Glock G37
Glock Ges.m.b.H. · Pistol · Discontinued · 2003
Also known as: G37, Glock 37
Overview
The Glock G37 is a semi-automatic pistol chambered in .45 GAP, produced by Glock Ges.m.b.H.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 740 g (26.1 oz) |
| Weight (loaded) | 1000 g (35.3 oz) |
| Overall Length | 204 mm (8.03") |
| Barrel Length | 114 mm (4.49") |
| Height | 139 mm (5.47") |
| Width | 33 mm (1.30") |
| Sight Radius | 165 mm (6.50") |
| Action Type | Short Recoil |
| Firing Mechanism | Striker Fired |
| Trigger Type | Safe Action |
| Trigger Pull | 28 N (6.3 lbf) |
| Magazine Capacity | 10 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Detachable Box |
| Muzzle Velocity | 279 m/s (915 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 580 J (428 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 50 m (55 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 1600 m (1750 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Rifling Twist | 400 mm (15.75") |
| Number of Grooves | 6 |
| Frame Material | Polymer |
| Slide Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Finish | Tenifer |
Calibers
- .45 GAP · primary — also known as .45 Glock Auto Pistol, .45 G.A.P.
Features
- Firing modes: Semi Automatic
- Feed systems: Detachable Box Magazine
- Safety mechanisms: Trigger Safety, Firing Pin Safety, Drop Safety
- Features: Polymer Frame, Safe Action Trigger, Hexagonal Rifling, Accessory Rail, Ambidextrous Slide Stop, Textured Grip, Reversible Magazine Release, Striker Fired
Variants
- Glock G37 Gen4 — Generation
- Glock G38 — Compact
- Glock G39 — Subcompact
Service history
Operators
- Georgia State Patrol · adopted 2007
- New York State Police · adopted 2006
- Florida Highway Patrol
- South Carolina Highway Patrol
Production
Production years: 2003-present
Exact production numbers not publicly disclosed. Production was primarily driven by law enforcement contracts, particularly with the New York State Police and Georgia State Patrol.
Origin
Country of origin: Austria
Designer: Gaston Glock
Notes
The .45 GAP cartridge uses a shorter case (19.18mm vs 22.81mm for .45 ACP) with higher operating pressure and a small pistol primer instead of the .45 ACP's large pistol primer. This shorter cartridge allows the G37 to use the same frame as the G17/G22, keeping grip circumference manageable for shooters with smaller hands while still delivering .45-caliber performance. However, the .45 GAP never achieved widespread commercial success, with limited ammunition availability and higher per-round costs compared to .45 ACP. Most adopting agencies have since transitioned to other calibers. The G37 and the entire .45 GAP lineup have been discontinued.
Background
The .45 GAP represents Glock's only venture into designing its own cartridge, and the results were mixed. The concept was brilliant: a shorter .45-caliber round that fit in a 9mm-sized frame, giving agencies .45-caliber stopping power without the bulky grip of the Glock 21. The New York State Police adopted it, as did the Georgia State Patrol, but the wider firearms market never embraced the cartridge. Ammunition remained expensive and scarce compared to .45 ACP and 9mm. By the time the FBI's 2014 study validated 9mm as ballistically equivalent to larger calibers with modern ammunition, the .45 GAP's raison d'etre had evaporated. The G37 stands as an interesting footnote in firearms history: a well-executed solution to a problem that the market ultimately decided did not need solving.