Glocks: Austrian Vs Georgian, Which Is Superior?

Austrian-made Glocks and those manufactured in the United States are practically identical. Glock USA pistols have American-made frames, slides, and barrels, while the remaining components are sourced from Austria. Glock Austria maintains complete quality control over the production process, and all tooling, moulds, fixtures, and gauging are manufactured in-house in Austria. The US facility uses identical machinery, concrete floors, and hammer forge barrel machines as the Austrian plant. The only notable differences are the format of the serial numbers and the stamp indicating the country of manufacture.

Austrian Glocks are treated with Tenifer, while US Glocks are treated with Melonite

Austrian Glocks and US Glocks are treated with different processes. Austrian Glocks are treated with Tenifer, while US Glocks are treated with Melonite.

Tenifer is a metal treatment process that was used by Glock until 2010. The use of Tenifer was stopped due to concerns from the EPA regarding the byproduct of the process, cyanide salts. Melonite, also known as nitrite, has been used to treat all guns made since Tenifer was discontinued. Both Tenifer and Melonite are similar nitriding processes, but Melonite results in harder metal surfaces.

Some people believe that Austrian Glocks are superior because they are treated with Tenifer. However, there is no difference in quality between Austrian and US Glocks. Glock has confirmed that the processes in each location are the same, and they use the same materials, machinery, and tolerances. The only difference is the country of origin markings.

The treatment process is not the same as the finish. The finish is applied after the metal is treated. Scratching the finish will not affect the treatment, and the gun will not be susceptible to corrosion.

Glock is an ISO 9001-certified company, which guarantees consistent quality across all products. Austrian and US Glocks meet the same standards and use the same raw materials, machinery, and processes.

US Glocks are cheaper and faster to produce

The price difference between Austrian and US Glocks is often attributed to the cost of shipping and import restrictions. US Glocks are cheaper and faster to produce because they are manufactured in the country, and therefore, not subject to the same import restrictions as Austrian Glocks.

In 2014, Glock set up a facility in the US to produce the Glock 42, a .380, 6-round subcompact Glock. This was due to the BATFE's "point system", which determines which pistols can be imported. Glock's earlier .380 pistols could not be imported into the US. As a result, Glock began manufacturing certain models in the US to avoid these restrictions.

The US facility in Smyrna, Georgia, produces Glock models in the most common calibers for the US market, while rarer calibers are still primarily made in Austria. The US plant has the capacity to produce up to 10,000 guns per week and employs over 400 people. Glock USA keeps one year's worth of production materials on hand to ensure uninterrupted production.

In addition to the cost savings from local manufacturing and avoiding import restrictions, US Glocks benefit from faster production times due to their proximity to the US market. This results in shorter lead times and improved availability for US consumers.

While there may be minor cosmetic differences between Austrian and US Glocks, such as serial number formats and stamps indicating the country of manufacture, the quality and performance of the firearms are identical. Glock ensures strict quality control and uses identical machines, materials, and processes in both its Austrian and US facilities. Therefore, US Glocks offer the same reliability and performance as their Austrian counterparts at a more competitive price point due to reduced shipping and import costs.

Austrian Glocks are more popular in the US

Glocks manufactured in Austria and the US are made with the same machines, and the same processes, and are therefore identical in terms of manufacturing and parts. The only differences are the format of the serial numbers and the stamp of where it is made. However, there is a perception that Austrian Glocks are of better quality, and this perception has led to their increased popularity in the US.

Some people prefer to buy Austrian Glocks because they want the original product, in the same way that people prefer to buy a BMW from Germany. There is also a perception that US Glocks are inferior, with some people believing that US manufacturers prioritise production speed over quality. However, this is not the case with Glocks, as the company has the same strict standards in both Austria and the US.

The popularity of Austrian Glocks in the US is also due to the fact that Glock started manufacturing in the US to break into the market for .380 Auto compact pistols. This meant that Glock 42 pistols, which were released onto the US market in 2014, are primarily made in the US. As a result, it is more common to find US-made Glocks in the US, particularly in rarer calibers.

Despite the perception that Austrian Glocks are superior, there is no difference in quality between the two. In fact, Glock has such strict quality control that they manufacture every single component of the pistol in-house, and even the concrete floors in the US facility are identical to the Austrian plant. Therefore, Austrian Glocks are not better than those made in Georgia, they are simply more popular due to a perception of quality based on their country of origin.

US Glocks are banned in California

California has a reputation for its restrictive gun laws, and the state's residents have to jump through a number of hoops to legally own a firearm.

Firstly, all handguns must be on the California Roster of Certified Handguns. To get on the roster, the gun must be submitted for testing to the California Department of Justice. The gun is then fired 600 times, dropped on the floor, and inspected for cracks or breakages. If it passes, it can be added to the roster, but only for one year, and only if the manufacturer pays a fee.

There are several reasons a handgun may be deemed unsafe in California. These include:

• A capacity of over ten rounds
• Any center-fire handgun made after 2006 must contain a loaded chamber indicator or a magazine disconnect system
• Any rimfire handgun must have a magazine disconnect system if the magazine can be detached
• If the handgun malfunctions, fires when dropped, or experiences any cracks during testing, it can be deemed unsafe

The Glock 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 26, 27, and 29 have all been added to the roster of safe guns in California. However, the Glock 17 Gen 4 is not on the list, despite the Glock 17 Gen 3 being legal.

In addition to the roster, there are certain characteristics that will cause any firearm to be viewed as an "assault weapon" by the state. These include:

• A semiautomatic centerfire firearm that is not a rifle, pistol, or shotgun, and that does not have a fixed magazine
• A pistol grip that protrudes conspicuously beneath the action of the weapon
• A folding or telescoping stock
• A grenade launcher or flare launcher
• A forward pistol grip
• A threaded barrel capable of accepting a flash suppressor, forward handgrip, or silencer
• A shroud that is attached to, or partially or completely encircles, the barrel
• The capacity to accept a detachable magazine at some location outside of the pistol grip
• A semiautomatic centerfire firearm that is not a rifle, pistol, or shotgun, that has a fixed magazine with a capacity of over 10 rounds
• A semiautomatic centerfire firearm that is not a rifle, pistol, or shotgun, that has an overall length of less than 30 inches

California also has a ban on magazines with a capacity of over 10 rounds. However, this ban was briefly lifted between April 1 and April 5, 2019, in what became known as "Freedom Week". Magazines purchased during this time are still legal to own in California.

Finally, background checks are required for all ammunition purchases, and online purchases cannot be shipped directly to the buyer.

With all of these restrictions, it is no surprise that US Glocks are banned in California.

US Glocks have a different finish due to EPA regulations

There is very little difference between US-made Glocks and Austrian-made Glocks. The US-made Glocks have a different finish due to EPA regulations, which prevent the use of Glock's traditional "Tenifer" coating. The US Glocks use a process with a different name, but the end result is just as good, if not better. The finish on the US-made Glocks is a little darker and more matte, while the Tenifer coating on the Austrian Glocks is more grey and glossy. Glock has since moved to a new nDLC coating, which can presumably be applied in both Austria and the US.

Frequently asked questions