Firearms Analysis: Glock Gen 6 Comeback

Is Glock Platform Dead? How the Gen 6 Saved a Firearms Cultural Icon

Has the Glock dynasty ended? With an expired Gen 3 patent, a flood of innovative competitors, and legal battles targeting the platform’s modification for automatic fire, many believed Glock’s reign was over. The company’s relevance seemed to be fading, especially after the lukewarm reception of its Gen V series.

(You know I’m just playin’. But that’s how everyone thought of it when it was first released, tell the truth!)

Here’s the real Gen V. Very unimpressive. It was definitely made to appease the Kalifornia gods.

However, the recent launch of the Glock Gen 6 marks a strategic comeback. By finally listening to consumers while simultaneously engineering a solution to legal pressures, Glock has revitalized its platform and secured its future in a crowded market.

The Problem: A Perfect Storm of Threats

Glock faced a three-pronged crisis that threatened its market dominance:

1. Patent Expiration: The end of the Gen 3 patent unleashed a wave of clones and customized alternatives. Companies like SIG Sauer, Ruger (with its RXM platform), and Springfield (with the Echelon) introduced modular fire control groups, offering the customization that Glock enthusiasts craved but couldn’t get from the factory.
2. Legal Battles: Anti-gun groups shifted their strategy from suing manufacturers into bankruptcy to forcing design changes. A key lawsuit in California targeted Glock’s vulnerability to aftermarket “switches” that convert the pistol to full-auto. This led to a settlement and the creation of the Gen V, a design change that unfortunately proved ineffective; a new switch was developed for it within a week of its release.
3. Stagnant Innovation: While competitors offered modularity and modern features, Glock seemed stuck. The Gen V was seen as a half-measure that impressed neither firearm traditionalists nor those seeking innovation, leaving many to wonder if Glock had lost its touch.

The Solution: The Gen 6 Pivot

Just when it seemed Glock was falling behind, the Gen 6 arrived, delivering a masterful blend of tradition and progress. Instead of radically changing its core identity with a modular fire control unit, Glock refined its proven design to meet modern demands.

Key Gen 6 Enhancements:

• Ergonomic Upgrades: The grip now features integrated palm swells and an extended beavertail, providing superior comfort and control without needing aftermarket backstraps. A textured “gas pedal” forward of the takedown lever offers an improved support-hand grip, a feature previously only available through expensive custom stippling.
• Redesigned for Safety: The slide and internal components were re-engineered to prevent the installation of illegal automatic conversion switches, directly addressing legal challenges.
• Flat-faced Trigger: The Generation 6 comes with a slightly improved flat-faced trigger for easier manipulation. This is still not as good as a Canik or Walther trigger from the factory, but it is definitely and improvement from the original. You may still want to change it, but the internals are different than the Generation 1-5 systems.
• Optics-Ready Innovation: Glock abandoned its clunky MOS plate system. The Gen 6 features a new direct-mount system (called the ORS), that allows a wider variety of optics to sit lower on the slide, often enabling co-witness with standard-height iron sights and eliminating the need for bulky suppressor-height sights.
• Improved Reliability: The reassembly process is now simpler and more akin to Canik’s design, reducing the potential for user error during maintenance. Internal changes, like a redesigned extractor, also prevent common issues like optic mounting screws interfering with slide components.

While keeping its signature 21-degree grip angle and plastic sights (acknowledging the robust aftermarket), the Gen 6 proves Glock is listening. It delivers the factory-custom features users were paying hundreds to add, all while maintaining backward compatibility with all previous generation magazines.

The Verdict: Glock Is Back

Was Glock’s future in doubt? Absolutely. The Gen V was a precarious step that failed to satisfy anyone. But the Gen 6 is a decisive move that reaffirms Glock’s position. It answers the demands of its loyal user base, neutralizes legal threats, and delivers a product that is both modern and unmistakably Glock. I can’t wait to try one out for myself.

The company wisely preserved its core strengths—reliability, simplicity, and a vast ecosystem of parts—while strategically evolving. By innovating where it mattered most, Glock has not only survived but is poised for a major resurgence. The icon is not dead; it just reloaded.