SAR 18#6

espectively) were always produced with
checkered finger grooves on the front
strap and their ultimate upgrade to having
an accessory rail occurred much later
so it may be best to classify all of these
in generation 3.
Generation 3 Glock Features
Generation 3 Glocks incorporated
all of the feature changes listed above
and changed very little in the years to
come. A few early models of the .357
SIG pistols were made with finger
grooves and no accessory rail (a.k.a.
“generation 2.5”) but these can be considered
rare. Additional models added
after the switch to generation 3 included
the 29 (10mm), 30 (.45 ACP), 31-33
(.357 SIG), 34 (9mm), 35 (.40 S&W),
and the slim frame model 36 which was
unique in that it was a .45 ACP pistol
with the slide dimensions of the 9mm
and a single stack frame that was even
thinner! The models 37-39 were later
introduced in the .45 GAP cartridge.
These guns used the standard 9mm
sized frame with a wider slide similar to
the 10mm/.45 ACP models.
Towards the later years of the 3rd
generation, some special versions of
existing models were introduced along
side the standard models. Versions of
several models described as having a
Rich Texture Finish (RTF) were made
that incorporated a distinct texture on
all surfaces of the grip and cosmetically
unique slide serrations. These were not
commercially successful and subsequently
produced in smaller numbers.
Some of the larger 10mm/.45 ACP
models were made with “Short Frames”
(SF) that had a grip back strap/palm
swell that was reduced in size. These
models arrived around the same time
as the addition of the accessory rail
on the subcompact versions (29/30)
and were marked on the right side of
the frame above the trigger guard with
a short cartouche bearing an “SF”
embossed on the smooth polymer.
One smaller subset of these models
is the Glock 21 SF with the larger
1913 rail built into the frame instead of
the usual single notch accessory rail.
These were made in anticipation of design
features requested for a new U.S.
Army service pistol competition. This
particular model was made with a new
ambidextrous magazine release that
was very different from the previous designs.
This system captured the magazine
with a thin paddle on the forward
interior of the magazine well and would
not function with older magazine designs.
For this reason, all subsequent
magazines were made with this additional
forward cutout, although the military
competition never happened and
these design features have not been
repeated on subsequent models.
Around the time of the SF models,
the serial numbers on Glock frames
dropped the “US” suffix and all slide,
frame, and barrel numbers were identical.
This occurred before the arrival
of the 4th generation designs or the
U.S. made Glock pistols that appear
to all use the longer four letter plus
three number serial number structure.
At present, both 3rd and 4th generation
pistols are being made in the U.S. and
Austria. The only technical difference
between the two seems to be in the
metal finish – the Tennifer process used
in Austria has been replaced by a Melonite
process for U.S. made handguns.
It remains to be seen if this difference
will distinguish the two products in the
open market.
SAR Vol. 18, No. 6 58 Nov., Dec. 2014