Glocks are as Generic as a 1911

[Briar Lee]

I read in my new American Rifleman, how Ruger has nearly completely copied a Generation 3 Glock, and is selling it for substantially less money.



The only significant change is that Ruger only serial numbers the fire control system so that any future polymer frames can be used without it being a controlled part. Otherwise there’s 90% interchangeability with Glock, including slides, barrels, and magazines.

I’m glad to see a $400 Ruger made Glock, but why doesn’t Glock have “trade dress” legal protection for the classic Glock?

Can Glock make a generic Redhawk?

 

[Richmond B. Funkenhouser]

But are Glocks as geriatric as the 1911?

 

[SSGT.]

But are Glocks as geriatric as the 1911?

The 1911 is the finest weapon I've ever known, relied on one many times over 22 yrs. in the Corps. One of the prized possessions that was gifted me at my retirement.

 

[Briar Lee]

But are Glocks as geriatric as the 1911?

Ruger brashly calls the features of their Glock a “Gen 3”

The Glock Generation 3 (Gen 3) was released in 1998. It was the most significant change to the Glock pistol to date.

Features

• Accessory rail: The "Universal Glock rail" allowed users to attach lights, lasers, and other accessories
  
  
• Finger grooves and thumb rests: Molded finger grooves and thumb rests were added to improve grip
  
  
• • New calibers .357 Sig and .45 GAP were added to the Glock lineup

Controversial changes
Some of the changes to the grip were controversial. Some didn't understand the need for the thumb rests, and others thought the finger grooves on the front strap were a step in the wrong direction.

Other Gen 3 changes

The Gen 3 also included minor internal changes.

Xxx

I have a lot of shoes and ties, older than 1998.

Riddle me this.

Why would I even consider a Glock if Ruger sells one with a Ruger guarantee at Bass Pro for $400?

My Ruger would be made in factories in the United States of America!

It would feel at home besides by Redhawk and my Blackhawks annd my Single Sixes and my Ruger Automatic Pistols and my Number 1 and 10-22 and LCP and All American and 77-22.

Folks say we ought to buy American.

Here’s an all American Glock.

 

[Briar Lee]

The 1911 is the finest weapon I've ever known, relied on one many times over 22 yrs. in the Corps. One of the prized possessions that was gifted me at my retirement.

Was yours a Colt Colt 1911 or a clone Colt 1911?

I’ve owned several 1911s including a couple of geniune Colt 1911s but my best 1911 was a Llama.

It was more accurate than my Gold Cup National Match, better polished, had a rib on the barrel, had everything but a Colt engraved on it.

The trouble with a generic Glock is, there will be a race to the bottom.

If I could buy a Hi Point Glock Gen 3 for $200, why would I buy the $400 Ruger Gen 3?

But it couldn’t have happened to a better guy than Gaston Glock, very recently deceased.

Gaston Glock - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

Not only did he file multiple lawsuits and survived an assassination attempt by a partner, he died the richest surviving Nazi soldier with a wife fifty years younger.

A Glock costs hardly anything to make.

The total cost to the profligate Glock was less than $75.

A publicly traded company could make them much cheaper, not paying for strippers, booze, and other bribes to customers to sell them.

 

[Richmond B. Funkenhouser]

Ruger brashly calls the features of their Glock a “Gen 3”

The Glock Generation 3 (Gen 3) was released in 1998. It was the most significant change to the Glock pistol to date.

Features

• Accessory rail: The "Universal Glock rail" allowed users to attach lights, lasers, and other accessories
  
  
• Finger grooves and thumb rests: Molded finger grooves and thumb rests were added to improve grip
  
  
• • New calibers .357 Sig and .45 GAP were added to the Glock lineup

Controversial changes
Some of the changes to the grip were controversial. Some didn't understand the need for the thumb rests, and others thought the finger grooves on the front strap were a step in the wrong direction.

Other Gen 3 changes

The Gen 3 also included minor internal changes.

Xxx

I have a lot of shoes and ties, older than 1998.

Riddle me this.

Why would I even consider a Glock if Ruger sells one with a Ruger guarantee at Bass Pro for $400?

My Ruger would be made in factories in the United States of America!

It would feel at home besides by Redhawk and my Blackhawks annd my Single Sixes and my Ruger Automatic Pistols and my Number 1 and 10-22 and LCP and All American and 77-22.

Folks say we ought to buy American.

Here’s an all American Glock.

One thing is the magazines for a Glock are cheap and good, Magpul glock mags for example. They're about 10 bucks.

Depending on the price of the ruger magazines and how many it comes with. The Glock may be cheaper out the gate.

I know the magazines for my fishing gun, a Taurus G3, cost about 50 bucks a piece, and can be hard to find.

So had I bought that gun new... I didn't... It would cost about 300 bucks, with maybe only one magazine. By the time I buy a reasonable amount of magazines for it. It would cost more than a Glock.

It's a Glock clone too.. but I've had problems with it shoot certain higher weight bullets.

Who wants to pay more for the knock off?

 

[Briar Lee]

One thing is the magazines for a Glock are cheap and good, Magpul glock mags for example. They're about 10 bucks.

Depending on the price of the ruger magazines and how many it comes with. The Glock may be cheaper out the gate.

I know the magazines for my fishing gun, a Taurus G3, cost about 50 bucks a piece, and can be hard to find.

So had I bought that gun new... I didn't... It would cost about 300 bucks, with maybe only one magazine. By the time I buy a reasonable amount of magazines for it. It would cost more than a Glock.

It's a Glock clone too.. but I've had problems with it shoot certain higher weight bullets.

Who wants to pay more for the knock off?

My two Ruger Flattop 44 Special Blackhawks are “heir proof”.

I love my boys, and if you shoot enough 44 Skeeter loads you can occasionally duplicate Elmer Keith in front of your kids.

No gradson or granddaughter of mine yet unborn will drop my Number 5 clones and shoot themselves.

And when they research Bill Ruger, they won’t be ashamed to own them, either.

William B. Ruger - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

Ruger still builds firearms for responsible citizens, in factories in the United States of America

And they’ll go well with my No. 1



This ad still sells Rugers, a half century later

 

[ssjones]

Four Rugers in my bag (LCP, SP101, MkII, Singe-Six). With a little polishing work, they shoot pretty well at their price point

 

[RL Bucktails]

Palmetto sate armory has been doing that for a while now.

 

[Brad H]

When it comes to the defense of my life or another, an extra 100$ for a proven Glock is worth it.
Would hate to think I paid 100$ less for a Ruger that is supposed to be a copy of a Glock. Glock has proven reliability.

As an officer, id carry a Sig Sauer or a Glock.

Or as an officer, Glock offers the Blue Lable Glocks. 425$ and it comes with 3 magazines.

 

[HawkeyeLinus]

I wouldn't agree 1911s are "generic" but not inviting a dissertation. If this is really about Ruger, definitely agree they produce quality stuff in general. I have one of the "Single - Ten" .22 Ruger revolvers, it's high quality, always on the edge of getting a "Six" in a convertible 9mm/.357 but just never pull the trigger, lol. Had a 10/22 once, didn't like it but it worked.

Swapping out and so forth has always been a Glock thing so far as I know, people love 'em!

I had a Glock 19 Gen 5, but not long, just wasn't for me. I've gone smaller with a couple of newer S&W offerings I like better, but my chunky CZ P-01, is the best feel in hand of any handgun I own, it's for the house and the range, though and I really have no reason to keep it, like a few others --- lighter, more compact semis or revolvers in 9mm, .38 special or .380 are more "portable" so to speak and tend to be out and about when I feel they should be.

 

[Briar Lee]

When it comes to the defense of my life or another, an extra 100$ for a proven Glock is worth it.
Would hate to think I paid 100$ less for a Ruger that is supposed to be a copy of a Glock. Glock has proven reliability.

As an officer, id carry a Sig Sauer or a Glock.

Or as an officer, Glock offers the Blue Lable Glocks. 425$ and it comes with 3 magazines.

As I tell my kids, I’m way older than Glocks.

It took me a long time to admit it, but a Glock is the perfect tool for millions of soldiers and police. It’s a perfect tool to shoot 9mm Luger rounds.

But a all Federal and most all state police agencies have compulsory bidding.

If they need tires, or cars, or Glocks, they’ll bid them out,

Smith and Sig will be making Gen 3 Glocks next,

 

[Briar Lee]

I wouldn't agree 1911s are "generic" but not inviting a dissertation. If this is really about Ruger, definitely agree they produce quality stuff in general. I have one of the "Single - Ten" .22 Ruger revolvers, it's high quality, always on the edge of getting a "Six" in a convertible 9mm/.357 but just never pull the trigger, lol. Had a 10/22 once, didn't like it but it worked.

Swapping out and so forth has always been a Glock thing so far as I know, people love 'em!

I had a Glock 19 Gen 5, but not long, just wasn't for me. I've gone smaller with a couple of newer S&W offerings I like better, but my chunky CZ P-01, is the best feel in hand of any handgun I own, it's for the house and the range, though and I really have no reason to keep it, like a few others --- lighter, more compact semis or revolvers in 9mm, .38 special or .380 are more "portable" so to speak and tend to be out and about when I feel they should be.

If there’s a police agency that allows any 1911s it’s a sheriff somewhere that loves his 1911.

The BFD with the Ruger Gen 3 is what you have to keep is the fire control assembly with the serial number. Then you play with all the other parts as much as you want.

Before long Anderson will make the firing assemblies.

All 1911s really need some skill to assemble from a pile of parts. My lowly Taurus PT 1911 has serial numbers on the frame, slide, and barrel.

As I understand it, putting together a Gen 3 is like buying an Anderson lower and building an AR.

 

[SSGT.]

Was yours a Colt Colt 1911 or a clone Colt 1911?

Yes, both my service weapon and the nickel plated Retirment weapon are real 1911's

 

[SSGT.]

My two Ruger Flattop 44 Special Blackhawks

I only own one Ruger, a single action Blackhawk 45, awesome weapon comfortable and true.

 

[PaulRVA]

I have Redhawks, Blackhawks an LCP and several Mark II,III’s
While not a huge Glock fan I did carry one for a living and have attended Glock Armory Courses and Competitions for well over 30 years.
I also carried Colt 1911’s , Beretta 92,S and Sig Sauer 228’s in the service and many 2-4 in Smith & Wessons.
If price is the reasoning then I wouldn’t put it on something like that being mentioned.
Reliability, dependability and a proven track record would be my preference for getting me home.
Now for plinking I really don’t care but for my life and dependability Glock albeit it’s ugly and takes many rounds to get acclimated to and become proficient with it goes bang every time.

 

[TheIronMonkey]

I’m glad to see a $400 Ruger made Glock, but why doesn’t Glock have “trade dress” legal protection for the classic Glock?

Gun patents have limited terms—pre-1995 patents only lasted seventeen years (post-1995 are twenty). Gaston Glock’s patent for the Glock 17 was issued in 1985. Most of the patents have expired, which is why we’ve seen so many Glock “clones.” Companies like Palmetto and Lone Wolf Distributors have their versions that are based on Glock Gen 3 internals; perhaps, the most ubiquitous were the eighty percent P80 “ghost guns” people have seen all over the news the last several years. During the pandemic, a lot of great custom P80 based pistols were being made using things like Ranger Proof triggers inside, custom cut Lone Wolf or Zaffiri Precision slides.

What I find funny is back in 1995, a lot of people were putting rubber Hogue grips with finger grooves on our Gen 2 pistols that had no finger grooves, and now the Gen 5 has an ungrooved grip like the Gen 2 after all these years.

 

[HawkeyeLinus]

If there’s a police agency that allows any 1911s it’s a sheriff somewhere that loves his 1911.

The BFD with the Ruger Gen 3 is what you have to keep is the fire control assembly with the serial number. Then you play with all the other parts as much as you want.

Before long Anderson will make the firing assemblies.

All 1911s really need some skill to assemble from a pile of parts. My lowly Taurus PT 1911 has serial numbers on the frame, slide, and barrel.

As I understand it, putting together a Gen 3 is like buying an Anderson lower and building an AR.

Sorry man, I’m missing the point.

Whatever is meant by 1911s being generic doesn’t have much to do with whether law enforcement carries them?

But I don’t see 1911s as generic, swappable and so forth - to me not the same as the point that was originally being made about Glocks. Apples and oranges, IMHO.

 

[anantaandroscoggin]

Carried a .45 1911 on occasion as a Coastie. First one I owned was made by Crown City Arms, which I recently learned was going out of business about the time I bought it. Had to replace the sear, as the one it came with appeared to be made from sintered steel, and was beginning to crumble at the sear edge. I consider myself to be a 1911 guy.

Every person who has tried to sell me a Glock has seen me depart their store with a Hi-Point instead. Along the line they used to say about the older Harley Davidsons, Hi-Points seem to also be "Built Like Dinosaurs." Tough - Rugged - Durable.

 

[Brad H]

Most Hi-Points never break because they end up in evidence lockers too quick before they are shot a lot of times.