Glock 19

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Glock 19^[1]
Current model Glock 19
Type	Semi-automatic pistol
Place of origin	Austria
Production history
Designer	Gaston Glock
Manufacturer	Glock
Produced	1990
Variants	19C
Specifications
Weight	595 g / 20.99 oz (unloaded)
Length	174 mm / 6.85 in
Barrel length	102 mm / 4.02 in
Width	30.0 mm / 1.18 in
Height	128 mm / 5.00 in (with magazine)

Caliber	9 mm Luger Parabellum
Action	Safe action
Feed system	15 / 17 / 19 / 33 round magazine
Sights	Fixed front and rear

The Glock 19 is a pistol designed and manufactured by Glock. The Glock 19 is effectively a reduced size Glock 17. Standard magazine capacity is 15 rounds of 9 x 19 mm ammunition. Development of the Glock 19 started in 1988. In 1990, it entered service in the Swedish Army as the Pistol 88B (Pistol 88 is the designation for the Glock 17).

The Glock 19 has undergone 2 major revisions since its introduction and current models are called 3rd generation Glock 19s. Starting in 1999, the grip on the Glock 19 has boasted "integrated finger grooves", a distinctive characteristic which makes it easy to distinguish more recently manufactured examples of this firearm. An accessory rail on the frame, forward of the trigger guard, was added at this time as well. The rail allows for the quick mounting of a variety of tactical accessories, such as lights and laser aiming systems.

Two notable units that use a modified Glock 19 as a standard service pistol are the New York Police Department, which has 12 pound NYPD connectors in its pistols; and Israel's Shabak, which uses a Glock 19C with extended slide stop, extended magazine release, Meprolight night sights and 3.5 pound trigger.

The difference between the Glock 19 and the Glock 19C is that the barrel and slide are ported on the C model to reduce muzzle climb while shooting the pistol.

The Glock 19 sees widespread use in law enforcement, but is also a very popular self-defense and carry pistol. Most agencies that use the Glock 17 can also choose the Glock 19 for those that have small hands or for concealed carry. Compared to the original Glock 17, the Glock 19 has a slide and grip that are 12 mm (0.5 in) shorter, rendering the gun easier to conceal while still retaining service pistol dimensions and performance. Magazines for the larger Glock 17 are also fully compatible with the Glock 19, but will protrude slightly.

The Glock 19 has three safeties, as do all Glock pistols.

Glock pistols may be reputed to function flawlessly underwater but the Glock 19 is not designed to do so. Firing it underwater can result in the destruction of the firearm and lasting injury to the shooter. While its relative the Glock 17 can be equipped with maritime spring cups to enable underwater firing and while the Glock 19 can also be fitted with those cups, "only the Glock 17 was designed and intended to use the modified spring cups for aquatic firing — and only then using 9 mm ball ammunition to remain within acceptable pressure limits."