An almost historic announcement – since this is the first time that the world's leading Austrian manufacturer of polymer-framed service pistols succeeds in gaining a foothold in the German law enforcement market. Basically, the technical guideline (TR) of the German police was written in such a way that GLOCK was not involved from the outset. All this changed with the GLOCK G46, which is unique because it deviates significantly from the successful GLOCK design. It features a rotating barrel system instead of the typical tilting barrel Browning system and also has a decocking mechanism on the back of the slide, so that the trigger of the (of course empty) gun does not need to be operated before disassembly.
From the press release: "The police of the state of Saxony-Anhalt will be equipped with new service pistols. In the course of a procurement procedure, the Austrian manufacturer GLOCK has been awarded the contract to equip nearly 6,400 police officers in the future. Accordingly, the model Glock 46 has been introduced for the police. This was specially designed as a gun for law-enforcement officers and complies with the specifications of the ‘Pistol’ technical guideline." Saxony-Anhalt is the first country in Germany to introduces a gun of the Austrian manufacturer as a standard firearm . Interior Minister Holger Stahlknecht declared: "I am pleased that we continue the equipment offensive of the state police. With the new service pistol, officers and police receive a state-of-the-art instrument for the prevention of dangers, which they can and must rely on in an emergency. After the upcoming training and education, I trust in a professional approach to the new weapon. "
The renovation of the service pistols was required because the state police (except special forces) has been using the same pistol model (the SIG Sauer P6) for years. In addition to obsolete technology and the resulting increase in maintenance requirements, developments in the industry and the potential terrorist threat necessitated an adaptation to the current situation and thus a change of armament. Almost 100 experts from the Ministry of the Interior and the state police were involved in the tests.
The Glock G46 pistol (caliber 9x19) with it's new rotating barrel system can be individually adapted in numerous features to the respective users.
Special emphasis was placed in the selection on a high magazine capacity, the lowest possible weight, a simple and safe operation and full grip adaptability to each police officer’s hand size. The conversion to the new service pistol model should be completed by the end of 2021.
Among other things, the Police Academy aspirants and recruits will be the first to be equipped with the new gun. Special units are excluded from the new purchases, since their equipment is already modern. In addition to the purchase of around 8,600 new service pistols/accessories, including reserve and training pistols and models for training and education, there are a number of other project costs, such as the necessary conversion of the police's own weapons workshop. The total cost is around 8.6 million euro.
GLOCK insiders say, that there are no plans to use this technology for the civilian products.
For more information about GLOCK handguns, visit the manufacturer's website.
Are you interested in civil GLOCK models? Read our test of the G43!
Read also: GLOCK at the SHOT Show 2019
