Glock 23

The Glock 23 was designed and manufactured by Glock Ges.m.b.H. in Austria. Developed by Gaston Glock, the firearm was produced as a compact variant of the manufacturer’s primary handgun series. The model follows the design lineage that began with the P80 in the early 1980s, adapted for a different cartridge than the original service pistol.

This semi-automatic pistol utilizes a short recoil-operated, locked-breech mechanism with a linkless, vertically tilting barrel. The frame is constructed from a nylon-based synthetic polymer resistant to shock, caustic liquids, and temperature extremes. It incorporates a striker-fired preset trigger system with three internal safety mechanisms: a trigger safety, firing pin safety, and drop safety. The slide is milled from a single block of steel and treated with a nitriding process for wear and corrosion resistance. Ergonomic features include an integrated accessory rail for mounting illumination devices, finger grooves, and interchangeable backstraps to adjust the distance to the trigger.

The Glock 23 has been adopted by various law enforcement and military organizations, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the East Timor Defence Force, and the Military Police of Rio de Janeiro State. It is also utilized by police agencies in the United States, Australia, and Canada. A variant of this model is the Glock 23C, which features factory-cut ports in the barrel and slide to vent propellant gases. The firearm has evolved through multiple production generations, with later iterations including a dual recoil spring assembly and a reversible magazine catch.