Umarex is the first company that was licensed by Glock to make replicas of their handguns. About three years ago, they released the first seven models of licensed Glock airsoft and BB guns and ever since they’ve been continuously adding replicas of other Glock pistol models. Recently, the company has expanded their line of licensed Glock products into another category they are specialized in – blank firing guns. Umarex has introduced their first blank firing Glock replica (Glock 17 Gen5) chambered in 9mm P.A.K.

Note the 9mm P.A.K. caliber marking on the slide of the new Umarex blank firing Glock 17 Gen5 replica.

The new Umarex blank firing Glock 17 Gen5 replica looks and feels like the real firearm – it is dimensionally identical to the real gun, has a reversible magazine catch, 17-round magazine, interchangeable backstraps, etc. However, its internal design and the operating mechanism are different from the real Glock 17. As in the case of many other 9mm P.A.K. conversions of locked-breech handguns, this one is also a simple blowback gun with a fixed barrel. Judging by the parts diagram seen in the user manual of this pistol (see below), the barrel is attached to a separate chassis which is then installed into the polymer frame. As you can see, there are a number of other parts that are different from the original gun.

The fixed barrel also changes the disassembly process. As shown in the user manual, after pulling down the slide lock tabs, instead of pushing forward the slide/barrel assembly like in the real gun, one must pull back the slide of this replica, lift its rear portion up to disengage the rails and then move the slide forward to clear the barrel – similar to Walther PP/PPK slide disassembly.

A couple of other notable differences are the construction of the magazine and follower as well as the recoil spring design.

Note the follower extension protruding from the side of the magazine body. Presumably, that’s what activates the slide stop.

According to Umarex, the recoil spring consists of “main spring, tender spring and rubber buffer for providing a realistic recoil“.

One of the main reasons for the existence of guns like this is the restrictive gun control legislation of some countries. In many countries, real handguns are banned or extremely hard to acquire and a blank firing replica like this is the only alternative in addition to airsoft and BB guns. Besides firing blank cartridges, there are also 9mm P.A.K. cartridges with a load of an irritant compound which makes these guns also useable as non-lethal self-defense firearms. Also, the pistol has a screw-in muzzle attachment that allows launching signal cartridges and fireworks.

Below is shown how the signal cartridge muzzle attachment is installed. On the top, a signal/fireworks cartridge is inserted into the installed muzzle attachment.

A box of 9mm P.A.K. blank cartridges.

Images by Umarex, www.umarex.com