The Glock Conundrum
Austrian firearms giant Glock has officially unveiled its new V Series, marking a significant shift in its commercial handgun portfolio. While Glock would have preferred to promote the new line as an “upgraded” version, a premature leak revealing that all Gen4 and Gen5 models (except the G43, 43X, and 48X) would be discontinued almost immediately, stole Glock’s chance to frame the change positively. Instead, the announcement created an impression that Glock was bending to anti-gun pressure.
Recent lawsuits (e.g., Chicago, New Jersey, Seattle) have alleged that Glock pistols are “too easily” modified with illegal auto-conversion devices—commonly known as Glock Switches. California’s new law (AB 1127), set to take effect July 1, 2026, will prohibit the sale of any so-called “machinegun-convertible” handguns—including older Glocks. Additional state-level lawsuits claim Glock facilitated illegal conversions, further motivating the company’s pivot.
Glock issued a formal statement clarifying that the leak was unauthorized and attempted to position the V Series as a modernization effort, not a forced exit. Furthermore, Glock tried to frame the V Series as part of a broader strategy to streamline offerings and create a “baseline” platform for future innovation. However, shooter concerns and community backlash overshadowed Glock’s PR efforts. The sudden discontinuation of many of Glocks most popular models left third-party accessory makers and customizers dismayed, as they rely on interchangeable parts—such as backplates and slides—that are now incompatible. Long-time Glock users were also caught off guard. Some view the rapid discontinuation as a “capitulation” to regulatory pressure, while others worry about limited availability of beloved older models and the reliability of the new V series gun.
To make matters worse for Glock, within days of the announcement of the new V-model, “Glock Switches” appeared for the new models too. Adding insult to injury, Ruger—who recently released the Ruger RXM, which is essentially a Glock Gen3 clone—refused to bow to anti-gun calls to discontinue the RXM.
Glock has always had a reputation for extreme reliability, and hopefully that won’t change with the V series. But in the months ahead, it will be interesting to see whether loyal Glock owners adopt the V Series or turn on Glock the way many turned on Sig Sauer after the P320 fiasco. Will Glock clones like the Ruger RXM surge in popularity, or will gun owners simply switch to other manufacturers such as Smith & Wesson, Springfield, or others?
