Why Glock

"Didnt the Austrain Army first pick Glock becaues they were made there...?"

When, in 1982, the Austrian Army announced they were ready to begin taking bids for a new service pistol, they instituted a few requirements that were somewhat stringent. Along with the usual drop tests and accuracy determinations, exposure to extreme temperature variations as well as submersion in water, ice, and mud, and with NO user intitiated safeties, randomly selected pistols must be capable of firing 10,000 rounds with no more than 20 stoppages. Then, the weapon in question must be capable of being field stripped by hand coordination only, and without the use of any tools.

During this first 10,000 round test, the Glock 17 had one (1) stoppage, as one (1) round failed to eject and permit the magazine to feed in another. In addition, after every 3,000 guns manufactured, one pistol is to be created from the disassembled parts of five (5), and the full range of tests conducted again. To add more fly's in the ointment, each and every Glock must fully function using standard, low, and high-pressure ammunition. High-pressure being determined to equal as closely as possible, but not exceed 56,000 PSI. Subsequent high-pressure determinations for the .40 caliber Glocks were fired using the same 56,000 PSI standard, but in order for the 357 SIG to pass, the high-pressure evaluation was raised to 61,000 PSI.

Aside from Glock, every major European pistol manufacturer entered the original bidding. None of the others passed. The Army had two choices; take a chance on Glock, or lower their admittedly new and previously untried standards.

They picked Glock. I guess I would have, too, regardless of from whence the pistol came. When someone who hasn't clue-one inquires as to what all the fuss is about, it IS fussible because Glock went toe-to-toe with the best in the business, as for all intent and purpose, a start-up company that had never made a gun before. We'll get in to the polymer-schmolymer at a later date, and maybe have a go at detailing the SMOCK...S&W's attempt at ripping off Gaston.

Oh yeah, almost forgot. Glock was also 25% lower in price than the next lowest bid.