Glock 17

Glock Model 17 full-sized, semiautomatic, self-loading pistol.  After development and dismissal of 16 prototypes, the G17 was ready for commercial production and soon thereafter became both the standard issue sidearm for the Austrian Army as well as all NATO forces.  It was revolutionary at its introduction because the grip, frame, trigger, magazine, guide rod, sights, and other small internal parts are made of a high-strength light weight polymer rather than metal.  It also features multiple automatic safeties, eliminating the need for a manual thumb safety and thus speeding up the draw and firing.  Since its introduction, the G17 has gone through three major revisions, and this particular pistol is of the third generation as indicated by the railed frame, scalloped grip, and improved magazine of 17-round capacity.  It is chambered for 9 x 19 mm NATO (9mm Luger), a round not popular in the US, but universal as a combat pistol cartridge nearly everywhere else.  This was the pistol I used during police academy training.