One Glock option that is new to me is the internal safety lock. Listed on the Glock website under the “Safety Pack” menu. When locked, the gun cannot be fired or disassembled.
My initial impressions when I saw this system were:
a) Why would I want a lock in my Glock(s)?
b) What advantage does this have over an external combination lock or the included cable lock?
c) The key looks overly complex
d) How many more parts is this adding to the internals of my gun?
The reality of most locks are, that given enough time or knowledge, they become easily circumvented and therefore rendered useless. The Glock Internal Safety Lock appears to be no exception.
As I mentioned earlier, like most internal handgun locks, when the Glock lock is enabled the gun cannot be fired or disassembled. In this case the safety is achieved through a half circle shaped block that is rotated 180 degrees with the turning of the key which blocks the rearward travel of the trigger bar.
Here are some pictures which illustrate the function of the lock, posted by GlockTalk member lupuss:
Here the gun in the unlocked position. Notice how the trigger bar can freely travel rearward:
Here the gun in the locked position. Notice the reward travel of the trigger bar is blocked:
A visible warning in the grip, letting the user know the gun is locked:
Picture of the dimpled keys:
Those dimpled keys look pretty hi-tech! A simple search on youtube though, yields hundreds of videos where people pick similar looking dimpled locks in a matter of seconds. This goes for pretty much every type of lock though. In fact, in the case of the Glock internal lock, even if someone was unable to pick the lock, it appears that all they would need to do is drill a small hole through the frame at the proper position to destroy the block against the trigger bar. Probably a great option for anyone that loses their keys to this lock, because it would save a lot of embarrassment and money to a locksmith. A hole in your frame would likely hurt resale value though, but it would be a toss up as to whether that would be worth more than your pride :P
According to GlockTalk user bigred1, the internal lock the option is only $25. He really likes his, but claims that since it was special order he had to wait 6 months. There is no word on whether Glocks can be retrofitted with this option; my guess would be they can’t.
I have very few keys in my life, and I’d like to keep it that way. Adding some Glock keys to my keychain is never going to happen. I am glad this is only an option (and not included) on their guns. Whenever needed, I’m going to keep it oldschool and lock my Glocks up using a 3 number combination lock or the original red cable lock.
Side Note:
As those who read my blog regularly know, I am a huge fan of the Glock pistols. I rarely look at the Glock website because in all my years of going there, I only remember the layout and information changing a hand full of times. I find it odd that a company as successful as Glock, would not pay the small amount of pocket change it would take to have their web guys update the site with mention their RTF models, and their new Gen4 pistols.
Comments
20 responses to “Glock Internal Safety Lock”
Amen to that brother! With as much as Glock spends on its annual magazines you would think they could spend the cash to hire a web guy to post some new pics and data once in a while…
That lock is there for the states that require it. I live in Maryland and all new hand guns are required to have internal lock like that. If they don’t then the dealer must sell you this strange gun lock that looks like a snap cap and prevents the slide from moving. For a gun that already has an internal lock like a Taurus it’s no big deal. For something like this Glock most people prefer the snap cap lock thing seeing as it’s the same cost and Maryland only requires you buy it not that you use it.
Interesting that they require you to buy it but not use it hahah… I’d take that optional use snap cap thing any day of the week over this permanent glock lock!
I live in Maryland and just purchased a Glock 17 Gen 4 through a Maryland dealer under the Glock Blue program. My Glock does not have this lock.
I have a Taurus and love the lock, it’s a “nice” feature to have to/from the range without a CPL — the pistol is useless, and I’d rather lock it as such (locked one like that for Michigan’s “safety inspection” when it was still around) and the cop was baffled why the slide wouldn’t rack. It serves a purpose, for someone — somewhere.
Gyah. Anything that adds additional moving parts that are not essential to the striker moving forward is a somewhat failing proposition to me – but, being an engineer, I try my best to avoid unnecessary complication. Unnecessary complication breaks. I still understand the use of external safeties (especially when they decock external hammers), but integral locks are something I will avoid if I can.
If Glock does this I’ll treat them just like Taurus. In that, I’ll never buy a new one with this crap on it, only the older ones without it.
You could always buy it with, and figure that the amount of them being made will help the resale value. Just because it has the lock doesn’t mean you have to use it ;)
The lock is only worth $25 though, and in my opinion probably for a lot of people it would hurt resale value because they wouldn’t want it!
It works both ways, unfortunately. The lack of the lock has the potential to hurt resale to people who live in lock-required states, like Maryland… bummer.
Worse, if those locks are so easily bypassed.
In my situation, I want the lock. I would never carry the gun locked, but when I have 5 young children in the house and will not be able to have the gun on my person at all times, yes I want to be able to lock it. So what if it can be bypassed by a theif? If it didn’t have a lock and was stolen, they could use it that much sooner… And before someone starts, yes I teach my children gun saftey, but as an EMT I see grown men who have handled firearms all of their lives make one mistake and fire the gun inadvertantly, and I would not be able to handle the guilt if something happened and I KNEW that there WAS something I could have done to prevent it. JMO.
You say: “I live in Maryland and all new hand guns are required to have internal lock like that.”
My Comment: “I’d move somewhere else.”
You can allways come to Texas :3
I can see a use for it. Locks only keep honest people honest. It will never stop a determined thief. It will however keep my child from picking up my gun and doing damage with it when I am not carrying it.
Glock i guess has a new website . us.glock.com
Once the law requires to have guns have locks internal, next they will issue a law to have them used.
Just like the car seat belts. First required to have manufactures install them and then laws to make you where them. Seat belt law was a $50 and ever offense was doubled.
Will an evil doer have his gun locked up. How will we defend our self against him. Once again we robbed of the right to protect ourselves. What good is having a gun that can not be fired.
Will police use the internal locking system, If it good for us it must be good for them to.
Some PDs may use the locks. It is certainly not intended for LEAs to be carrying locked weapons around in their patrol cars or even off-duty.
But, weapons in the armory could be locked and there is the availability of departmental keying so all of the XYZ PD’s ILS weapons could be keyed alike. Weapons are unlocked when they are issued from the armory and no key is provided.
Another useful feature of the ILS has been mentioned already: If my grandchildren are here for a week and I have my Glock locked, I don’t have to worry about mischief running amok and having to bury one of my children or grandchildren.
I do not agree that the ILS should be mandated — but of course it will be. I certainly do not agree that the weapon should be kept locked as a matter of law. If that happens, nobody will buy one.
Tomorrow is the 6th of November. Be sure to vote!
Which website can I go to, to purchase the Glock dimple keys?
Sorry you can’t appreciate the benefits of a device like this. Ever had kids? I just bought a Bersa Thunder. 380 and it is equipped with a more elaborate keyed safety which prevents the slide from being worked, trigger and hammer from being cocked (you can Google it for pictures). As a 52 year old grandparent who had guns and 2 boys to raise as a dad, I love the innovation. External locks are good, but not nearly as convenient.
I have small kids around and want this lock but can’t find it.