Any idea when the Gen 4 Glocks will be out?

4th Gen is supposed to be announced and released at the 2010 Shot Show next week I've been told.

I'd like to see glock make their guns slightly thinner; I wish my 27 was anyway. What I'd really like is for H&K to make a 9mm the size of my ruger lcp!

From a sales/marketing viewpoint I'm really surprised that Glock hasn't announced a "NEW" line of handguns. Their competitors do it almost everyday. I can see it all now. Their market share would see a major increase. They wouldn't be able to count the money fast enough. Just my opinion. I have to believe their business planning people are discussing it as we are.
Jack

I would think that you would be right. But!
Springfield took a very long time to come out with the XDm, it has been a boon to their already great sales.
Glock it seems fought the idea of making any real changes to their line up until they started losing sales to Law Enforcement branches here in the US and probably elsewhere.

Many Glock fans are/were sick over the changes holding to " You can't improve perfection"
And while Glocks are admittedly fine guns, The idea of perfection seems to have finally worn off the Glocks same as it did Obama. Just took Glock much longer than Obamas 12 months.
Any company wishing to stay competitive in their given market must watch and adjust to their BIG contract needs. If the BIG contracts require slimmer/adjustable grips, no trigger pull brake down, a more aggressive texturing and other changes, then that is what Glock as a company needs to do to remain competitive and active in the sales market.
Many hard core Glockophants will continue to dislike the Gen 4 models though many will never try them merely out of spite. This is true and I know it is because there are many die hard XD fans that were rabid over the addition of the XDm line up. They thought that the XD was a perfect gun and did not require any changes/improvements. Springfield however acting in response to requests and comments from competition shooters and I believe law enforcement (could be wrong on this one) made changes to make the XD pistol more attractive to an ever expanding market.

As for a new line of guns. It would be interesting to see Glock build on the Gen 4 model and add a manual safety maybe change the look of the slide a bit. Fully support the barrel for those who will not buy a Glock for that one reason. Etc.
Do lots of blind polls on different designs at gun shows and on line. Find the look that the general gun market thinks is attractive. Then use it in the new model.
And most importantly do as Springfield is doing.
Springfield is keeping the XD brand and only adding the XDm line up to their catalog.
Glock (it has been reported) plans to phase out the Gen 3 models and produce Gen 4 only.
This will cost Glock some loyal if not fanatic customers. How many is anyones guess. 2 or 2000+ who knows.

Has the thought crossed your mind that Glock is in a similiar position as GM, say 10 years ago? The bigger that organization becomes the more difficult it becomes to maintain customer service, manufacturing processes, human resources, & so on. But, on top of that "New Product Development" has to be driving the future of the company.
Jack

i think glocks are sexy i don't know why so many people think there ugly. the only thing i would like to see is a stainless slide and other than that leave them as they are

From a marketing standpoint, particularly for the US, it might be interesting to see Glock offer a somewhat re-shaped pistol line in addition to the current 3rd gen and Gen4 guns. Maybe even some changes like an external safeties, fully-supported barrel, etc., that some clamor for.

However, I think Glock has a unique look and I think that's a trademark that they would be wise to keep. Like a 1911, a Fender Stratocaster or a Ford Mustang, many people know what those items are simply from their shapes.

And I must admit that I'm now quite taken with the 19 in RTF2 trim: http://handgunforum.net/showthread.php?t=22990

I purchased a Glock 19 RTF today really wasn't impressed with it's looks, I bought it because I'm to understand that Glock will soon stop production of the RTF model. I handled a 4th gen 17 in Smyrna today and love it, I'm waiting on the 23 to come out. As far as I'm concerned Glock hit a home run with the Gen 4!Like I said the RTF is more of a future investment and the grip feels good- better traction than standard, but I imagine it would be rough on your clothing. Gen4 should be a HIT!

Originally Posted by VietVet68

..... Their market share would see a major increase. They wouldn't be able to count the money fast enough. Just my opinion. I have to believe their business planning people are discussing it as we are.
Jack

What is their market share? Is it trending upward or is flat/declining? Product development Is working on w/e the market analysis says gun sales are going, or where they have a recognized deficiency.

Originally Posted by yzfrider

What is their market share? Is it trending upward or is flat/declining? Product development Is working on w/e the market analysis says gun sales are going, or where they have a recognized deficiency.

In just the last 3-4 months I've read and heard some statistics regarding the huge growth in sales, market wide. Also increasing accordingly are requests for CCW's, ammo sales, accessories. I would be very interested in doing some analysis of "who" is today's typical gun buyer and what does he buy, and why?
I know this information is in someone's Government computer, too bad they don't like us being aware of FACTS. Facts are something that is alien to their world. Oops, sorry for that but sometimes I just get too frustrated.

Jack

I think any gun can be improved looks wise.
Like others I like the looks of the 26&27 better than glocks full size guns. Adding the 15 round mag spacer changes for the better the proportions of barrel to grip on the 26.

Originally Posted by VietVet68

In just the last 3-4 months I've read and heard some statistics regarding the huge growth in sales, market wide. Also increasing accordingly are requests for CCW's, ammo sales, accessories. I would be very interested in doing some analysis of "who" is today's typical gun buyer and what does he buy, and why?
I know this information is in someone's Government computer, too bad they don't like us being aware of FACTS. Facts are something that is alien to their world. Oops, sorry for that but sometimes I just get too frustrated.

Jack

Not sure what you were apologizing for. You spoke the truth. If some one does not like hearing the truth they are obviously at the wrong forum.

+1 VietVet68

Originally Posted by flieger67

From a marketing standpoint, particularly for the US, it might be interesting to see Glock offer a somewhat re-shaped pistol line in addition to the current 3rd gen and Gen4 guns. Maybe even some changes like an external safeties, fully-supported barrel, etc., that some clamor for.

However, I think Glock has a unique look and I think that's a trademark that they would be wise to keep. Like a 1911, a Fender Stratocaster or a Ford Mustang, many people know what those items are simply from their shapes.

And I must admit that I'm now quite taken with the 19 in RTF2 trim: http://handgunforum.net/showthread.php?t=22990

Red. My thoughts as well. Like Springfield did. Retain the Glock quality and simplicity but give the customers an option on style.
Blue. I admit I like the slide serrations on the RTF2 but the texturing is to ruff, though the texturing on the Gen4 models is very nice. I'd like to see a full picatinny rail like the G21SF, rather than the standard Glock rail.

Have two gen 3's and do like them a lot. but that said, I would not mind seeing a more rounded slide. Just a bit square to me.
Regards.

Originally Posted by Freedom1911

I admit I like the slide serrations on the RTF2...

From some sources that I've read, the curved slide serrations (a.k.a. "fish gills") have been discontinued, possibly due to production costs. Inside the back cover of the "Glock Autopistols 2010" magazine, there's an ad for RTF2 pistols and all of them have the standard straight slide serrations. I like the feel of the curved serrations better than the standard straight ones, but I guess that I'll have to learn to live with the straight serrations on the 34 that I hope to pick up very soon. I've not heard of any plans to offer the 34 in RTF2 trim and the guess-timates for a 34 in Gen4 is around the end of 2010.

No, Glock is fine as is.

Originally Posted by flieger67

From some sources that I've read, the curved slide serrations (a.k.a. "fish gills") have been discontinued, possibly due to production costs. Inside the back cover of the "Glock Autopistols 2010" magazine, there's an ad for RTF2 pistols and all of them have the standard straight slide serrations. I like the feel of the curved serrations better than the standard straight ones, but I guess that I'll have to learn to live with the straight serrations on the 34 that I hope to pick up very soon. I've not heard of any plans to offer the 34 in RTF2 trim and the guess-timates for a 34 in Gen4 is around the end of 2010.

Yup. The gill things were only (I think this is correct) on the Gen3 RTF2s. I have not seen the curved serrations on any of the Gen4s.
G34 is the 9mm long slide? I'm holding out for the Gen4 G19.

With the large supply of after market parts i say keep it simple.

I think Glocks are just downright sexy lol. Course I never did have good taste in looks when it comes to guns. I tend to like the more "odd" looking ones better than the usual "pretty" ones everyone else drools over. Leave them the way they are.

Originally Posted by Freedom1911

I'm holding out for the Gen4 G19.

...it took a while but I decided to hold out for a Glock 19 Gen4 as well.

On the poll, it would be nice to add a 5th option: "Improve where needed, leave the rest alone."



Don

It took a long time for me to come around, but I like Glocks now.
For various reasons I did not care for them. But I think most will agree, once you have used a Glock, you can't help but be impressed. There are those that the Glock just does not fit, I thought I was one of them until I actually fired a Glock.

They are just fine guns. I was going to jump the gun and get a gen 3 so I could have a smaller carry gun but things happen and my money is gone now. Have no idea if or when I'll be able to afford a new pistol.

Originally Posted by Freedom1911

G34 is the 9mm long slide?

That's correct. It's got a 5.3-inch barrel and an 8.15-inch overall length. It's about the size of a full-size 1911.

Originally Posted by Freedom1911

I'm holding out for the Gen4 G19.

Hopefully you won't have to wait much more than about another 3 months. I'm looking forward to seeing a Gen4 G19 at some point.