December 6 is a day mainly associated with Saint Nicholas and gifts, but this year it is quite a special day for shooters. A “gift” arrived in the form of an announcement of a new generation of pistols from the Austrian brand Glock, presenting its latest offering — the 6th generation. To start, four models have been prepared: the Glock 17, 19, 45, and 49. What changes have been made compared to the previous models?
Slide
One of the more noticeable changes is the introduction of doubled front slide serrations, slightly angled off 90 degrees to improve grip. The announced models also feature factory optic-ready mount.
Frame
The pistol's frame remains polymer-based, though with several updates. The overall design still follows the 5th generation (with an ambidextrous slide stop lever), but the applied texture has been changed to a more aggressive one (RTF6). The areas where the texture appears have also been modified, extending up to the slide stop lever line and above the trigger. Other changes include updates to the grip geometry, such as a deeper undercut behind the trigger guard, changes around the magazine release, a thicker grip, and an extended beaver tail.
Internal changes
The introduced updates also include the appearance of a flat trigger, an integrated optic mounting plate (most likely in the RMR standard). In the internal mechanisms, the disconnector has been redesigned to increase reliability, the barrel has been redesigned, the system returns to a single recoil spring, and there are several additional unspecified changes. One should not expect full backward compatibility with previous generations — only certain components will be compatible.
There are also changes in compatibility between models, making it easier to configure a specific variant (e.g., a longer slide with a shorter recoil assembly).
Official sales of the new model will begin on January 20, 2026, with prices similar to those of the 5th-generation variants.
Photos: Glock
