Glock's Austrian Origins: Where Are They Made Now?

Glocks are polymer-framed, short-recoil-operated, striker-fired, locked-breech semi-automatic pistols. The brand was founded by Austrian engineer Gaston Glock in 1963 and the pistols are designed and produced by Austrian manufacturer Glock Ges.m.b.H. Glock pistols are supplied to national armed forces, security agencies, and police forces in at least 48 countries. They are also popular among civilians for recreational and competition shooting, home- and self-defence, both in concealed or open carry.

Glock pistols are manufactured in both the United States and Austria. The majority of Glocks are still made in Austria, but some models are now being produced in the United States.

Differences between Austrian and US-made Glocks

Austrian-made Glocks and US-made Glocks have a few differences, though the underlying quality remains the same. The most notable difference is in the serial number formatting, with Austrian Glocks featuring a 6-digit alphanumeric serial number (e.g., ABC123) and US-made Glocks having a 7-digit alphanumeric serial number (e.g., ABCD123). Additionally, the country of manufacture is stamped on the Glock, so you'll see "Austria" or "USA" on the slide.

The metal treatment process and materials used might also differ slightly between the two. Austrian Glocks were initially treated with Tenifer, while US Glocks used Melonite due to EPA regulations prohibiting the former. However, newer Glocks from both countries now use the nDLC coating.

Another difference lies in the proof marks on the barrel. Austrian Glocks have a 5-sided proof mark with a dot in the centre, while US Glocks feature a football-shaped proof mark with "3D" at the centre. US Glocks also have the Georgia proof mark, which is the shape of the state of Georgia with a "P" in the centre.

In terms of production, Glock USA has only about 25% of the production capacity of the Austrian plant, and as of 2017, it was running at 65% capacity with the Glock 19 as its most popular model. The Austrian-made Glocks come disassembled and are then assembled and test-fired in the US facility.

While there are some minor variations between Austrian and US-made Glocks, the overall quality and performance remain consistent across both.

Glock serial number formats

Glock serial numbers can be used to determine the age and origin of the gun. The serial number format differs between Glocks manufactured in Austria and those made in the USA. Austrian Glocks have a 6-digit serial number in the format of ABC123, while USA-made Glocks have a 7-digit serial number in the format ABCD123.

The serial number on the gun is not an exact indicator of the date of manufacture, but the letter prefix can give a rough idea of the timeframe. For example, a Glock with the serial number GTE1XX indicates it was manufactured around December 2004.

In addition to the serial number, older Glocks may also have a 3-letter date code on the barrel indicating the production date. This date code is separate from the serial number and is located next to it on the barrel. However, Glock stopped putting these date codes on the barrels at the end of the Gen-2 production.

It is also worth noting that Glock pistols have three sets of serial numbers—one each on the barrel, slide, and frame—and these should all match for an all-original gun.

Glock 42 and import restrictions

Glock pistols are manufactured in both the United States and Austria. The Glock 42 is a .380, 6-round subcompact Glock that was released onto the U.S. market in 2014. All Glock 42s are made in the U.S. due to ATF import regulations. The 380 Auto caliber Glock pistols do not meet the importation points to be imported into the U.S.

The Trump administration lowered export regulations on gun manufacturers in January 2019, so it’s probably easier for Glock, Inc. to get permission to export Glocks made in the United States compared to Glocks made in Austria. Pistols made in the United States are not subject to the same import restrictions.

The Glock 42 is not the only Glock model to be produced in the United States. Glock's facility in the United States currently produces models in the most common calibers for the U.S. market, though models in rarer calibers are still primarily made in Austria.

The Glock 25 is another model that is not available to the average American citizen due to the criteria set regarding imported guns under the Gun Control Act of 1968. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (BATF) has a point system that determines the importation of a handgun. The Glock 25 falls short because it is chambered with a .380-caliber bullet, making it legal to use in South America but illegal to import to civilians in the United States.

Glock's Austrian manufacturing facilities

Glock has two manufacturing facilities in Austria. The first, in Deutsch-Wagram, north of Vienna, was opened in 1999 and houses the most modern production machinery for injection moulding, as well as the full assembly line and test-firing facilities. The second, in Ferlach, in the south of the country, opened in 1987 and has been expanded over the years to include the most advanced metallurgical technologies for handgun manufacturing.

The manufacturing process in the US is identical to that in Austria. All machines are imported from Austria and programmed by the same people who do it in Austria. The Austrian facilities deal with different components: one with metal and the other with polymer.

Glock's US manufacturing facilities

The US facility produces Glock models in the most common calibres for the US market, though rarer models are still primarily made in Austria. Glock USA keeps one year's worth of production materials on hand to ensure production without interruption. The facility has the capacity to produce up to 10,000 guns per week and employs over 400 people.

The manufacturing process in the US is identical to that in Austria. All machines, including the concrete floors, are identical to those in the Austrian plant. The Glock USA pistols have American-made frames, slides, and barrels, while the rest of the components come from Austria.

Frequently asked questions