The Glock — like the AR-15 — has gotten a bad rap. Some people think it's an ugly gun. Now, while I wouldn't stick one in a frame and hang it on the wall, I don't think describing it as ugly is an entirely fair assessment, either. It's not an SKS.
I'm sure someone thought the same thing when they first laid eyes on the Walther PPK — before it became 007's sidekick and worthy to be carried by the world's most famous spy.
The Glock isn't thought of as a show piece. In fact, it has its own maxim: “Show your friends your 1911, but show your enemies your Glock.”
But it does possess a certain Eastern European post-industrial charm, the sort of warm and fuzzy feeling you get driving through Chicago in gridlock. It's built like a tank, and looks like one. And works like one, too. The Glock is all business. It's a meat-and-potatoes sort of pistol, owing its ruggedness and reliability to its origin as a military gun. Its ergonomics were, after all, inspired by the Luger. And like the Luger, viewed at the correct angle, the Glock is one of the best-looking handguns in the opinion of many, including me.
But an engraved Glock?
I'll be the first to admit that when the press release rolled in touting a “one-of-a-kind, hand-engraved GLOCK 22,” one depicting the “Statue of Liberty,” I rolled my eyes at what seemed like a PR stunt. But if it was a stunt, it worked. Because for some reason I clicked on the link. And I'm glad I did.
It took me to a gunbroker.com auction. Apparently the gun belonged to founder Gaston Glock.
The exclusive GLOCK, known within the company as the “GLOCK Statue of Liberty Gun,” features an intricate, hand-engraved tribute to the United States and the Statue of Liberty. This theme was selected to recognize GLOCK’s 25th Anniversary in the United States, which coincides with the 125th Anniversary of the Statue of Liberty.“Often times, the misconception is that the limited edition pistols from GLOCK, such as the ‘Statue of Liberty Gun’ are hidden away in company vaults,” stated GLOCK Vice President, Gary Fletcher. “With the company celebrating 25 years in the United States, Mr. Glock wanted to give those who helped the company achieve that milestone of success an opportunity to own this one-of-a-kind piece.”
The firearm will be on display at SHOT Show 2012 and I'll try to shoot some more photos (if I can manage to sneak past R. Lee Ermey a.k.a “The Gunny” without getting yelled at).
I have a soft-spot for engraved guns. And so I have to admit: This engraved Glock looks good — so good I'd gladly show my friends. Even if my friend's name happened to be Bond. James Bond.
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