Austrian gunmaker Glock has confirmed it will discontinue more than 40 commercial pistol models by November 30, 2025, marking the largest portfolio reduction in the company’s four-decade history. The decision eliminates popular variants across Generation 3, Generation 4, and select Generation 5 lines, including the widely used G17, G19, and entire caliber families in .40 S&W, .357 SIG, and most .45 ACP offerings.
The announcement, initially leaked by retailers and confirmed by the company in late October, has triggered a purchasing surge among gun owners and competition shooters scrambling to secure models slated for elimination. Only three slimline models—the G43, G43X, and G48—will continue production under current specifications while Glock transitions to its redesigned V-series, scheduled to reach dealer shelves in December 2025.
Legal Pressures Drive Design Changes
The timing coincides with mounting regulatory scrutiny over “Glock switches,” illegal devices that convert semiautomatic pistols into automatic weapons capable of firing 1,200 rounds per minute. Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives data shows a 570% surge in machine gun conversion device recoveries between 2017 and 2021, with 5,454 such devices seized at crime scenes during that period.
“From a public safety perspective, from a public health perspective, this is a problem that, unfortunately, is disproportionately concentrated in the country’s most economically vulnerable communities of color,” Jens Ludwig, co-director of the University of Chicago Crime Lab, told ABC News.
Minnesota and New Jersey filed lawsuits against Glock in December 2024, alleging the manufacturer has known since at least 1988 that its cruciform trigger design facilitates illegal conversions but failed to implement design modifications. New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin stated, “For decades, Glock has knowingly sold weapons that anyone with a screwdriver and a YouTube video can convert into a military-grade machine gun in a matter of minutes”.
California escalated pressure by signing Assembly Bill 1127 on October 10, 2025, effectively banning new sales of Glock and similar pistols starting July 1, 2026. The legislation specifically targets firearms with design features that enable switch conversions, putting the state’s existing Gen 3 roster models at risk of complete elimination.
Market Disruption and Consumer Response
Tyler Thompson, a Glock dealer at Redding Guns in California, reported immediate inventory depletion following the ban announcement. “There’s quite a few more guns that are coming on to the California roster, which is nice, but hopefully Glock will modify their pistols, and retool that part that’s now going to be banned and put another Glock pistol or two on the roster, which would be nice,” Thompson said.
The discontinuation eliminates all .40 S&W models, reflecting broader industry trends favoring 9mm for its higher capacity and improved ballistics. Competition shooting communities expressed particular frustration over losing access to models like the G34 and G35, staples in organized shooting sports.
Competitors including Smith & Wesson, Sig Sauer, and Springfield Armory stand to benefit from Glock’s streamlined lineup, particularly with optics-ready platforms that address consumer demand for red-dot-capable handguns. The V-series will initially launch with limited MOS (Modular Optic System) configurations—only the G20 V MOS, G23 V MOS, and G21 V MOS at release—potentially alienating customers seeking customization options.
Global Context and Industry Standards
Glock’s dominance in the U.S. market mirrors its position internationally. Austria exported more than 1.3 million Glock handguns to America in 2016 alone, making it the largest European firearms supplier to the United States. The company manufactures components identically across its Austrian and Georgia facilities, maintaining strict quality control that has made Glock pistols ubiquitous among law enforcement agencies worldwide.
European markets, where firearm regulations are generally more restrictive, may see similar V-series design features incorporated into future models, though international military and law enforcement contracts will largely continue under existing specifications.
The Road Ahead
Glock’s FAQ acknowledges that “Individual Officer Purchase programs may be affected,” signaling potential disruption for law enforcement agencies accustomed to discontinued models. Departments face logistical challenges from retraining to sourcing spare parts as common duty weapons like the G22 and G23 phase out.
The company frames the transition as a “strategic decision to reduce our current commercial portfolio” and focus on “products that will drive future innovation and growth”. However, industry observers view the move as a calculated response to legal liability and regulatory pressure following leadership succession after founder Gaston Glock’s death in December 2023.
Whether the V-series successfully addresses legal concerns while maintaining customer loyalty will determine if Glock’s gamble preserves its position as one of the firearms industry’s most trusted brands—or opens the door for competitors to claim market share.