The Glock 17 Gen 5 Pistol

Law enforcement trade-in overview and condition

The video focuses on a Glock 17 Gen 5 9mm pistol that arrived in a plain cardboard box because it is a law enforcement trade-in. A police department replaced its sidearms and released the previous pistols to the commercial market. Trade-ins in this batch range from heavily worn to very clean examples. The presenter and a buyer named Josh sorted through about a dozen pistols and selected one that represented an average example from the lot. The pistol shown is in good to very good condition with minimal cosmetic wear. Viewers are reminded that actual condition varies by listing and that the product description will specify the condition rating for each individual Glock 17 Gen 5 trade-in offered.

Early Gen 5 features and configuration details

This Glock 17 Gen 5 is an earlier production example, which explains several distinctive features. It lacks front slide serrations that appear on later Gen 5 models and has a front “moon cut” at the grip, a trait of the first Gen 5 runs. The pistol is chambered in 9mm and uses a 4.43 inch barrel. It comes with one 17-round magazine, consistent with the Glock 17 designation. The sights are described as blacked-out AmeriGlo-style night sights, providing a tritium night-sight capability rather than standard polymer sights. The pistol includes an ambidextrous slide release, allowing operation from either side of the frame. As a law enforcement trade-in, the controls are already broken in and feel smoother than on a brand-new pistol.

Dimensions, barrel, and slide characteristics

The Glock 17 Gen 5 shown has a barrel that protrudes slightly beyond the slide, a typical Glock profile. There is visible finish wear at the muzzle end of the barrel, indicating that the pistol has been fired and cycled enough to complete its break-in period. Being a Gen 5, the slide has rounded edges rather than the more squared profile of earlier generations. Rear slide serrations are present for standard manipulation, while the front of the slide on this early model remains smooth. Factory specifications list the unloaded weight without magazine at 22.22 ounces, 24.97 ounces with an empty magazine, and approximately 33.33 ounces loaded. Overall length is specified at 7.95 inches, width at 1.34 inches, height at 5.47 inches, and sight radius at 6.46 inches.

Frame, rail, trigger feel, and grip features

The polymer frame features a Picatinny-style accessory rail with a single cross slot, suitable for mounting common weapon lights or lasers. The trigger guard has the familiar Glock squared profile with a slight indentation on the front. The takedown lever sits just above the trigger guard in the standard Glock position. The pistol uses the Glock Safe Action system with a trigger safety tab. The trigger has noticeable take-up before reaching a defined wall at roughly a right angle to the frame, followed by a break that feels like a duty-weight pull around six pounds. The reset is short with a small amount of forward movement before it clicks. The grip uses Glock’s standard Gen 5 texture. Some trade-ins may include backstraps and a factory Glock case, but the example shown is a bare-bones setup with no extra backstraps and only a trigger lock in the box. The frame also has a slight magwell flare and the early Gen 5 moon cut at the front of the grip.

Verifying length, height, and width

A measuring tape is used to confirm the pistol’s dimensions. Measured overall length comes in at approximately 7.25 inches, slightly under the listed 7.95 inches, likely due to measuring technique and reference points. Height, including the rear sight, is about 5.5 inches, which aligns closely with the stated 5.47 inches. The slide itself measures about 1 inch in width. The broader 1.34 inch overall width specification appears to account for the ambidextrous slide stop levers that extend slightly beyond the slide and frame. These measurements help reconcile the published specifications with what is observed on the specific law enforcement trade-in sample.

Trigger pull measurement

The trigger pull weight is tested using a trigger gauge. After removing the magazine and confirming the pistol is clear, the gauge is set up with the pistol pointed in a safe direction. The gauge reading shows a trigger pull of 5.92 pounds. This result closely matches the commonly cited six-pound duty trigger weight for Glock pistols. The measured value supports the earlier subjective impression that the trigger feels like a typical duty-weight Glock trigger with a defined wall and consistent break, suitable for service use rather than being tuned for very light competition pulls.

Weight checks with and without magazine

A scale is used to verify the pistol’s weight in different configurations. With the magazine inserted but no ammunition, the Glock 17 Gen 5 weighs 1.57 pounds. Without the magazine, the pistol weighs 1.40 pounds, or roughly 1.5 pounds. From these numbers, a fully loaded configuration is estimated to be around 2 pounds with 9mm ammunition in the 17-round magazine. These scale readings align reasonably well with the earlier ounce-based specifications and provide a practical sense of how the pistol will feel in hand or in a holster when carried with a full magazine.

Final thoughts on trade-in value

The video closes with reflections on the value of Glock 17 Gen 5 law enforcement trade-ins. This particular pistol is described as being close to new in appearance, with only light wear and fully functional components. The batch is priced around the $400 range, with cleaner examples tending to cost a bit more and more worn pistols often being less expensive. Condition is clearly described in each product listing so buyers can match expectations to the specific pistol they select. Viewers are encouraged to share their experiences with Glock 17 Gen 5 pistols and other law enforcement trade-ins to help others assess whether these used service pistols meet their needs in terms of condition, performance, and overall value.