22 OF OF OF 22 22 - Jeffersonian

Quest For PerfectionWhen the Glock 17 pistolfirst came out in theearly 1980s, it had asmooth, sleek grip configuration.It looked likea muted cobblestonesurface. Some shootersfound that in rapid fire,or with slippery hands, it could shift alittle in their grasp. Before the decadewas out, Glock had replaced this firstgeneration grip treatment with a Gen 2format that had “grenade grip” checkeringmolded in, front and back, and amore textured side surface. In the 1990s,finger grooves were added, replacingthe first two generations. This was Gen3, and when it was subsequently combinedwith an accessory rail molded intothe dust cover of the frame, it becameknown to Glock enthusiasts as Gen 3.5.Now comes Gen 4, the RTF (RoughTextured Frame) motif, introduced in2009. Actually looking more like Gen1 than anything else at first glance, itfeels totally different in the hand. Thefinger grooves are still there — but onfrontstrap, backstrap, and both sides, thegrip surface is festooned with tiny studsGlock calls “polymids.” These bite intothe grasping surface of the hand like,well, like studded snow tires digging intosnowpack on a northern winter road.It’s tough to describe, but you canfeel it yourself by simply picking up anRTF Glock 22 (or Glock 17, the twomodels out at this writing, in .40 S&Wand 9mm respectively) in your favoritegun shop. Before you leave the counteror put the RTF back, ask to see an identical-sizedGlock with the Gen 3 grippattern. Hold each firmly in your dominanthand, and then slap the front ofthe slide sideways with your free hand.WWW.AMERICANHANDGUNNER.COM 57