My Book review of Glock: The Rise of America's Gun

[CaptSmith]

Welcome ... look forward to your post's....

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[wdbailey]

I'm sure the book is well written and all that, however when I do web searches for the term "America's Gun" as applied to Glock the only thing I find is references to Mr. Barrett's book.

At any rate I'll be looking forward to "Toyota: the Rise of America's Car" in the near future.

[PaulBarrett]

I plead guilty to spreading the idea that GLOCK is "America's Gun." It is interesting that some otherwise very sophisticated gun owners, bloggers, forum participants resist the idea. GLOCK is American in precisely the same way that Toyota is American. Both foreign manufacturers came out with reliable products that get the job done. They captured the imagination of American consumers. By doing so, they became global powerhouses. And now both of them make their products (or some of them) in this country. Glock is manufacturing pistols in Smyrna, Ga., and stamping them "Made in the U.S." Glock took the process one step further, becoming a true icon of American popular culture (in movies, on television, in the lyrics of our dominant popular music, Lord help us, rap). These are the issues I examine closely in GLOCK: The Rise of America's Gun.

Thanks much for your interest in the book, and I look forward to continuing the conversation!

All best,
Paul Barrett

[21bubba]

Do you happen to cover how glock became America's gun? Like the dumping of weapons and support to LEO's and the giving of grossly overvalues for trade ins on exsisting weapons.

While it's no secret that I hate glock's I do have to applaud their marketing strategy. Fabricate a need then fill it.

[slacking]

Glock is not so good. My friend, who knows literally everything about guns, says it's reallll ez to shoot yourself in the leg or foot with a Glock if you're not being careful and also they sometimes explode for no reason.

[dooga]

Do you happen to cover how glock became America's gun? Like the dumping of weapons and support to LEO's and the giving of grossly overvalues for trade ins on exsisting weapons.

All of that is featured in the book for sure. All the flooding and marketing practices. Yes.

[DoctorBob]

I think I'll read the book first and then comment on it...

[Vaquero 45]

At any rate I'll be looking forward to "Toyota: the Rise of America's Car" in the near future.

Sorry.....the Honda Accord is America's car, not the Toyota.

I'm thankful for global competition. Fierce competition brings ever-improving products to market, which is good for consumers. You may not like foreign competitors, but if it wasn't for them, we'd probably still have the AMC Gremlin and the Ford Pinto instead of the vastly improved automobiles that we have today.

[Vaquero 45]

Do you happen to cover how glock became America's gun? Like the dumping of weapons and support to LEO's and the giving of grossly overvalues for trade ins on exsisting weapons.

While it's no secret that I hate glock's I do have to applaud their marketing strategy. Fabricate a need then fill it.

Fabricate a need? I'm guessing you've never worn an LE uniform. Ask any current LE officer if he'd like to trade his high capacity polymer frame pistol for a 40+ ounce six shooter to go along with the other 10 pounds of weight on his/her duty belt.
I'm seriously doubting that a modern, high capacity, lightweight, easy to maintain, reliable pistol that is available in every service caliber was a "fabricated need." YOU might not need such a thing, but I'll be damned if I'd go back to lugging a low capacity boat anchor around if I didn't have to.

[wdbailey]

I have to vote that the AR 15/M 16/M4 family of weapons are much more deserving of the title of "America's Gun".

There are more than 8 million of these weapons issued world wide as opposed to 2 ~ 4 million Glocks. I

[DRM]

My first thought was that the M1911 Colt was America's gun...

But when I look around, I DO see a lot of GLOCKS everywhere as of late...

More so than our beloved "Old Slab Sides" which I dearly love and cherish...
WHODATHUNK that this ugly gun would have come this far, this fast...DUH???

Whether or not you're a Glock fan, the book may still prove to be an interesting read.

I like what DoctorBob said:

I think I'll read the book first and then comment on it...

[Beans]

I just ordered the book.

My History with Glock.

Upon retiring from the USMC in 1970 I was a 1911 fan. My first purchase on becoming retired was a Colt Satin Chrome Combat Commander in .45 ACP. This gun served as my BUG and Off duty firearm for several years. I still have that Colt.

Fast forward to 1987.

IN 1987 I was working as staff of the SOF convention in Las Vegas when the Glock Rep, I believe his name was (McNally) gave a demo of the Glock 17 and an armor's course.
When the convention was over I went to the local gun store, that rented handguns and began badgering the owner to get a Glock in so that I could test it.

Several weeks later, while at the store, a security/bodyguard for one of the large casinos came into the store and I was given a chance to shoot his Glock 17. Taking 15 rounds out of a wooden barrel of mixed 9mm hardball ammo, that was kept for use in their rental subguns, I ran the target out to 15 yards on their indoor range and commenced to shoot the Glock 17.
Bringing the target back to the shooting booth I noticed that I had shot 15 X's on a b27 silhouette target. This was with a gun that I had never shot before and with mixed hardball ammo.

I went back into the store and made a trade of two Colt combat commanders for 2 Glock 17's.

I still have one or I should say my 35 years old son now has one of the original Glock 17's I purchased. with a very low 3 digit serial number. The other one was traded for a Glock 19
Throughout the years since 1987 my carry gun has been a Glock 17, a Glock 19 and a Glock 23.
I currently shoot IDPA with a Glock 35.
My daughter, a retired San Bernardino Calif Deputy Sheriff, talked me out of the first Glock 19 I had purchased, as her retirement gift.

I have never abandoned the 1911's but they have become my range/fun guns, and are in my EDC rotation on a lesser use then the Glocks.

If a disaster hits my area the two guns that will certainly be with me are my Glock handgun and my AK-47 rifle. I know that both will function reliable with very little maintenance. Which is important when cleaning supplies may be limited.

[Ram Rod]

I'll be looking into this as of now.

[Ram Rod]

Glock is not so good. My friend, who knows literally everything about guns, says it's reallll ez to shoot yourself in the leg or foot with a Glock if you're not being careful and also they sometimes explode for no reason.

Like the Ford Pinto?

[DRM]

Like the Ford Pinto?

Well, speaking from a purely defensive standpoint, you could always back it into somebody if you had too...

Same holds true for Glock KABOOMS!!

Just hand it off and run for cover...