Glock Gen4 letter code

simonrichter · July 15, 2020, 03:53 AM

Pretty sure the Glocks up to Gen3 used to have a three-letter code, didn't they?

Now got my brand new G19 Gen4 and it has a four-letter code, is there a year and month decoding for these as well or do they just put random letters on their pistols lately?

It's - quite obvious in my case - an Austrian-made model.

TunnelRat · July 15, 2020, 06:13 AM

There are more letters than there are single digits. Using letters gives a manufacturer a larger range of possible serial number values. While some companies like SIG and HK have used date codes, I didn’t think Glock was one of those.

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laytonj1 · July 15, 2020, 06:53 PM

Once the serial numbers reached zzz999 moving to a 4 letter prefix came next.
I believe it started around 4 years ago. A gen 4 I bought in 2015 was a 3 letter prefix but the next one I bought in 2017 was a 4 letter prefix.

To add confusion, the 4 letter serial number prefix for USA built guns starts with “A” and Austria built guns started with “B”.

Jim

July 15, 2020, 03:53 AM	#1
simonrichter Senior Member Join Date: December 3, 2011 Location: Austria Posts: 758	Glock Gen4 letter code Pretty sure the Glocks up to Gen3 used to have a three-letter code, didn't they? Now got my brand new G19 Gen4 and it has a four-letter code, is there a year and month decoding for these as well or do they just put random letters on their pistols lately? It's - quite obvious in my case - an Austrian-made model. __________________ "Get off of my lawn!" Walt Kowalski . ISSC PAR .223

July 15, 2020, 06:13 AM	#2
TunnelRat Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2011 Posts: 12,212	Glock Gen4 letter code There are more letters than there are single digits. Using letters gives a manufacturer a larger range of possible serial number values. While some companies like SIG and HK have used date codes, I didn’t think Glock was one of those. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

July 15, 2020, 06:53 PM	#3
laytonj1 Senior Member Join Date: June 1, 2005 Posts: 4,443	Once the serial numbers reached zzz999 moving to a 4 letter prefix came next. I believe it started around 4 years ago. A gen 4 I bought in 2015 was a 3 letter prefix but the next one I bought in 2017 was a 4 letter prefix. To add confusion, the 4 letter serial number prefix for USA built guns starts with “A” and Austria built guns started with “B”. Jim Last edited by laytonj1; July 15, 2020 at 06:59 PM.