Robert A. Sadowski - Book of Glock: A Comprehensive Guide to America’s Most Popular Handgun

Copyright 2018 by Robert A. Sadowski

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available on file.

Cover design by Tom Lau

Cover photo courtesy of Glock

Print ISBN: 978-1-5107-1602-5

Ebook ISBN: 978-1-5107-1603-2

Printed in China

This book is dedicated to those who take on the responsibility to become an armed citizen. To those who conceal carry and do so knowing they may need to put their lives in danger to save themselves, their family, friends, or complete strangers. To those who tinker, rebuild, and customize their Glock pistols. For competition shooters who desire simplicity in a pistol. For our law enforcement, the thin blue line that separates us from evil and keeps us safe. For all our military forces who sacrifice and dedicate their lives so our lives can be free. And finally, to collectors who can become manic like me, searching for that one specific Glock model with that specific serial number. Stay calm and Glock on.

Table of Contents

Foreword

I t was a cold Friday workday in Mamaroneck, New York, that November 1994. I was a truck driver at the time and, along with Tony, a crane operator from Connecticut, was on a job doing environmental tank extractions so the town could convert from No. 4 fuel to natural gas. The project consisted of extracting twenty thousand-gallon fuel tanks located at elementary schools, high schools, libraries, and municipalities. At the end of each week, after work we would blow off steam and meet other union brothers at the local watering hole, Chucks Caf, for cocktails. Members of the steel union would be there, along with members of the labor union and carpenters union. Friday is payday for everyone.

We arrived there about 5:30 p.m. and noticed a group of men standing across the street when we entered the bar. It was a typical Friday, having a good time playing darts and cards and listening to rock and roll on the jukebox. By 2:00 a.m., it was time to go home, so we said good-bye to everyone and left the bar and walked across the parking lot to my pickup truck. I started to open my driver side door when a set of hands reached from behind me and slammed the door closed. I looked up and saw two men, each about six foot four (I know, because Im about six feet). The men were wearing black three-quarter-length leather overcoats. I looked across at Tony, who was entering the passenger side of my truck. They were going to rob us. Tony saw the two thugs near me and immediately drew out a handgun and pointed it at the two of them. When the two thugs saw the handgun, they immediately disappeared fast, walking across the street. Tony and I then got into the truck and proceeded to drive home without saying a word. On the way home, about a half hour into the drive, I said, Thank you for saving us from getting robbed. I didnt know you carried a gun.

I carry and have a Connecticut permit to carry, Tony explained, but not in New York State. New York does not honor a Connecticut conceal carry permit. On the other hand, if you have a New York conceal carry permit, Connecticut will honor the New York permit for a $35 fee.

So you are not supposed to carry in New York.

Stash, I always carry a gun, he said. I was a drill sergeant and instructor in the Army and taught and trained my men to Live by the Gun, and I mean to live by the gun for the rest of my life. It was a moment I will never forget; how a normal, typical Friday night with the boys could have ended in tragedy because two guys wanted our hard-earned cash. Later I talked to a couple of agents; they told me these thugs were pros. Tony stopped them in their tracks by displaying a pistol.

My dad, Stanley Sr., and his three brothers all served in World War II. My father was an Army paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne and dropped into Normandy during the D-Day invasion. His brother and my uncle, Joseph, served under General George Patton in his tank company during the Battle of the Bulge. Michael, the second brother and another uncle, also served under General George Patton as a motorcycle instructor and in fact trained General Patton how to ride a motorcycle. Generals also have to know how to ride a motorcycle in case of emergency. General Patton and my uncle Michael crossed the Rhine Bridge together, my uncle on his motorcycle and General Patton in the turret of his tank. Victor, my dads third brother and another uncle of mine, enlisted in the Marine Corps. and took part in the invasion of Iwo Jima. They all came home, though Victor lost one leg up to his knee at Iwo Jima. God Bless my father and his brothers as these guys gave us our freedom. Like my uncle Victor used to say, Semper FiAlways Faithful. I knew technically he wasnt allowed to conceal in New York, only in Connecticut, but I understand what Tony meant by Live by the Gun.

After thanking Tony for saving us from getting robbed or perhaps killed, I told him that when I returned home I was going to apply for a conceal-carry permit to carry either a pistol or a revolver in Connecticut. When we arrived got back to Connecticut, I dropped Tony off at his house and again thanked him for saving us. The following week I visited the local police department and received the paperwork to apply for the right to carry a handgun in the state of Connecticut. I filled out the paperwork and had to find two permit gun owners to write a letter saying I was competent to have a gun permit. I received my two letters and then went to a local gun range with a retired US Marshal. My friend was a firearm instructor and I soon learned how to safely handle and shoot a revolver and pistol. About twenty days later, after I sent all the paperwork to the state, I received a temporary gun permit for my town only. I sent a fee in to the state of Connecticut and about thirty days later received my state pistol permit. Then I went to the state of Connecticut safety building to get my picture ID gun permit. Now it was official. I had a permit to carry in the state of Connecticut. Now it was time to go shopping for a pistol or revolver.

In 1995, I went to my first gun shop in Waterbury, Connecticut, Bulls-eye Gun Shop, to shop for a pistol or revolver to conceal carry. The owner, Bill Nolan, introduced me to one of his employees, Todd Dillon. Todd was going to college and taught some revolver and pistol safety classes. He also was a well-known hunter with a rifle and shotgun. His personal conceal carry pistol was a Glock G19 with night sights, what I would come to know as a 9mm Second Generation with a finger-grooved rubber grip. Todd explained he shot his Glock upside down, sideways, and in any weather conditions with no problems. He convinced me that I should buy a Glock pistol for my first gun to carry.