Word is circulating far and wide that a ton of Glock models, some that have been around for decades, could be headed for that great big polymer pasture in the sky.
Between posts on gun forums, videos from giant Glock retailers, and a list on Glock's European website, it would appear that as many as 26 models and 100 SKUs may soon be removed from the company's catalog.
Sifting through the tea leaves, most models appear to be guns in arcane or aging calibers such as .357 SIG, .40 S&W (even in Gen 5 models), and .45 GAP. Also gone are the company's few remaining production Gen 3s and most of the Gen 4s, anything with upgraded sights such as Ameriglo Bolds or Glock Night Sights, and the new G49. This heavily impacts guns that were grandfathered on California's approved handgun roster, which sucks for folks out there.
Keep in mind that none of this should be that shocking, as the G49 was billed from the beginning as a limited run. Glock was really the only company trying to make the .45 GAP happen, and many handgun makers have long ago stepped away from .357 SIG and .40 S&W. Case in point: SIG has not produced pistols in those latter two calibers for several years. Plus, it is common for gunmakers to clean up their catalogs and discontinue certain configurations wholesale, something that Glock hasn't done in a long time.
Enjoyers of .45 ACP and 10mm Auto, as well as .380 ACP fans, will still have lots to choose from – at least in Gen 5 models – as will folks who stock 9mm in deep quantity.
What does this mean for the bigger picture? It's clear from offerings like the new Glock/Aimpoint A-Cut/COA line introduced earlier this year that optics-ready models will likely be front and center moving forward, and most of the models mentioned for deletion simply are not capable of accepting a dot right out of the box.
Is Glock clearing the way for the inevitable Gen 6? Maybe.
In the meantime, you can bet that new old stock specimens of these discontinued guns – now instant collectibles to die-hard Glock fans – will be hot commodities soon offered (while available) at below minimum advertised prices, since MAP will likely be suspended on these "clearance" guns.
Could be a good time to shop Glock.
