XC3 Weaponlight

Initial Gen 6 Glock Details Dropped

After a reported five years of development, Glock Inc. has released an initial overview of the Gen 6 series of pistols.

Initial offers are all 9mm models: the Glock 17, Glock 19, and Glock 45.

New Glock Gen6 disassembled

The announcement, captioned ENGINEERED FOR YOU, was published across the range of Glock’s social media channels, with a fairly simple message:

 

Introducing the 6th Generation of GLOCK pistols. Gen6 is engineered for you.

The Gen6 line brings you purpose-driven ergonomics with a refined optic ready system. The models included are the G17 Gen6, G19 Gen6, and G45 Gen6, chambered in 9mm.

 

Few details were officially available, though an expected formal release this week (if not today) should rectify that.

We do know a few things about the new Gen6, including the following features:

 

  1. An updated palm swell intended to contour the pistol to the natural curvature of the hand. We’ve seen several reports that Glock went so far as to measure the majority of their employees’ hands as part of the design process, though nothing (yet) on how those measurements were quantified and utilized by the engineers.
  2. A new grip texture: RTF6, which combines elements of previous textures (RTF2 and RTF4) to create the “…perfect blend of performance and comfort.”
  3. An enlarged beavertail. This obviously encourages a higher master grip and protects from slide bite.
  4. A ridge or “fence” around the slide stop lever, or as Glock puts it, a “Slide Stop Lever Enlarged Border.” This is meant to mitigate or prevent unintended activation.
  5. A “thumb rest.” This is for all intents and purposes a “gas pedal” type feature, which allows better control of the weapon during recoil (and is a favorite among competitive shooters).
  6. Deeper, more overt slide serrations. These are angled deeper intot he slide to make the surface engagement more tactile for slide manipulation.
  7. Undercut trigger guard. This is something people have been asking about for years. It may well eliminate “Glock Knuckle,” which might seem like a minor thing but is – at least for Glock shooters who routinely put a lot of rounds downrange – anything but.
  8. A flat-faced trigger, with the obligatory Safe Action System.
  9. An RDS-mounting system that provides for what Glock describes as “direct mounting” to the slide. Each pistol will ship with three polymer optic plates that together provide fitment for most common optics and act as what’s been described as a “shock absorber.” As a result of the new optic system, MOS Glock models are no more.

 

Additionally, we know the following:

  • They are returning to a single recoil spring design.
  • This is not a modular design in the context of a serialized fire control part of some kind.
  • They have not changed their stock sights. While this will be a point of contention for many, others will note the increasingly ubiquitous use of pistol optics as a defense, not to mention the tendency of so many shooters to replace the stock sights of any pistol with a style they prefer…though this may be rebutted in turn by acknowledging that better stock sights might reduce the demand for replacements in the first place. This will be argued about a lot, whether the pistol’s other features prove to be an improvement or not.
  • The cost of the Gen6 will purportedly be the same as that of the Gen 5.
  • Though other models will be released, the G47 will not be one of them. That’s because the G47 is not the G17 is the G47 (and so on).
  • The magwell is flared for faster reloads.
  • The accessory rail remains unchanged.
  • Available optic footprints include Trijicon RMR, Leupold DPP, and C-More.
  • Internals are not completely identical to the V series of handguns, but they’re close.
  • The Gen6 is not believed to be backwards compatible with its predecessors, though that might not be the case with the magazines (or at least those of the Gen 5).
  • A large number of extant holsters will take the Gen6, but not all of them.

 

The gun ships with an assortment of accessories, including three magazines, a cleaning set, two backstraps that can be used to more closely fit the weapon to your hand, and three optic plates.

In short, most of the changes made to the Gen6 overall design appear to be predicated on solving common complaints about previous versions. They will definitely reduce the amount of DIY work and workbench modification so commonly seen in the past. The new guns have some expected features as well as a few unexpected features, none of which will be sufficient to prevent a vast outpouring of dissatisfaction from the internet-cognoscenti who are all too eager to share their knowledge and opinion.

As is usual, unfortunately, with any new gun.)

Note: this sort of “drive-by commenting” should not be conflated with the measured, intelligent delivery of questions, observations, or concerns).

Anyway, we’ll know soon enough (43 days and counting down as of this writing) whether the gun deserves hype or derision or something in between.

Glock seems happy with the new gun, arguably more so than in generations past, though that’s obviously difficult to determine from outside the walls of their facility in Smyrna.

We’re advised by Larry Vickers that the following missive was sent out by Glock to their workforce:

According to Larry Vickers, the following missive was sent out by Glock to their workforce:

 

Dear Glock Employees,

GLOCK is proud to announce the 6th Generation of GLOCK pistols. The Gen6 line of products delivers enhanced ergonomics for increased usability and comfort with a unique optic ready system. The models included are the G17 Gen6, G19 Gen6, and G45 Gen6, chambered in 9mm Luger.

The 6th Generation of GLOCK pistols are engineered for you. Each detail is meticulously calculated with the user in mind, delivering enhancements that feel intuitive. The Gen6 line brings you purpose-driven ergonomics with a refined optic ready system.

“For nearly four decades, the pursuit of perfection has guided GLOCK in focusing on what truly matters: safety, reliability, and our commitment to our customers. The Gen6 pistol line continues that commitment. We’re not chasing trends. We’re moving forward thoughtfully, with the same uncompromising standards that define every GLOCK product.“ – Carlos Guevara, GLOCK Inc., CEO.

 

The new pistols should be commercially available on January 20, 2026 – which is, no doubt not coincidentally, the first day of the 2026 NSSF SHOT Show. 

You can learn more on this subdomain of the Glock website, in this Glock Gen 6 rundown, or in one or more of several videos that are coming out on YouTube.

You might check back here occasionally over the next few days, as we hope for a more in-depth formal release to be available soon.

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11 Responses to “Initial Gen 6 Glock Details Dropped”

  1. jbgleason says:

    I am just here to applaud the use of “cognoscenti” and “conflated” in the same post. Well done Fine Sir.

  2. NTX says:

    This is quite interesting, seems like Glock went hard at improving the ergonomics of the handgun and the new optics system seems very interesting, I’d love to see more.

    Not offering a Gen6 G47 is odd to me, the G47 became very popular on the commercial market, especially with how much of Glock’s lineup now features the G19 pattern…it doesn’t make sense as to why they wouldn’t release it…unless they will release the slide as a separate item that can be purchased for existing G19 and G45 Gen6 frames.

    I’m also curious on the magazine, the mag in the photo appears to be a standard Gen5 type mag and Gen5 Glocks take Gen3 mags, so I’m curious about the point that the Gen6 may not be backwards compatible with earlier mags.

    • Michael Cosgrove says:

      The G47 is the new(old) G17. They’ve just re-numbered the G47 G6 tonG17 G6.

    • Dan V says:

      They aren’t doing a Gen 6 Glock 47 because the Gen 6 Glock 17 IS
      The new 47… they took the 47’s DNA and put it into the new 17 and since the 47 and 17 were pretty similar already they didn’t seem it
      Necessary to do a separate 47 model. Starting the with 17, 19, and 45 is smart because that covers 90% of your bases up front and they could
      Have even just done the new 17 and 19 because you can swap slides
      Due to that Glock 47 DNA and make a 45…

    • Chris Shiherlis says:

      I’m fairly certain that the reason the 47 nomenclature is gone is because the Gen 6 Glock 17 will now have the short rail and 19 slide compatibility that the 47 had.

      • NTX says:

        And that makes sense to me…mixing up the nomenclature doesn’t make sense at all though.

        While I see see benefit of running with the nomenclature of the more well known model (G17), I seriously doubt whatever theoretical marketing benefit will outweigh the confusion of now having to explain that they’ve renamed the G47 as the G17…despite them being different handguns with different features and compatibility.

        It would be have been much more intuitive to simply discontinue the G17 and launch Gen6 with the G19 and G47. The industry has already been explaining the G47 as the “new modular” G17” since its entry to the commercial market.

        Obligatory “the G17 is whatever Glock says it is”…but still. This is only gonna create more confusion, not less.

    • Joe says:

      The Gen 6 17 IS the Gen 5 47. They have replaced two pistols with one.

      Yes, those are Gen 5 magazines, and they are backwards compatible unless you switch the mag release catch over for a lefty in which case it will only function with ambi-cut magazines.

  3. mark says:

    The #1 ergonomic improvement Glock could make would be to implement a removable backstrap system.

    This would allow users to install a flat backstrap that deletes the infamous ‘Grip Hump’ that causes the pistol to point high for a number of users.

    Walther introduced removable backstraps in 1997 with the P99, a year before Gen 3, and then CCH Race Frames and then Lonewolf Timberwolf both had a removable flat backstrap Glock frame prior to the launch of Gen 4.

    Instead, we still have a stack on backstrap system that just allows us to make the Grip Hump more pronounced…

    It’s telling that Glock is the most influential and copied pistol on the market, yet none have chosen to copy the Grip Hump.

    • PB says:

      The “grip hump” isn’t what causes people to have a high natural point of aim with Glocks. It’s the overall grip angle, agnostic to any bump on the backstrap. The 92FS/M9 has an arguably more exaggerated grip hump, but does not have the high aiming complication, because the overall grip angle isn’t as much. The 1911A1 added a grip hump over the 1911 and also… did not have a high NPA like the Glock.

      All that said, yes some people prefer to limit the backstrap material and would prefer it with no hump.

      • mark says:

        It really does seem to be the Grip Hump thats the root of the issue, or at least the primary culprit.

        I have had Glocks sent to smiths to remove the Grip Hump, and it totally fixes the pointing high issue. I’ve also used aftermarket Glock grip frames that are made with flat backstraps, and they point nicely like a normal handgun.

        Most recently the Kiral RAB has come out, which is a backstrap that increases the trigger reach to offset the effect of the Grip Hump, and it also results in a lower point of aim.

        Since there’s no mechanical need for the Grip Hump (it’s just a hollow cavity beneath it), I remain baffled why Glock doesn’t offer an option of deleting it via a removable backstrap system. It’s doubly frustrating because removing the Grip Hump is the most expensive and difficult part of the frame to modify for the consumer, much more difficult then adding texture or a trigger undercut.

    • FRANK says:

      YOU ARE CORRECT. THE MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THE STANDARD GLOCK 19 FRAME HAS BEEN IT IS TOO BEEFY FOR AN AVERAGE TO SMALL HAND; CAUSING ONE TO HAVE TO ADJUST GRIP SO IT DOES. NOT POINT OFF CENTER. THAT IS WHY SO MANY GRIP REDUCTIONS WERE DONE. GLOCK’S ATTEMPT AT “ADJUSTABLE” BACKSTRAPS MERELY KEPT THE SAME SIZE , AND LET YOU PUT 2 BIGGER ONES ON; PRESUMABLY FOR THOSE WITH VERY LARGE HANDS. I HAD A GRIP REDUCTION DONE ON MY GEN$ G17 AS WELL, AND TOSSSED THE USELESS BACKSTRAPS. THE STANDARD .45 SIZED GLOCKS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN WAY TOO THICK FOR ME. IF YOU DON’T HAVE A LARGE , BEEFY HAND, BEAVERTAILS DODN’T REALLY MAKE MUCH DIFFERENCE , IN MY EXPERIENCE. I BASE MY OPINIONS ON 50 YEARS OF OWNING, AND SHOOTING

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