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Glock Generations: Detail and Feature Evolution28 August, 2014 Features, History, Industry Profles, V6N3, Volue 6A!!ording to !o"any literature, t#e frst $lo!% "istols i"orted into t#e &'(' !aein )anuary o* 1+86' #ese guns #ad serial nu-ers -eginning .it# a t.o letteral"#a "ref/ o* AF *ollo.ed -y a t#ree digit nu-er' #is eans *or eery t.o

letter !o-ination, t#ere .ere u" to 1,000 "istols "rodu!ed .it# nu-ers *ro 000to +++' As o* t#is .riting, !urrent ne. "rodu!tion $lo!% "istols -ear serial nu-ers.it# a *our letter and t#ree nu-er !o-ination, a testaent to t#e -randssu!!ess and longeity oer t#e "ast uarter !entury'

5ost frear anu*a!tures .#o e"loy seuential serial nu-ering systes .ouldnot guarantee t#e seuen!e o* nu-ers e/a!tly at!#es "rodu!tion order -ut ont#e longer tie *rae t#ey generally *ollo. t#at trend' #at is to say, a frear-earing t#e serial nu-er A7001 ay not #ae -een !o"leted "rior to t#e saeodel nu-ered A001 -ut its a *air assu"tion t#at t#ey .ere ade around t#esae tie and t#at 9F$001 !ae later' Nota-le e/!e"tions to t#e standard serialnu-er stru!ture are frears ordered .it# s"e!ifed serial nu-er ranges and*orats *or la. en*or!eent agen!ies and !oeoratie odels'

5aga:ine ;oor "lates are o* t.o distin!t ty"es< early ersions *or t#e Non=Fully 5etal>ined ?NF5>@ aga:ines and later ones *or t#e Fully 5etal >ined ?F5>@ aga:inesalso %no.n as dro"=*ree -e!ause t#eir greater rigidity !auses t#e to -e less li%elyto sti!% in t#e aga:ine .ell t#an t#eir "rede!essors' #e *our distin!t earlyersions .ere originally soot# and t#en seuentially in!or"orated a $lo!% logo,

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insert -utton #ole, and fnally a "art nu-er 4BB' >ater F5> ;oor "lates -egan.it# a diCerent nu-er 3602 t#at .as eentually oitted'&sing t#is assu"tion as a *rae.or%, t#is arti!le .ill see% to identi*y !#anges inindiidual $lo!% !oseti! and design *eatures and identi*y t#eir seuen!e in t#eodel #istory' D#ile a stri!t serial nu-er seuen!e is an ine/a!t assu"tion, ana!!urate tie line o* i"ortation *or seriali:ed frears !an -e dated t#roug#

re!ords aaila-le *ro $lo!%'

Overview of Glock Generations, Terminology and Associated Modelse!ause o* t#e nature o* t#e frears anu*a!turing industry, terinology !an -eine/a!t due to t#e in;uen!e o* non=anti!i"ated design !#anges, ar%etinglanguage, and !ustoer terinology not originating *ro t#e anu*a!turer' Insoe !ases, t#is "ost "rodu!tion erna!ular sets t#e standard *or terinology inuse -y ost' #is stands to reason gien t#at t#e nu-er o* "eo"le -uying, using,and .riting a-out t#e frears *ar out nu-ers t#ose .it#in t#e !o"any t#atig#t ot#er.ise li%e to !ontrol t#e terinology' #is is #o. distin!t $lo!%generations !ae to -e understood'$lo!% "istols are !ategori:ed into *our distin!t generations ?.it# a 4t# ultiately

-eing oE!ially a!%no.ledged -y t#e guns ar%ings@' #e frst generation guns #ada relatiely uni*or gri" te/ture around t#e entire #andle o* t#e *rae -e#ind and-elo. t#e trigger guard and !onsisted o* t#e original $lo!% odel 1 and a *e.s!ar!e early odel 1+ "istols' #e se!ond generation guns #ad re!tangular!#e!%ering on t#e *ront and -a!% gri" sur*a!es and !an sa*ely -e !ounted on toin!lude t#e odels 1 t#roug# at least 24'

#e NF5> ?le*t@ and F5> ?rig#t@ aga:ine ;oor "lates are not inter!#angea-le .it#ea!# ot#er due to a diCeren!e in .idt# o* t#eir ounting "oints'

#ird generation guns are des!ri-ed as t#ose .it# fnger grooes su"eri"osed ont#e *ront stra" !#e!%ering and an a!!essory rail *or.ard o* t#e trigger guard onodels large enoug# to in!or"orate t#is *eature' #e addition o* a slig#t t#u-rest at t#e u""er edge o* t#e gri" is also aong t#ese t#ird generation *eaturesand t#is "arti!ular *eature relates to &'(' i"ortation !riteria'

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Finally, 4t# generation $lo!% odels in!or"orated re!tangular !#e!%eringt#roug#out t#e gri" sur*a!e, a saller gri" .it# -a!% stra" e/tensions, a reersi-leaga:ine release, and t#e slideGre!oil s"ring asse-ly .as u"dated to in!lude adual s"ring *or all odels' #e ne. slide and guide rod asse-lies are not -a!%=!o"ati-le .it# earlier odels'D#ile t#ese !ategories are use*ul, t#e details in soe !ases !an uddy t#e .aters'

(eeral odels o* $lo!% frears .ere ade -earing t#e 3rd generation fngergrooes -ut no asso!iated a!!essory rail' $uns o* t#is ty"e are rare and ty"i!allydes!ri-ed as transitional or $eneration 2'B' For t#e !olle!tor or frear e/ainer.is#ing to ealuate t#is frear, its sa*e to say t#at guns o* t#is ty"e .ere"rodu!ed in relatiely lo. nu-ers and *or a s#ort "eriod o* tie' #e earlyersions o* t#e su-!o"a!t $lo!% 26 and 2 "istols ?+ and '40 (D@ "rodu!edaround t#e sae tie #ad fnger grooes on t#e *ront stra" o* t#e "istol t#at .eredeoid o* !#e!%ering t#at eentually a""eared on later 3rd generation ersions o*t#ose odels' #e slig#tly larger su-!o"a!t odels 2+ and 30 ?10 and '4BA7P@ .ere al.ays ade .it# t#e !#e!%ered fnger grooes -ut eentually "rodu!ed.it# t#e "reiously oitted a!!essory rail' #e earlier non=railed ersions o* t#e$lo!% 2+ and 30 *raes .ere ade *or a longer "eriod o* tie t#an t#e early

soot# fnger grooed ersions o* t#e odel 26 and 2 *raes'

#e -rie* adent o* t#e $lo!% 21 (F .it# a-ide/trous aga:ine release reuired ane. aga:ine design in!or"orating a !utout on t#e *ront *a!e o* t#e aga:ine .all'All su-seuent aga:ines #ae in!or"orated t#is *eature een t#oug# t#ea-ide/trous syste .as s#ort lied'All odels "rodu!ed during t#e arious generations .ere ade !onsistently .it#t#e *eatures o* t#at generation' For t#at reason, early odels li%e t#e $lo!% 1 .ill#ae ersions *ro ea!# o* t#ose generations' #e $lo!% odel nu-ers a""eared

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seuentially alt#oug# soe odels li%e t#e sele!t fre 18 and t#e '380 odels ?2Band 28@ are less !oon due to NFA and i"ort restri!tions'Generation 1 Glock Features

#e $eneration 1 guns are an e/!lusie !lu- !onsisting o* only t#e odel $lo!% 1and a ery *e. o* t#e earliest odel $lo!% 1+ "istols' ?#e $lo!% 18 is t#e sele!tfre ersion o* t#e odel 1 and .#ile 1st generation ersions e/ist, -e!ause o*

t#eir rarity and distin!t internal geoetry t#ey .ont -e dis!ussed in t#is arti!le'@ Along=slide ersion o* t#e 1 %no.n as t#e 1> .as also "rodu!ed using 1stgeneration *raes -ut t#e slides are inter!#angea-le and t#e *raes areindistinguis#a-le .it# ot#er odel 1s' #ese .ill -e des!ri-ed #erea*ter as-elonging to t#e standard *rae si:e designed *or "istols !#a-ered in + >uger,'3B (ig, '40 (D, '380 A7P, and eentually t#e '4B $AP ?.ide *rae guns !aelater@' #e odel 1 is !ategori:ed as a *ull si:ed "istol .#ile t#e 1+ is !onsideredto -e a !o"a!t in si:e' ot# odels .ere alost e/!lusiely !#a-ered *or +>uger alt#oug# a *e. s"e!ial e/!e"tions #ae -een %no.n to e/ist ?e'g'=+/21 in9uro"e@'

#e frst $lo!% "istols i"orted into t#e &'(' !ae .it# serial nu-ers -eginning.it# a t.o letters *ollo.ed -y t#e ty"i!al t#ree nu-ers and a &( suE/ indi!ating

t#ey .ere *or e/"ort to t#e &nited (tates' #e t.o !#ara!teristi! "roo* ar% logosa""eared on t#e *raes, slides, and -arrels .#ile additional ar%ings, su!# as at#ree letter anu*a!turers !ode and a "entagon a""eared on t#e -arrel only'

#e oE!ial serial nu-er in t#e &nited (tates is t#e one a""earing on t#e *rae.#i!# in!ludes t#e &( suE/' #ese nu-ers

a""ear on a etal insert on t#e -otto o* t#e*rae ust a#ead o* t#e trigger

guard' #e early ersions o* t#ese.ere -la!% in !olor and t#e &( a""ears

to -e in a diCerent *ont t#an t#e al"#a=nueri!!#ara!ters t#at a%e u" t#e rest o*t#e nu-ers' #ese -la!% serial

nu-er "lates .ere used in t#eearly $eneration 2 $lo!% 1+ "istolsin t#e sae serial nu-er rangesas t#eir $eneration 1 $lo!% 1si-lings'$lo!% "istols #ae al.ays #ad t.o

!artou!#es on t#e to" and -otto o*t#e rig#t side o* t#e gri"' #e

u""er !artou!#e on t#e generation 1"istols reads< $>J7K, IN7',

(5LMNA, $A' .#ile t#e lo.erar%ing read &(' Pat' 4,B3+, 88+'

9a!# o* t#ese is a single line o* te/t t#at a""ears .it# e-ossed !#ara!ters oer asoot# -a!%ground sur*a!e in t#e "olyer o* t#e *rae surrounded -y t#e e/istingte/ture'

#e odel 1+ #ad anot#er *eature !#ange *ro t#e 1 to add "oints to.ards t#osereuired *or i"ortation into t#e &'(' #e ot#er.ise soot# trigger o* t#e odel 1.as re"la!ed .it# a serrated ersion' All $lo!% "istols t#e si:e o* t#e odel 1+ orsaller .ere ftted .it# serrated triggers *or i"ortation, alt#oug# its notun!oon *or t#eir o.ners to "re*er t#e soot#er trigger and retroft t#e "arts

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sin!e t#ey are inter!#angea-le' Anot#er %ey diCeren!e -et.een t#e odels 1 and1+ is t#e geoetry o* t#e -arrel lug and at!#ing lo!%ing "ie!e inside t#e *rae'

#ey are "ositioned diCerently .#i!# is .#y -arrels are not inter!#angea-le-et.een t#e *ull si:ed and !o"a!t *raes' #is distin!tion reains in su-seuentgenerations and odelsG!ali-ers'

Generation Glock Featurese!ause t#e $lo!% 1 "re!eded t#e $lo!% 1+, t#ere .as initially no need todistinguis# t#e t.o *raes -y ar%ings' In *a!t, t#e ery frst $lo!% 1+ "istols ?1stgeneration@ .ere a!tually ade *ro $lo!% 1 *raes t#at .ere tried toa!!oodate t#e saller slide and aga:ine' An a""arent old ar% on t#e le*t*ront !orner o* t#e trigger guard .as eentually used *or a ar%ing lo!ationindi!ating .#i!# *rae .as -eing "rodu!ed' #is su-seuent old ar% !onsists o*a !ir!ular !artou!#e .it# t#e nu-er 1 or 1+ de"ending on t#e *rae ?earlierodel 1s #ad no su!# ar%@'As #as -een des!ri-ed a-oe, t#e ain !#ange t#at !onstitutes t#e generation 2odels is t#e rete/turing o* t#e gri" sur*a!e' #is re!tangular "attern gri"

!#e!%ering on t#e *ront and -a!% o* t#e gri" is o*ten re*erred to as grenade!#e!%ering' 9arly generation 2 "istols .ere odel 1s and 1+s t#at retained t#et.o single line gri" !artou!#es on t#e rig#t side, t#e 1G1+ old ar%s on t#e le*t,and Austrian "roo* ar%s o* t#e generation 1 odels, -ut not all #ad t#e siler!olored serial nu-er insert "late'Around 1++0 a-out #al*=.ay t#roug# t#e t.o=letter serial nu-er ranges, $lo!%started i"orting t#e odels 20 ?10@, 21 ?'4B A7P@, 22, and 23 ?-ot# '40 (D@'y t#is tie, t#e Austrian "roo* ar%s and t#e 1G1+ old ar% .ere no longer"resent' #e odels 22 and 23 are essentially t#e '40 (D ersions o* t#e 1 and1+ res"e!tiely #o.eer, t#e ore "o.er*ul !artridge *or!ed a design !#ange t#atadded an additional "in to retain t#e lo!%ing "ie!e in t#e *rae' (oe rare earlyersions o* t#ese "istols ay not #ae #ad t#e additional ?3rd@ "in' #e odels 20and 21 .ere t#e frst o* t#e .ide *rae si:es ade to a!!oodate t#e 10 Autoand '4B A7P !artridges, res"e!tiely' All o* t#ese odels are 2nd generation or later.it# -ot# lo!%ing -lo!% "ins in t#eir design'

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9arly generation 1 $lo!% 1 "istols .ere not ar%ed .it# a !ir!ular !artou!#e ont#e le*t *ront !orner o* t#e trigger guard -earing t#e odel nu-er' >ater frst and

se!ond generation $lo!% 1 and 1+ "istols .ere *or a tie and t#en later t#is*eature .as deleted' Note, t#e serrated trigger o* t#e $lo!% 1+ odel .as ne!essaryto !o"ly .it# &'(' i"ort regulations due to its saller si:e'Prior to rea!#ing t#e end o* t#e t.o=letter serial nu-er ranges, a se!ond line .asadded to t#e u""er !artou!#e on t#e gri" o* t#e "istol .#i!# no. read< MADE IN

AUSTRIA / GLOCK, INC., SMYRNA, GA.

Mig#t around t#e tie o* t#e rolloer *ro t.o=letter serial nu-ers to t#ree=letterseries, t#e internal "arts o* t#e "istol !#anged *ro -eing ostly -la!% in !olor tosiler' #is *eature is not al.ays a relia-le one to !onsider -e!ause older gunsre!eiing *a!tory or arorer u"grades o*ten #ae ne.er siler !olored "artsin!luding soe early u"grades to "re=9HOOO "istols t#at reuired an en#an!edtrigger -ar t#at .ould in!rease t#e searGstri%er engageent' #ese i"roed early

trigger -ars #ad a sta"ed on t#e to" rear "ortion near t#e area o* stri%erengageent' D#ile t#is u"graded trigger -ar #ad a distin!t s#a"e, t#is aut#or #asseen at least one e/a"le o* an earlier s#a"ed "art t#at #as a -ron:eGgold !olor'(#ortly a*ter t#e !#ange *ro t.o=letter to t#ree=letter serial nu-ers, a se!ond line.as added to t#e lo.er !artou!#e on t#e gri" .it# t.o additional "atent nu-ers'

#e ne/t internal u"grade in t#is a""ro/iate !#ronology .as angled !uts ade tot#e interior o* t#e *rae to reliee t#e -a!% t.o !orners .#ere t#e lo!%ing "ie!esits' Dit#out t#is odif!ation, t#ose t.o !orners .ere "rone to t#e initiation o*erti!al !ra!%s in t#e "olyer due to t#e re"eated i"a!t o* t#e !orners o* t#eetal lo!%ing "ie!e to t#e *rae' #e relie* !uts seeed to "reent t#e o!!urren!eand !ould also -e added to older odels a*ter t#e !ra!%s #ad -egun ?essentiallyreoing t#e !ra!%s in t#e "ro!ess o* a%ing t#e !uts at t#eir lo!ation@'

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5id.ay t#roug# t#e 2nd generation, relie* !uts .ere added to t#e rear !utout area*or t#e lo!%ing -lo!%' 9arlier odels tended to deelo" tiny !ra!%s in t#e "olyer o*t#at area due to t#e i"a!t o* t#e lo!%ing -lo!% !orners during re!oil' For a tie,

$lo!% .ould retroft earlier guns i* reuested, alt#oug#, t#eres little indi!ation t#esesall !ra!%s .ere ore t#an a !oseti! issue'As .it# ot#er internal u"grades, -e!ause t#ese .ere o*ten done -y t#e *a!tory a*ter"rodu!tion, t#eir "resen!e tells less a-out t#e age o* t#e "istol t#an t#eir a-sen!e'Hy"ot#eti!ally, .ere t#e "eo"le at $lo!%, In!' to dis!oer an old -at!# o* earlygeneration 2 seriali:ed *raes t#ey .ould surely !o"lete t#ese u"grades -e*oreasse-ling t#e into "istols to -e sold as ne.' >i%e.ise, "istols returned to t#e*a!tory as trade=in to.ards ne. odels ig#t also #ae siilar u"grades'

#e list o* generation 2 !#anges a-oe !an -e des!ri-ed seuentially -ased on t#eassu"tion o* t#e serial nu-ers -eing seuential alt#oug# t#is ay not stri!tly -etrue' A ore a!!urate des!ri"tion .ould -e to say t#e !#anges listed #ere o!!urredduring a .aters#ed "eriod during t#e iddle o* t#e se!ond generation' #e !#ange

*ro -la!% internal "arts to siler u"grade "arts, t#e lo!%ing "ie!e relie* !uts, andt#e addition o* a se!ond line o* te/t o* t#e lo.er !artou!#e are all relatiely!onte"orary !#anges roug#ly !oin!iding .it# t#e !#ange *ro t#e t.o=letter tot#ree=letter serial nu-er range' Also in t#is tie *rae, t#e s"ring and guide rodasse-ly .as u"graded to a one "ie!e unit'

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Fro t#e frst generation to t#e *ourt#, $lo!% odels #ae undergone su-tle

!#anges to t#e ar%ings and te/tures re"li!ated in t#e olded "olyer *raes'A *e. years later, in 1++4, $lo!% -egan i"orting t#e odel 24, .#i!# is essentiallyt#e 2nd generation euialent o* t#e 1> des!ri-ed earlier !#a-ered in '40 (D'Dit# t#e e/!e"tion o* !usto ar%ed guns, all odel 24s and all su-seuent odelnu-ers #ae at least t#ree letters in t#e serial nu-er range' (oe tie later t#eangle o* t#e rig#t rear sur*a!e o* t#e ee!tion "ort .as !#anged *ro a +0 degreeangle to soet#ing slig#tly larger' #is !#ange o!!urred -et.een t#e introdu!tiono* t#e odel 24 and t#e su-!o"a!t odels 26 and 2 in + and '40 (Dres"e!tiely' D#at t#is eans is t#at one ay en!ounter a odel 24 .it# t#eearlier +0 degree ee!tion "ort angle -ut all odels 26 and later #ad t#e ne.ergeoetry'

#e early odel 26 and 2 "istols .ere t#e frst to in!or"orate fnger grooes in t#e

*ront stra" o* t#e gri" #o.eer, t#ese .ere not !#e!%ered li%e t#ose t#at !ae-e*ore and a*ter' It ay -e easiest to regard t#e odels 26=28 .it# t#e soot#*ront stra" as generation 2 -e!ause t#ey are li%e t#e "roto ty"e *or t#e generation 3!#anges and a""eared "rior to t#e addition o* t#e a!!essory rail t#at *ully defnesgeneration 3 guns' #ese frst su-!o"a!t "istols in!or"orated t#e t#u- rest*eature at t#e to" o* t#e gri" so t#ey !ould -e legally i"orted into t#e &'(' ar%et'Jn t#e ot#er #and, t#e large *rae su-!o"a!t "istols, odels 2+ and 30?!#a-ered in 10 Auto and '4B A7P res"e!tiely@ .ere al.ays "rodu!ed .it#!#e!%ered fnger grooes on t#e *ront stra" and t#eir ultiate u"grade to #aing an

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a!!essory rail o!!urred u!# later so it ay -e -est to !lassi*y all o* t#ese ingeneration 3'

$ri" s#a"e and te/ture on generation 1, 2, and 3 $lo!% 1 "istols seen .it#!orres"onding generations o* aga:ine ;oor "lates'

Generation ! Glock Features$eneration 3 $lo!%s in!or"orated all o* t#e *eature !#anges listed a-oe and!#anged ery little in t#e years to !oe' A *e. early odels o* t#e '3B (I$ "istols.ere ade .it# fnger grooes and no a!!essory rail ?a'%'a' generation 2'B@ -utt#ese !an -e !onsidered rare' Additional odels added a*ter t#e s.it!# togeneration 3 in!luded t#e 2+ ?10@, 30 ?'4B A7P@, 31=33 ?'3B (I$@, 34 ?+@, 3B?'40 (D@, and t#e sli *rae odel 36 .#i!# .as uniue in t#at it .as a '4B A7P"istol .it# t#e slide diensions o* t#e + and a single sta!% *rae t#at .as eent#innerQ #e odels 3=3+ .ere later introdu!ed in t#e '4B $AP !artridge' #eseguns used t#e standard + si:ed *rae .it# a .ider slide siilar to t#e 10G'4BA7P odels'

o.ards t#e later years o* t#e 3rd generation, soe s"e!ial ersions o* e/isting

odels .ere introdu!ed along side t#e standard odels' Versions o* seeralodels des!ri-ed as #aing a Mi!# e/ture Finis# ?MF@ .ere ade t#at in!or"orateda distin!t te/ture on all sur*a!es o* t#e gri" and !oseti!ally uniue slideserrations' #ese .ere not !oer!ially su!!ess*ul and su-seuently "rodu!ed insaller nu-ers'

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In 2013, $lo!% uneiled a ne. odel at t#e (HJ (#o. t#e 30(' #is gun !o-inest#e traditional .ide *rae o* t#e odel 30 ?'4B A7P@ .it# a sli slide siilar to t#e$lo!% 36'(oe o* t#e larger 10G'4B A7P odels .ere ade .it# (#ort Fraes ?(F@ t#at#ad a gri" -a!% stra"G"al s.ell t#at .as redu!ed in si:e' #ese odels arriedaround t#e sae tie as t#e addition o* t#e a!!essory rail on t#e su-!o"a!tersions ?2+G30@ and .ere ar%ed on t#e rig#t side o* t#e *rae a-oe t#e triggerguard .it# a s#ort !artou!#e -earing an (F e-ossed on t#e soot# "olyer'Jne saller su-set o* t#ese odels is t#e $lo!% 21 (F .it# t#e larger 1+13 rail -uiltinto t#e *rae instead o* t#e usual single not!# a!!essory rail' #ese .ere ade in

anti!i"ation o* design *eatures reuested *or a ne. &'(' Ary seri!e "istol!o"etition' #is "arti!ular odel .as ade .it# a ne. a-ide/trous aga:inerelease t#at .as ery diCerent *ro t#e "reious designs' #is syste !a"tured t#eaga:ine .it# a t#in "addle on t#e *or.ard interior o* t#e aga:ine .ell and .ouldnot *un!tion .it# older aga:ine designs' For t#is reason, all su-seuentaga:ines .ere ade .it# t#is additional *or.ard !utout, alt#oug# t#e ilitary!o"etition neer #a""ened and t#ese design *eatures #ae not -een re"eated onsu-seuent odels'Around t#e tie o* t#e (F odels, t#e serial nu-ers on $lo!% *raes dro""ed t#e&( suE/ and all slide, *rae, and -arrel nu-ers .ere identi!al' #is o!!urred-e*ore t#e arrial o* t#e 4t# generation designs or t#e &'(' ade $lo!% "istols t#ata""ear to all use t#e longer *our letter "lus t#ree nu-er serial nu-er stru!ture'

At "resent, -ot# 3rd and 4t# generation "istols are -eing ade in t#e &'(' andAustria' #e only te!#ni!al diCeren!e -et.een t#e t.o sees to -e in t#e etalfnis# R t#e enni*er "ro!ess used in Austria #as -een re"la!ed -y a 5elonite "ro!ess*or &'(' ade #andguns' It reains to -e seen i* t#is diCeren!e .ill distinguis# t#et.o "rodu!ts in t#e o"en ar%et'