The Glock 26 is also known as the “Baby Glock" due to its small size and is sold in 3 different generations, from Gen 3-Gen5. A Glock 26 shoots a 9mm Luger cartridge for fast and accurate shots when you need them the most.
Before we get into the different models of the Glock 26, it’s best to understand the purpose and capability of the pistol to determine if this is something you’d like.
I recommend the Glock 26 for police officers who carry the Glock 19 or the Glock 22 as their service pistol. The 26 can easily be carried on your ankle for a seamless transition between your primary carry pistol and your backup.
I will review each of the 3 Generations of the 26, so you can decide for yourself what fits you best.
Glock 26 Gen 3
The Glock 26 Gen 3 added the now infamous finger grooves to their pistols for added grip and control during the operation of the gun.
The Gen 3 also added the Universal Glock Rail to the dust cover of the pistol frame to add attachments, such as after-market sights, lasers, and lights.
Gen 3 was the first model to add thumb rests on each side of the pistol grip to give us lefties some added comfort (I didn’t like it at all). One of the best features of the Gen 3 was the extractor being raised up from the frame when the gun is loaded. This gives the Gen models an added safety feature because it acts as a loaded chamber indicator that is easy to see. Finally, a cross pin was added to the trigger guard pin to help reduce felt recoil in the barrel.
Specs
Length (Overall)**
165 mm | 6.50 inch
Slide Length
159 mm | 6.26 inch
Width (Overall)
32 mm | 1.26 inch
Slide Width
25,5 mm | 1.0 inch
Height incl.Mag.
106 mm | 4.17 inch
Line of Sight (Polymer)
137 mm | 5.39 inch
Line of Sight (Steel)
136 mm | 5.35 inch
Line of Sight (GNS)
135 mm | 5.31 inch
Weight
730 g | 25.75 oz|1.6 lbs
MSRP
$499.99
Magazine Capacity
10/12 / 17 / 19 / 15 / 24 / 31 / 33
Caliber
9x19mm Luger
Barrel Length
3.43"
Trigger Pull Weight
28 N/ 6.295 Lbs
Pros
Great Price for used models
Perfect for a concealed carry pistol
Great gun to learn on for smaller men, women, and children
This gun weighs 1.6 lbs fully loaded, making it incredibly comfortable to carry
Fits perfect as an ankle holster
Great back-up pistol for law enforcement
Cons
The finger grooves are very uncomfortable and cause you to grip the pistol in a standard position
Gen 4 and 5 are much better pistols and will give you a much better feel
Buying new for a Gen 3 is like buying the original Playstation, it might work just fine, but it’s not going to feel or look as good as the Playstation 4 (I can’t wait for the 5!)
The trigger pull weight is very heavy for such a compact pistol
Features
Safe Action safety feature (no manual safety)
Loaded chamber indicator added to all Gen 3 pistols
Thumb rests for ambidextrous characteristics
Added finger grooves
Added Universal Glock Rail
Why Should I Buy The Glock 26 Gen 3?
The Glock 26 Gen 3 is a great gun to own because you can get this gun used and fairly cheap at gun shows, pawnshops, or online retailers.
There are deficiencies in Gen 3, but this could be a great starter gun for concealed carry purposes and to learn how to shoot a pistol.
For example, the 1st Glock I ever shot was the 26 (Gen 3), and it’s small enough to take away the intimidation of holding a gun and easier to control for shooters with smaller hands. I haven’t met anybody that likes the finger grooves in the early Glocks, but like the saying goes “to each his/her own."
The Gen 4 model pistols from Glock is when I feel like Glock turned the corner from a reliable company that sells great guns, to a revolutionary company that continually strives to be better than they were before.
Obviously, Glock has always tried to improve their pistols, but the Gen 3 to Gen 4 differences are pretty drastic in my opinion.
The Gen 4 added the Modular Backstrap System that allows shooters to customize the backstrap to fit their hand size more easily.
To accommodate lefties and shooters with bigger hands, the Gen 4 enlarged the magazine catch and made it reversible to add fluidity to your mag changes.
The best new feature for the Gen 4 is the dual recoil spring assembly, which reduces the felt recoil and increases the accuracy of the pistol on follow-up shots.
Specs
Length (Overall)**
163 mm | 6.42 inch
Slide Length
159 mm | 6.26 inch
Width (Overall)
32 mm | 1.26 inch
Slide Width
25,5 mm | 1.0 inch
Height incl.Mag.
106 mm | 4.17 inch
Line of Sight (Polymer)
137 mm | 5.39 inch
Line of Sight (Steel)
136 mm | 5.35 inch
Line of Sight (GNS)
135 mm | 5.31 inch
Weight
730 g | 25.75 oz|1.6 lbs
MSRP
$499.99
Magazine Capacity
10/12 / 17 / 19 / 15 / 24 / 31 / 33
Caliber
9x19mm Luger
Barrel Length
3.43"
Trigger Pull Weight
28 N/ 6.295 Lbs
Pros
Great Price for used models
Perfect for a concealed carry pistol (about a 1/2" shorter than Gen 3)
Great gun to learn on for smaller men, women, and children
This gun weighs 1.6 lbs fully loaded, making it incredibly comfortable to carry
Fits perfect as an ankle holster
Great backup pistol for law enforcement
Cons
The finger grooves are very uncomfortable and cause you to grip the pistol in a standard position
The trigger pull weight is very heavy for such a compact pistol
Although they tried to increase the ambidextrous features with the Gen 4, it’s still not fully ambidextrous
Features
Safe Action safety feature (no manual safety)
Modular backstrap System
Enlarged Reversible Magazine Catch
Dual Recoil Spring Assembly
Rough Textured Frame (RTF) adds more grip under any weather condition you will face
The Gen 4 is a more polished version of the Gen 3 that is much easier to customize with the interchangeable backstraps and the reversible magazine catch.
The RTF is a great addition versus the Gen 3 because the thumb rests were a distraction, and the pistol didn’t feel as comfortable. The RTF feels very rugged, but it feels like you gain more control over the pistol with it than you did with the Gen 3.
Glock 26 Gen 5
If I were in the market for a concealed carry pistol and had to decide whether to go with the newest Gen 5 or the cheaper Gen 3 or 4, I’d choose the Gen 5 every time.
For a complete explanation of the features of the Gen 5, read our “Glock 19 Review" blog. With over 20 new features with Gen 5, it’s difficult to explain all of them, so I want to keep focused on the ones that I noticed the most. The NDLC finish adds durability to the pistol by preventing scratches from the normal wear and tear of gun ownership.
The most advertised feature is the Glock Marksman Barrel (GMB) which has been specifically engineered for improving accuracy shot after shot. With thousands of complaints from Gen 3 and Gen 4 owners, Glock finally removed the finger grooves on the pistol grip to provide better ergonomics and recoil control.
Specs
Length (Overall)**
163 mm | 6.42 inch
Slide Length
159 mm | 6.26 inch
Width (Overall)
33 mm | 1.30 inch
Slide Width
25,5 mm | 1.0 inch
Height incl.Mag.
106 mm | 4.17 inch
Line of Sight (Polymer)
137 mm | 5.39 inch
Line of Sight (Steel)
136 mm | 5.35 inch
Line of Sight (GNS)
135 mm | 5.31 inch
Weight
739 g | 26.07 oz|1.62lbs
MSRP
$573.00
Magazine Capacity
10/12 / 17 / 19 / 15 / 24 / 31 / 33
Caliber
9x19mm Luger
Barrel Length
3.43"
Trigger Pull Weight
26 N/ 5.845 Lbs
Pros
Trigger pull was lightened to 5.84 lbs from 6.29 lbs
The new finish will extend the life of the gun by years
The new fingerless grip adds stability, accuracy, and comfort
The new marksman barrel increases your range to at least 25 meters
Cons
Stock sights seem like Glock didn’t think about improving them
Features
Safe Action safety feature (no manual safety)
Modular backstrap System
Enlarged Reversible Magazine Catch
Dual Recoil Spring Assembly
Rough Textured Frame (RTF) adds more grip under any weather condition you will face
Why Should I Buy Glock 26 Gen 5
The Gen 5 Glock 26 is the perfect concealed carry pistol for federal law enforcement, such as F.B.I., D.E.A., and the A.T.F. because it fits perfectly for an ankle, inside the waistband holster, and a shoulder holster with ease.
The Gen 5 gives the shooter more control, customization less felt recoil, and is more ergonomic than the Gen 3 and Gen 4.
With most police officers using the Glock 22 or going to the Glock 19, I highly recommend considering the Glock 26 as your secondary pistol.
We are big fans of running a concealed carry gun, such as the Glock 26, stock with the exception of the sights.
The sights we really like and recommend are the XS Sights Big Dots. These sights make for quick and easy target acquisition due to the “Dot The I" aiming concept. If you go with the tritium model, it’s like having an analog red dot. No batteries to fail, but you have an always-on sight system.
Aside from upgrading the sights, having a solid holster is mandatory. There are several great holster manufacturers that make IWB holsters for the Glock 26, but we really like what Tenicor is doing. Having several holsters that we run through, we always seem to return to the Tenicor Velo.
With these three accessories, you’ve taken a proven Glock platform and elevated it into a formidable concealed carry pistol.
Basic Maintenance of a Glock 26
Conclusion
Glock is already a great company with a storied history that is continually written in ingenuity and technological advancements.
The Gen 5 Glock 26 is specifically made to be a concealed carry pistol, capable of accurately hitting its target at similar ranges to full-sized pistols. The dual recoil spring assembly absorbs some of the force from the explosion and gives the shooter a noticeably lower-felt recoil.
I would use this gun as a concealed carry pistol for law enforcement and carrying in public events. It also fits perfectly in any size purse, without adding a lot of weight.
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