Glock 7
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Glock 7 is a fictional firearm featured in the movie Die Hard 2.
In fiction it is reported to be made of a non-reinforced radio-transparent polymer plastic with a ceramic barrel and slide.
To date no firearms manufacturer has ever made a ceramic gun, or one that does not show up on airport X-ray scanners. Although Glocks are often called "plastic guns" because of their polymer frames, their slides and barrels are made of steel. Over 83% of the weight of a Glock is steel, and the polymer frame is visible to X-ray machines as it is a polymer 2 plastic (radio-opaque) and has steel reinforcements. Glock pistols, though considered high-quality, are not significantly more expensive than most other semiautomatic pistols in their respective frame sizes and calibers (though it can be speculated that a 'ceramic gun' would be intentionally expensive and even impossible for civilians to obtain, if only through the black market or NFA registration). Furthermore, ceramics' extremely low tensile strength virtually guarantees that no firearm will be constructed from such a material.
The Glock 7's first public appearance originated with Die Hard 2. This is what is thought to have been the origin in the panic that ensued after Glock first began using polymer frames. This conclusion ignored the fact that the plastic-framed HK VP70 pistol had been in circulation for years without any similar concern.
Another similar fictional weapon that can bypass metal and X-ray scanners appeared in In the Line of Fire where the assassin fabricated a double barrel pistol using an experimental resin similar to fiberglass. The assassin hid the bullets and springs, then assembled the gun after passing screening.
There is no known polymer plastic or fiberglass, including Lexan, that can withstand the heat or pressures produced by the explosion from a bullet. Furthermore, bullets have such density that they alone would set off a metal detector/xray machine. No bullet casing or tip made entirely of non metallic materials has been made to date. Furthermore, should one be made entirely of non-metallic materials, it would surely need a reinforced breech (of metallic origin) to accept the pressure as the casing disintegrated during firing.
