch]

Glock has never been more than an appliance that shoots. Gaston's design intent was to beat the competition for the Austrian military contract, less moving parts and higher capacity at a cheaper price. He won that, and the rest is history. Maybe his business model and marketing acumen was better than Colt, but I'd rather buy one flawed Colt than be given two Glocks.

 

[JTQ]

.... other polymer gun companies have more modern and desirable features that can't be had on a Glock.

I'm not a Glock guy, but what would be those more modern and desirable features? A rail, MOS? Glock offers those. Their sights are usually lousy, but they are so easily replaced (especially compared to most other guns), and they have more after market sight options than just about anybody, that like other Glock shortcomings it is almost a "feature". What do you want on a gun that Glock isn't offering?

The only thing I haven't seen on Glock's that some of the other makers have offered is the polymer striker gun made with a metal frame such as the M&P Competitor, Walther PDP Steel Frame.

 

[trackskippy]

I think Glocks success to date has been to stick to plain, functional guns, and not get caught up in the "model for every whim" silliness a lot of the other companies have.

 

[Heir Kommt Die Sonne]

That's what Colt thought about their GM and Commander too

That's the point of the OP

Colt did make the Double-Eagle and later the American 2000, both of which failed. The 2000 was their polymer frame offering. Considered getting one at one point as a collectors interest, of Colts one time they did something other than a 1911 variant.
There was also the Colt Z40 that they collabbed with CZ on; it was a 1911-CZ75 hybrid chambered in 40 S&W. Prime product for the 1990s but it's failure was criticized on the fact Colt was using this for their poster child in the electronic user only guns experiment. Only a few hundred entered the market and were sold, Colt drew out of the deal and CZ retained the rights. Later a few years ago CZ bought Colt completely so it comes circle.
Selling just 1911s is a bold but somewhat promising thing to bet a company on. Obviously Colt doesn't sell just those, they used to sell ARs, started making revolvers again which has been very successful for them. The experience I have with Colt ARs is they are very smooth for a average priced AR, but I wouldn't call them the best by any means.

 

[Zerodefect]

What features do you want?

Glock listened to their customers just fine. We asked for and got:

Glock 43x
Skinny G19, which became the G48.
Better triggers in the 5th gens.
5th gen G22.
No more finger grooves.
Beavertail backstraps.
Get rid of the moon cut and flare the magwell.
G47 and G49 (ick, but people asked for the 49)

Sorry, but the Glock copies still aren't better. Unless you never were a Glock guy.

Often the grips are too small, bore axis too high.

Glocks are still one of the fastest moving pistols out there. And Colt's doing fine.

 

[Hugger-4641]

I'm not a Glock guy, I think they're ugly and boring. But I own several for one reason: they work, every time, with any ammo.
To me they're the Camry of the gun world. They're not going anywhere if they keep the same quality and dependability they're known for.

 

[trackskippy]

I'm not a Glock guy, I think they're ugly and boring. But I own several for one reason: they work, every time, with any ammo.
To me they're the Camry of the gun world. They're not going anywhere if they keep the same quality and dependability they're known for.

LOL. Remember that old song....."If you wanna be happy for the rest of your life, never make a pretty woman your wife"?

Theres always going to be BBQ vs every day. See it here when it comes to a lot of things. All the boys I used to work with had big honkin pretty pickups that they would never drive to work, but that old, well worn Subaru with 300K on it was what you usually saw them driving. Those Subie's are a lot less finicky too.

It seems a lot of what people want to go by when it comes to this sort of thing is often nothing more than nostalgia, hearsay, baseless opinion, and racism. Had to say racisim, cause its a big buzzword these days and applies to absolutely everything dontcha know. Seriously, if you don't like Glocks, you're a racist! Same goes for Colts and anything else you want to be racist about.

Cant call me a racist though, cause I like 'em all! EOE baby! (equal opportunity enthusiast!)

 

[earlthegoat2]

I’m a meat and potatoes kind of guy.

Glocks just work for me. Literally and philosophically.

I too want to ask what features everyone is looking for. Gen 3 Glocks are perfect for me and I really can’t think of anything I want that would have trade offs elsewhere.

I have or have owned models; 19, 21, 26, 27, 30, and 36. All of Gen 2 or 3.

I mostly like them because they DONT have what I perceive as frivolous baggage like external safeties, cuts, dips, and dishes to make them “more” ergonomic.

They are a utilitarian brick that just work. A quality that has been very much forgotten about in American tastes over the last few decades. Most of all, in the automotive world.

 

[kidneyboy]

To answer the OP's question - With Gaston Glock's passing the company will start to become more innovative and, much to the chagrin of glock fan bois everywhere, introduce new products and almost certainly discontinue or limit production of less profitable products. My guess is they will be reasonably good at this for a while. The second generation of owners/management are generally as successful or more so than the first. 25 years from now is about when the 3rd generation of owners/management will start to integrate its way in and start to screw stuff up. So I think we are good for 25 years, maybe 20.

 

[Mark_Mark]

I'm not a Glock guy, I think they're ugly and boring. But I own several for one reason: they work, every time, with any ammo.
To me they're the Camry of the gun world. They're not going anywhere if they keep the same quality and dependability they're known for.

Glock is more of a Prius! Small Light & Works for a good price

I personally hope they don’t change. Buy a Glock because it’s a Glock

 

[tarosean]

Glock listened to their customers just fine. We asked for and got:

Glock 43x
Skinny G19, which became the G48.
Better triggers in the 5th gens.
5th gen G22.
No more finger grooves.
Beavertail backstraps.
Get rid of the moon cut and flare the magwell.

Listened??? They were late to the game on several of your points.

I am interested to see if the company makes any serious changes to the lineup with Gastons passing though.

 

[tarosean]

I think Glocks success to date has been to stick to plain, functional guns, and not get caught up in the "model for every whim" silliness a lot of the other companies have.

While not as catchy as some of Sigs naming conventions, They are definitely getting there with the numbering differential between like guns. i.e. 19x-45-47

 

[trackskippy]

While not as catchy as some of Sigs naming conventions, They are definitely getting there with the numbering differential between like guns. i.e. 19x-45-47

Yea, Ive been seeing the same thing. Hopefully, they don't get too caught up in it. Then again, as long as it doesn't cause problems in QC or affect the way they work, who cares I guess.

I just want a couple of plain old 17 MOS's.

 

[tarosean]

Thus they outsold Colts by a large margin. Looks like Glock is now doing the same and other polymer gun companies have more modern and desirable features that can't be had on a Glock. S

My 2 cents... Glock isnt as reliant on their Gov contracts that Colt was. Plus private owned vs. public. Once those contracts were lost they were done for.
The American public probably buys more Glocks than the entire worlds military contracts combined. (Obviously cannot verify the claim)
So I do not see Glock going anywhere anytime soon.

 

[Zerodefect]

Listened??? They were late to the game on several of your points.

I am interested to see if the company makes any serious changes to the lineup with Gastons passing though.

Yeah, the 43 should have been released at least 10 years earlier. I wonder if demand prevented them from opening another assembly line?

Yea, Ive been seeing the same thing. Hopefully, they don't get too caught up in it. Then again, as long as it doesn't cause problems in QC or affect the way they work, who cares I guess.

I just want a couple of plain old 17 MOS's.

Why two 17's? And not a 17 and 22?

 

[JTQ]

My 2 cents... Glock isnt as reliant on their Gov contracts that Colt was. Plus private owned vs. public. Once those contracts were lost they were done for.
The American public probably buys more Glocks than the entire worlds military contracts combined. (Obviously cannot verify the claim)
So I do not see Glock going anywhere anytime soon.

Sure, Federal Government contracts, but what about State and Local Government contracts. While Glock would probably still sell a bunch of guns, but if you took away all of their LE contracts, that would be a big drop in the bucket.

 

[Buzznrose]

So I was thinking about this today.. Seems like Glock is acting exactly like Colt did in the 1980s and earlier in failing to listen to consumers desires and failing to read the changes in the gun market. People wanted more features in their 1911s as seen in competition and defensive arms offered by custom gunsmiths. However, Colt didn't listen which enabled Springfield Armory and Kimber to come out with 1911s loaded with modern features at a good price. Thus they outsold Colts by a large margin. Looks like Glock is now doing the same and other polymer gun companies have more modern and desirable features that can't be had on a Glock. So this begs the question on what Glock's fortunes will look like in 25 years? Bankruptcy like Colt? Being bought out by a company that's more adept such as CZ? Maybe piddling along in their own myopic ways? What do you think 25 years from now will look like?

Glock had some patents expire and that’s why you see the abundance of all things “Glock clone”

The “Glock” has transitioned from a gun company to handgun platform much like the AR-15, CZ pistol (which was developed behind the Iron Curtain and never had a patent), the 1911, and others.

Clarification…Glock is STILL a company, and they do hold patents on recent releases, but the Gen 3 is now available and is being copied by lots of competitors.

Good video explaining it here:

The History and FUTURE of Glock

Everything about Glock is kind of old and boring by now... and yet, big things are on the horizon.00:00 - Something has Changed01:50 - How the Glock Pistol w...

youtu.be