[pspablo]

I've had 3 questions tucked away in the back of my head for years now. Didn't bother looking for the answers because I didn't really care that much. After years of shooting my beloved G30, I came to the conclusion that Gaston Glock was a genius, so who am I to question him.

1. I'll admit that I prefer the grip angle of the 1911.. and most of the shooters I know do too. But there must be a reason why the Glock's grip is the way it is. Anyone know?

2. I think I know the answer to this one, but why is there an indentation on the broad side of the grip? Is it a thumb rest for one-hand shooting?

3. Why is there a finger grip on the forward section of the trigger guard? I shoot both thumbs forward, support index finger under the guard. Are there shooters that index on the forward guard to control muzzle flip? (if that's what it's for).

any insights would be greatly appreciated.

 

[IndianaMatt]

I'll give it a shot:

1. There's never been any reason given except that Glock's "extensive ergonomic testing" showed that this was the optimum angle. Supposedly this angle was corroborated by ergonomic testing on people's wrists and its an across-the-board compromise as to what "most" people would prefer.

2. Yes, it is a thumb rest.

3. Some shooters (such as myself) place a finger in that spot for more control- its just a matter of style and what you're comfortable with.

 

[Pplcknglck]

I think Glock was shooting for originality.


See what I did there?!:wow:

 

[faawrenchbndr]

1. I'll admit that I prefer the grip angle of the 1911.. and most of the shooters I know do too.
But there must be a reason why the Glock's grip is the way it is. Anyone know?

- I read the Glock grip angle is the same angle your hand naturally makes when you extend your arm and point your index finger.

2. I think I know the answer to this one, but why is there an indentation on the broad side of the grip? Is it a thumb rest for one-hand shooting?

- Correct

3. Why is there a finger grip on the forward section of the trigger guard? I shoot both thumbs forward, support index finger under the guard.
Are there shooters that index on the forward guard to control muzzle flip? (if that's what it's for).

- Not all countries teach the same grip. The index finger of the left hand is pladed on the fwd side of the trigger guard.

This was from some info I read on Austrian Marksmanship.

 

[Butch]

I've had 3 questions tucked away in the back of my head for years now. Didn't bother looking for the answers because I didn't really care that much. After years of shooting my beloved G30, I came to the conclusion that Gaston Glock was a genius, so who am I to question him.

1. I'll admit that I prefer the grip angle of the 1911.. and most of the shooters I know do too. But there must be a reason why the Glock's grip is the way it is. Anyone know?

The story goes that Mr. Glock assembled a group of accomplished shooters and got input from them on the subject.

2. I think I know the answer to this one, but why is there an indentation on the broad side of the grip? Is it a thumb rest for one-hand shooting?

That's a 'target' thumbrest....it garners import points to make it easier to import the Glocks under the stupid 'sporting use' point system required by the Gun Control Act of 1968 for importation into the US. Same goes for the grooved 'target' trigger and adjustable 'target' sights on the G19/26/30 sized Glocks.

3. Why is there a finger grip on the forward section of the trigger guard? I shoot both thumbs forward, support index finger under the guard. Are there shooters that index on the forward guard to control muzzle flip? (if that's what it's for).

That was the result of the technique in vogue during the early years of 'practical' pistol competition, it carried over into all too many service pistols when the switch to auto's from revolvers began. Today it makes a great surface to clamp accessories to, or for security holsters to clamp onto.



atriot:

 

[Jim S.]

I carried/ shot 1911's all of my life. Yes I like the 1911 grip, but the Glock grip is just as good in my hand. The grip fits in all of the recesses and high spots while holding the gun in my hand. If I grip a Glock in the spot between my thumb and trigger finger as according to the owners manual and just about everyone else, the indent is perfect for my thumb.
I shoot my Glocks one handed more than I do two handed and it feels better in one as if it is designed for that.
When I shoot two handed I actually have to make an effort not to put my finger on the front of the trigger guard. I feel like it is too easy to "pull" the gun to the left (weak side).
I have transitioned from the 1911's to the Glocks without a problem, even the glock triggers from really nice crisp 3lbs triggers on my Colts.
You have to remember that the Glocks were designed as combat weapons (side arms) and not target shooters or whatever else people want to make them out to be.
They are perfect combat handguns.

 

[Magnus2131]

I prefer the Glock grip over the 1911.

 

[40 Cal Joe]

I am a tough 1911 sell out. I still prefer the look, feel, grip and trigger on my Springield but I own 3 Glocks and only 1 1911. With that said, Glock pistols were designed with shootability and safety in mind. I can only assume Mr. Glock had a result in that brillant mind of his that he wanted to achieve and he built a pistol to deliver it. And whalaha....here we are today.

 

[English]

The Glock grip angle comes entirely from the fact that it is striker fired and that as an engineer, Glock knew that pistols shoot best the closer the top of the grip can be under the barrel axis. That put the top of the backstrap just under the slide because the space did not have to made for the hammer between slide and grip. On the trigger side of the grip, there had to be the locking block and room for the dropping barrel action, so that positioned the trigger and trigger guard. Thes two things determined the angle of the grip. Quite simple.

There is not only a benefit to geting the grip up as high as possible to the barrel axis - there is aslo a benefit to angling the wrist down as much as possible. The pistol flips in two modes. In one it rotates about the web of the hand. In the other the hand rotates about the virtual axis of the wrist's movement. Relative to hammer fired pistols and the XD in particular, the Glock wins on both counts.

English

 

[J.P.]

1. I'll admit that I prefer the grip angle of the 1911.. and most of the shooters I know do too. But there must be a reason why the Glock's grip is the way it is. Anyone know?

I really don't know, but I want you to *try* this....

With your eyes closed, draw the 1911 and point it on target.
Now do the same with the Glock.
What most people find is that in direct comparison to the 1911 design, the Glocks point naturally higher.

Now....while pointing the Glock on target, cam your wrists downward to where both of your thumbs are pointing straight at the target.
This will overcome the Glocks tendency to point high...and it will also give you an extremely stable shooting platform when used with a crush grip, because all of the bones from the tips of your thumbs to your shoulders are essentially aligned.
Seriously, give it a try.

Yeah..it's probably not something that was engineered into the design but rather simply a byproduct. It doesn't matter tho' because it just works!

 

[gary newport]

On why there is a finger grip on the forward section of the triggerguard.

That was the result of the technique in vogue during the early years of 'practical' pistol competition, it carried over into all too many service pistols when the switch to auto's from revolvers began. Today it makes a great surface to clamp accessories to, or for security holsters to clamp onto.



atriot:

:thumbsup:
At the time the Glock 17 was being designed, folks used to send their 1911s to 'smiths like Armand Swenson--along with chunky checks--to have the triggerguard squared and checkered for a finger-forward hold.

 

[blinddog]

1 Ergonomics and pointability and yes he is right up with JM Browning, B. Tyler Henry, Samn Colt, and many others.
2 Yes it is a thumbrest
3 When I was given transition training from the DA S&W revolvers, the two hand hold was taught useing that spot to index the left index finger, try it, it takes a little getting used to but in time it feels natural. The 1911 has a round trigger guard so don't feel right like that, but iot is more secure and controlable with a Glock. The big thing about Glocks is you have to forget shooting anything else. Once you do that the Glocks ergonomics make sense

 

[D B Cooper]

I'm sorry but comparing GG to John Moses Browning is blasphemy.


DB

 

[gary newport]

I'm sorry but comparing GG to John Moses Browning is blasphemy.


DB

Not in MY religion!

 

[D B Cooper]

Browning designed rifles, shotguns, pistols, machineguns, and designs that are even used in the Glock pistol (The method for locking the breach)
I actually credit a fellow named Karl Walters with the success of Glock.


DB

 

[gary newport]

Browning designed rifles, shotguns, pistols, machineguns, and designs that are even used in the Glock pistol (The method for locking the breach)
I actually credit a fellow named Karl Walters with the success of Glock.


DB

J.B. certainly wins on diversity. Gaston could perhaps be best compared to Sam Colt, whose single design caused an, er, revolution in handgun design.

 

[douglasd]

I'm sorry but comparing GG to John Moses Browning is blasphemy.


DB

You're right! GG is head and shoulders above JMB! JMB was just a GG wannabe! :tongueout:

 

[D B Cooper]

You're right! GG is head and shoulders above JMB! JMB was just a GG wannabe!

:rofl:


DB

 

[Arc Angel]

:upeyes: It wasn't too many years ago and on this very board that we, more or less, agreed a Glock's grip angle is mostly a result of that engineered, 'ideal angle' at which cartridges would feed smoothly in a plastic frame; but apparently the, 'Glock mystique' continues!

Gaston Glock = John Moses Browning? Come on! That's like saying I just stepped in doggie doo, so I'm going to be lucky. No way, Jose! The Glock pistol isn't a revolutionary new design like say the 1911 government model, the BAR, or Browning's gas-operated recoil system(s).

Glock's firing mechanism is a straight knock-off of the earlier La Francais pocket pistol. The design has been around since the early 1900's.

 

[gary newport]

:upeyes: It wasn't too many years ago and on this very board that we, more or less, agreed a Glock's grip angle is mostly a result of that engineered, 'ideal angle' at which cartridges would feed smoothly in a plastic frame; but apparently the, 'Glock mystique' continues!

Gaston Glock = John Moses Browning? Come on! That's like saying I just stepped in doggie doo, so I'm going to be lucky. No way, Jose! The Glock pistol isn't a revolutionary new design like say the 1911 government model, the BAR, or Browning's gas-operated recoil system(s).

Glock's firing mechanism is a straight knock-off of the earlier La Francais pocket pistol. The design has been around since the early 1900's.

It ain't necessarily who originates a concept so much as who puts that concept in the right package. Gaston did! (How many of those La Francais pistols were sold? :whistling