RCMP Air Marshals Picked Glock 19 After Five 30,000-Round Tests
TheGunBlog.ca — Glock GmbH, the world’s biggest handgun maker, said Canada’s airplane police picked the Glock 19 as their duty pistol a few years ago, after some of the world’s most-rigorous testing.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police’s In-Flight Security Officer program selected the model 19 Gen 4 after 30,000 shots fired through each of five test pistols, James Cassells, Glock’s sales manager for Canada, said in the Glock Annual 2020 magazine.
Severe Trial
The round count makes it one of the most-severe short-term handgun trials.
Many pistols have a service life expected at 5,000 or 10,000 rounds before requiring new parts. At least one report shows a Glock 17, the G19’s bigger parent, continuing to fire reliably after 250,000 shots.
No. 1 Handgun
The Glock 19 is the world’s most-popular handgun.
The 9 mm pistol is a favourite of plinkers, competitors, police, military and civilians for personal protection.
Cassels Comment
The RCMP adopted the GLOCK 19 Gen4 several years ago for its Air Marshal program after extensive testing. That testing involved the firing of 30,000 rounds in each of five sample pistols.
Source: James Cassells, Glock Annual 2020, January 2020
RCMP Comment
The Ottawa-based RCMP, Canada’s largest police agency, declined to comment on the trials or even confirm they occurred, according to Caroline Duval, a police spokeswoman responding yesterday to questions about the tests from TheGunBlog.ca.
The Canadian Air Carrier Protective Program contributes to keeping the public safe on aircraft by providing specialized, covert In-Flight Security Officers aboard domestic and international flights. The RCMP does not comment on specific tools or techniques when safety, or the integrity of its operations, may be compromised.
Source: RCMP, E-mail Response to TheGunBlog.ca, 14 Feb. 2020
https://twitter.com/TheGunBlog/status/1228753287215796225
Canada Legal
Canada is one of Glock’s largest recurring annual markets outside the U.S.
The company began selling a G19 that’s legal for Canadian sport shooters to own in 2018.
It has a 106-mm barrel instead of the standard 102 mm, and ammunition magazines limited to 10 rounds instead of the standard 15. It also has a laser-engraved maple leaf on the slide.
‘Personal Favourite’
“The G19 Gen4 still sells well,” Cassells told TheGunBlog.ca at SHOT Show last month. “It’s my personal favourite. It’s the only one we’ll put a maple leaf on.”
Update on New Models
Cassells also provided an update yesterday on new models and when they might be available in Canada.
- G44 Canadian (.22 LR): Expected in stores in March.
- G45 Canadian (9 mm): Possibly coming in fall.
- G19 Gen 5 Canadian (9 mm): “We might do a G19 Gen 5 based on demand.” No indication of timing.
James Cassells Article in Glock Annual 2020
Related