Glock: The Rise of America's Gun

[kpnc2001]

Been reading this book. I think its fascinating, but I am relatively new to firearms. What kind of opinions are out there as to the authors point of view that he puts out, i.e. NRA's mission, Glock's marketplace strategy, etc.. Just curious..

[Guamsst]

Don't know, but that title seems insulting to me. It's about like saying Nike is Americas shoe. People buy them because they know the name and someone told them they were cool. Both are wholeheartedly loved by drug dealers as well....LOL

Not that Glocks are bad. Just that they sure have ridden the wave of hype and done well.

[Art]

Don't know, but that title seems insulting to me. It's about like saying Nike is Americas shoe. People buy them because they know the name and someone told them they were cool. Both are wholeheartedly loved by drug dealers as well....LOL

Not that Glocks are bad. Just that they sure have ridden the wave of hype and done well.

Nike was originally, back in the day, and I mean the late 1970s, America's shoe. The company was (and is) headquartered here and the shoes were originally made here. Before Nike the major high end running shoe companies were Adidas and Puma, both German firms. Of course time and economic reality took over and while Nike is headquartered here there shoes are made all over Asia. Of course Addidas and Pumas are now made in Asia usually as well. Right now the only athletic shoe company that makes any of it's running/cross training shoes in the U.S. is New Balance and they only make the high end models here.

So in most cases you pick your poison between a shoe company (Nike) that is headquartered in Oregon and makes all it's product outside of the United States or a gun company (Glock) that is headquartered in Austria that makes most of the product it sells in this country here. Sad but true

[Guamsst]

Art, I think I inadvertently led you off topic....LOL I wasn't really talking about where either Nike or Glock is made/headquartered. I was talking more about how the general public gets things in their head as the item to have based on nothing else really. Every Nike I ever had was crap. They felt great but didn't last. They were built up by hype though. Glock produces a good gun but just like the Berretta 92, Hollywood hype has caused them to rise above where they deserve to be. I know people who act like they really know something about guns and then when you start talking to them all they really know is that they were told to get a Glock. If I tell them I carry an HK USP they don't have a clue what an HK is, or pretty much any other gun....except a Glock. The serious shooters/collectors may or may not own a Glock based on experience, need and preference. But plenty of novices and non gun owners recognize the name Glock.

[Art]

Hmmmm, guess I didn't get it this time, not unusual for me. Your point is well taken.

[Guamsst]

Hmmmm, guess I didn't get it this time, not unusual for me. Your point is well taken.

No problem, what I am thinking and what makes it to the screen aren't always the same or atleast not always as clear. After reading your post I reread mine and saw where you were taking it from.

[dryheat]

Coincidentally, I was in Barnes and Noble just yesterday(and I don't get there often). There was a whole section on military stuff and one of the books that caught my eye was the Glock book. I paged through it and it was interesting. The "wondernine" period that left the .45 behind. Beretta getting the gov. contract due to the Italians co-operating with the Regans admin. on nukes. Police depts. dumping wheel guns by the barrel load. What a great time to get Smiths and Colts for $200. Now Pythons are $1,500 and mod. 19's are 400-800. I only spent a minute flipping through the pages.

[kpnc2001]

I thought the fascinating part of the book was Glock's timing in the Law Enforcement's decision to dump the revolvers and Glocks marketing tactics to the departments. The American Unit of Glock seemed to really knew how to time and structure deals to maximize profits.

With all due respect, it doesn't matter what you think of the title, the fact is, there is a large "cult" following to the gun in the US. I am not particular fond of them, but it was a good read.

[Guamsst]

Well, if any autoloader deserves the title, "Americas gun" I think the 1911 would be a more obvious choice than a glock. Lets face it, 100yrs of service, popularity and fame verses about 20?

Like I said, not that Glocks are bad, just seems like hype to me.

[kpnc2001]

Agreed