Glock Handguns: Austrian Citizens' Right To Purchase

Austrian citizens are allowed to own firearms, and the country is the 14th most armed country in the world. Austrian law divides firearms into three categories: Class C, Class B, and Class A. Class B includes handguns and semi-automatic rifles. To purchase a handgun in Austria, one must be over 18, have no criminal record, pass a background check, a psychological test, and a shooting course. Glock is one of the most famous modern gunmakers in Austria, and its pistols are manufactured both in Austria and the United States.

Austrian gun laws

Austrian law allows firearm possession on a shall-issue basis, with certain classes of shotguns and rifles available without a permit. With approximately 30 civilian firearms per 100 people, Austria is the 14th most armed country in the world. Austrian law divides firearms into three categories:

Category C includes repeating, revolving and break-action rifles, break-action shotguns and projectile-firing electroshock weapons. Any non-prohibited Austrian citizen, EU national with residence in Austria, or a third-country national with permanent residence in Austria (with a special background check) over 18 can buy firearms from Category C without a permit after a three-day background check. There is no limit on the number of Category C weapons that one can possess.

Category B includes handguns, repeating shotguns, and semi-automatic rifles. Acquisition of Category B weapons requires a firearm license (Waffenbesitzkarte). Authorities shall issue licenses to any non-prohibited citizen of the European Economic Area over 21 who has a good reason (law stipulates self-defence at home as a good reason) and allows the purchase of up to two handguns. Since 2019, the authorities shall issue a license for up to five Category B weapons after a person has been in possession of a license for two Category B weapons for five or more years.

Category A includes two subcategories: war material, such as automatic firearms, and restricted weapons, such as weapons disguised as other objects. Category A weapons require further exceptions to be granted for holders, except in the case of suppressed weapons, which may be held by those with valid hunting licenses. War material like automatic firearms requires a further special federal permit, which is in practice only granted to approved collectors and experts.

Carrying firearms in public generally requires a carry permit ("Waffenpass"). Austrian law makes no distinction between concealed or open carry; with a carry permit, the holder may carry their weapon(s) freely throughout the whole country and even in certain "weapon-free zones". However, holders must carry their weapons in a way that does not constitute a public nuisance.

To bring weapons into Austria, individuals without a place of residence in the European Union who do not have an Austrian or European firearms license require a permit according to Austrian weapons law. An application for this permit can be filed at the Austrian Embassy with the following documents: substantiation for the purpose of the trip, a weapons permit issued by the authorities of the home state (place of residence), and a certificate of good conduct (an FBI background check no older than three months). The permit authorizes the applicant to transport the weapon(s) in question into Austria but does not grant the right to carry the weapon at all times. A separate permit is required to carry a weapon at all times, which can only be issued by the domestic authorities.

Glock's manufacturing process

Materials

Glock guns are made from synthetic materials, primarily a high-strength nylon-based polymer called Polymer 2, which is resistant to corrosion and extreme temperatures. This polymer frame makes the gun lightweight yet durable. Steel is also used, particularly in the slide of the gun, and for various small components such as the trigger bar and ejector.

Manufacturing

Glock has a high level of vertical production, meaning they control different parts of the production process. They produce the tools and machinery needed for the mouldings and other building blocks of the gun components. Glock guns are created through processes such as hammer forging, CNC milling and turning, stamping of strip steel, and polymer and metal injection moulding.

Quality Control

Glock has stringent quality control procedures and is certified according to ISO 9001 (quality management) and ISO 14001 (environmental management) requirements. Every single Glock pistol is test-fired to ensure flawless function and accuracy straight out of the box. Extensive tests are done in-house and externally to ensure the guns can withstand extreme conditions.

Assembly

Frames, slides, and barrels are all manufactured using the same processes in Austria and the US. Small parts, including magazines, come from Austria. Glock has insulated itself from material shortages and quality issues by "insourcing rather than outsourcing". They make all their own tools in Austria and have multiple vendors for their steel and polymer supply to guard against supply chain interruptions.

Design

Glock guns are designed with simplicity in mind. They have only 34 parts, compared to the 200-plus parts found in some other handguns. This contributes to their reliability and interchangeability. Glock's design philosophy is driven by the company's ethos, which is focused on producing firearms that can be relied on by military and law enforcement personnel in a variety of harsh environments.

Distribution

Glock serves four separate markets: US commercial, US law enforcement, US government, and export. The guns are distributed to the public and military services through Glock distributors.

Acquiring a gun license in Austria

Austrian law allows firearm possession on a shall-issue basis, with certain classes of shotguns and rifles available without a permit. Austria is the 14th most armed country in the world, with approximately 30 civilian firearms per 100 people.

Austrian law divides firearms into three categories: Category C, Category B, and Category A. Category C includes rifles, shotguns, and electroshock weapons, which can be purchased by any non-prohibited Austrian citizen, EU national with residence in Austria, or a third-country national with permanent residence in Austria, over the age of 18, without a permit. However, a three-day background check is required, and the owner must provide a valid reason for the purchase, such as self-defence, hunting, sport shooting, or collecting.

For Category B weapons, which include handguns, a firearm license (Waffenbesitzkarte) is required. Authorities will issue licenses to citizens of the European Economic Area over the age of 21 who can provide a good reason for the purchase, such as self-defence. This license allows the purchase of up to two handguns. Authorities may also issue a license to individuals between 18 and 21 years of age, non-citizens of the EEA, or those seeking to own more than two handguns, but this is at their discretion.

Category A weapons, which include automatic firearms and war materials, require further exceptions and special permits to be granted authorization.

To obtain a gun license in Austria, individuals must typically undergo a process that includes:

• Fulfilling eligibility requirements: This includes being a citizen of Austria or an EEA/EU passport holder, being at least 21 years old (with some exceptions for those between 18 and 21), and not having any prohibitions against firearm ownership.
• Completing a firearms course: This course includes practical shooting training and theoretical instruction on Austrian weapons law and safe gun ownership.
• Obtaining a psychological certification: A licensed psychologist conducts a psychological exam to ensure the individual is accountable and will not endanger anyone with their firearm.
• Submitting an application: The application for a firearms license is submitted to the local police and typically includes the psychological certification, proof of citizenship, a passport photo, and other relevant documents.
• Paying the required fees: There are fees associated with obtaining the firearms license and the psychological certification.
• Adhering to storage and transportation regulations: Gun owners are responsible for securely storing their firearms and ammunition to prevent unauthorized access. There are specific regulations for storing and transporting firearms and ammunition, including requirements for gun safes in certain cases.

The differences between Austrian and US-made Glocks

Austrian-made Glocks and US-made Glocks have no difference in quality. The Glock factory in Georgia runs on European power, and the machines are set up by Austrian engineers. The barrel and slide stock and polymer are all from the same batches. Even the floor in the US facility is the same concrete as in Austria. The guns are made from the same machines and with the same materials, and strict standards that Glock has set forth in both facilities with 100% quality control.

However, there are some minor differences between Austrian and US-made Glocks. Firstly, the serial number format differs, with Austrian Glocks having a 6-digit serial number (ABC123) and US Glocks having a 7-digit serial number (ABCD123). Secondly, the stamp of the country of manufacture is different, with Austrian Glocks stamped with "Austria" and US Glocks stamped with "Made in USA, GLOCK INC SMYRNA GA". Thirdly, the proof marks on the barrel are different. Austrian Glocks have a 5-sided proof mark from Austria, while US Glocks have a football-shaped proof mark with "3D" in the centre. Additionally, US Glocks have the Georgia proof mark, which is the shape of the state of Georgia with a "P" in the centre.

Some people claim that Austrian Glocks have a smoother action and better trigger than US Glocks, but this is subjective and may vary between individual guns. Overall, both Austrian and US-made Glocks are of the same high quality that Glock is known for.

Importing weapons into Austria

Austrian law allows firearm possession on a shall-issue basis, with certain classes of shotguns and rifles available without a permit. With approximately 30 civilian firearms per 100 people, Austria is the 14th most armed country in the world.

The import and export of firearms to and from third countries (all countries outside the EU) are subject to various restrictions and requirements.

Individuals without a place of residence in the European Union who do not have an Austrian or European firearms license require a permit according to Austrian weapons law to bring weapons into Austria. This permit can be obtained from the Austrian Embassy or Consulate with the following documents:

• Substantiation for the purpose of the trip, e.g. a hunting trip (flight route, hotel reservations, etc.)
• A weapons permit issued by the authorities of the home state (place of residence)
• A certificate of good conduct (an FBI background check no older than three months can be obtained from an FBI-approved institution)

The permit is valid for up to three months and authorizes the transport of weapons into Austria, but it does not grant the right to carry them at all times. The weapons must be unloaded and stored separately from the ammunition. A separate permit is required to carry a weapon at all times, which can only be issued by the domestic authorities.

There are no restrictions on the import of Category C firearms from third countries. For Category B firearms, people with residence in Austria who are holders of a weapon passport or gun ownership card can import them.

For imports from within the EU, an "EU Firearms or Ammunition Transfer Document" is required. This process takes approximately one week.

It is important to note that there is a general ban on the import of certain weapons, such as pump-action shotguns and knuckledusters.

Frequently asked questions