Select Fire Devices Found on Glock Firearms Seized by Western Australia Police

By: Senior Constable Steven Pavlovich, Forensic Firearms Examiner, Licensing Enforcement

Division, Western Australia Police. (steven.pavlovich@police.wa.gov.au)

Keywords: Glock, Select Fire, Fully Automatic, Conversions, Modifications.

ABSTRACT

A review of various modifications to Glock firearms seized by Western Australia Police is outlined.

These modifications involve converting semi-automatic to fully automatic by the use of both

commercially available select fire ‘kits’ and home-made mechanical alterations. This research may

provide useful information for other policing agencies and forensic firearm laboratories by providing a

snapshot of some of the techniques being utilised in this jurisdiction to facilitate illegal conversions to

fully automatic fire in semi-automatic Glock pistols.

__________________________________________________________________________________

Introduction Before discussing select fire devices and mechanical alterations some information on the Glock pistol is provided, with suggested reasons for its huge popularity. Glock‟s reputation has given rise to the „mystique and desirability‟ of this pistol and large retail markets provide all models with attachments and accessories designed to enhance it. The author can think of no other firearm with such a proliferation of accessories, parts, conversions and alterations available. An indicator of the popularity of Glock pistols can be seen when conducting internet searches. A search using „GLOCK‟ returned over 26,000,000 results whereas a search of the broader term „FIREARM‟ returned only around 25,000,000 results. This is interesting when one considers that another search using „COLT FIREARMS‟ and SMITH & WESSON returned 4,700,000 and 10,800,000 results respectively. In 1985 Glock began marketing their pistol in the USA and misinformation about the pistol

began to accumulate. Inaccurate information on Glock pistols was often due to popular

media and the following is given as one example, spoken by actor Bruce WILLIS, as John

McClane in the 1990 film “Die Hard 2: Die Harder;

“That punk pulled a Glock 7 on me, you know what that is? It's a porcelain gun made in

Germany. It doesn't show up on your airport metal detectors and probably costs more than

what you make in a month."

Of course this is not true, there never was “a porcelain Glock 7” and all Glock pistols have

metal components such as slides and barrels.

The Glock brand name and Glock pistols are arguably one of the best known and most

readily identified firearms in the world today. The appearance of Glock handguns on

television and in movies is well documented. The constant appearance of Glock pistols in all

forms of popular entertainment media such as television dramas and movies and on social

media sites such as YouTube, Facebook and others has had the effect of exposing the public

at large to the „mystique of the Glock pistol‟, it‟s the pistol that never misses, always keeps

working and never seems to run out of ammunition and is the preferred choice of heroes

and villains alike. Who wouldn‟t want a gun like that! Never let facts get in the way of a

good story…and so the Glock legend grows.

Glock pistols and Firearm Trafficking The Glock pistol has several characteristics, such as light weight, high magazine capacity, durability, compactness and ease of maintenance that could make it a desirable choice for organised crime groups in Australia as this news article dated March 2012 seems to suggest. “Two men appeared before Sutherland Local Court yesterday after police smashed a global gun trafficking syndicate operating out of Sylvania Waters Post Office and a nearby shipping business. Police allege a criminal ring was responsible for importing illegal Glock hand guns from Germany to Sylvania Waters that were being sold to bikie and Middle Eastern gangs…the licensee of the Sylvania Waters Australia Post branch, is accused of importing 26 Glock pistols...A NSW Police media spokeswoman said the firearms and organized crime squad allegedly seized 140 Glock magazines contained in a parcel at the post office”1 But why did this criminal group choose Glock pistols? Was it just an opportunistic grab for any available firearms or were there other, purposeful considerations. In Western Australia over the past three years, 16 Glock handguns have been recorded as seized by Police i.e. unlicensed firearms seized as a result of criminal investigations. Can any inferences be drawn from such a relatively small number of seized Glock firearms? Examining the circumstances surrounding these firearms, it seems that most of these firearms were seized by the WA Police Organized Crime Squad and Gang crime Squad, and/or as a result of Drug Warrant searches. Further, the circumstances in which they were seized have also included:

commercial quantities of illicit drugs

large quantities of money

large quantities of ammunition

possession of other illicit firearms

known serial offenders or significant Persons of Interest The continued activities of Australian Police jurisdictions combating the proliferation of trafficked firearms has received considerable media coverage, and the seizure of Glock pistols and magazines as described in the media article must have an effect upon organised crime groups dealing in the „commodity‟ of trafficked firearms. Cause and effect dictates that any reduction in the availability of such firearms will drive up the prices of black market guns especially handguns. As the prices of trafficked handguns continues to rise, which are now believed to be about AUS $15,000 per gun as reported in the „The Australian‟ newspaper, 4 September 20132, I would predict that Glock pistols will continue to command premium prices within illicit firearm markets.

The high prices that can be achieved by the illegal firearm trade have a number of unwanted and flow-on effects for Australian law enforcement agencies, such as:

1. Targeted thefts to obtain Glock pistols from licensed holders.

2. Organised crime groups specifically targeting Firearm Dealers to obtain firearms, parts and accessories.

3. Stimulate further development of organised firearm trafficking syndicates in Australia taking advantage of more profitable illegal markets, particularly handguns. Inadequate legislation and penalties associated with the seizures of illegal and illegally obtained firearms might be interpreted by such groups that the trafficking of firearms is a „low risk‟, „low penalty‟ enterprise.

4. Stimulate the development of illicit firearm markets in South East Asia. Illegal firearm availability in Thailand (possibly 6,000,000 unregistered firearms) and 1,000,000 in Indonesia.

5. Stimulate the continuing development of illegal firearm manufacturing activities. For example in Danao City in the province of Cebu, Philippines there has developed a illegal firearm manufacturing industry producing thousands of illegal firearms (and firearm components) each year. The availability of cheap firearms either commercially manufactured or locally made in these areas makes the threat of illegal firearms or firearm parts and components‟ being sourced from South East Asia very real indeed. (the Philippines is reported to have approximately 3,000,000 illicit firearms)

It is possible that instances of theft of Glock pistols from legitimate owners could be a marker for activity by firearm trafficking syndicates, indicating either the presence of a „cash buyer‟ facilitating firearm thefts or a „high end firearm trafficker‟ selling to individuals or gangs having the money to purchase these expensive and desirable handguns. This is of course my own opinion based upon my own observations and experience in the Western Australia policing context. So what are the reasons for the popularity of the Glock in licit and illicit firearm markets? Reasons for the popularity of the Glock handgun may include-

1. Glock firearms are easily disassembled into interchangeable component parts. No special training or tools are required. Parts can be identified easily and competency in the assembly/disassembly of Glock pistols can be achieved in a very short period of time as the process is very well demonstrated in countless internet video demonstrations.

2. The Glock pistol continues to be a popular choice of club shooters throughout

Australia; hence Firearm Dealers and Firearm Repairers in Australia carry a wide range of component parts and spares.

3. The most popular Glock pistols utilise 9 x 19mm calibre and .40 S&W calibre ammunition and can accommodate a variety of high capacity magazines. Such ammunition is known to be available on Australian illicit markets in large quantities.

4. The simplicity of the mechanism and the sturdiness of its construction allows for a variety of aftermarket modifications such as shoulder stocks, grips, laser sights, extended magazines, internal components and a variety of select fire devices.

5. All Glock compatible modifications and devices require no special training or tools

for fitment. They are extremely well documented and available for purchase on Internet sites.

6. The Glock pistol is an extremely reliable design and potentially will remain serviceable for many decades.

7. Glock handguns command a significant place as a trafficked firearm because the brand-name is widely known and is easily recognised. As the black market prices of handguns continues to rise it is highly likely that the Glock pistol will continue to command premium prices. Illegal firearm manufacturers do not seem to produce Glock copies.

How the Glock Functions3

Glock pistols can be generally categorised as short-recoil, locked breech firearms with the exception of a couple of models which utilise blowback operation.

When the trigger of a Glock pistol is pulled, the striker is cocked and the trigger bar is cammed downward enabling the striker to go forward (Figure 1) and fire the chambered cartridge. The slide moves backward moving the connector inwards allowing the trigger bar to position itself ready to allow the striker to be held by the cruciform. Releasing the trigger will reset the connector with the trigger bar tip in preparation for the next shot.

Figure 1: Partially disassembled Glock pistol.

Figure 2 shows a fully disassembled Glock pistol; however the basic field stripping procedure is much simpler and will break down the pistol into slide, barrel, recoil spring and frame within a matter of seconds.

Figure 2: Fully disassembled Glock pistol

The inter-changeability of all parts means that a Glock pistol can be assembled from any

collection of spare parts from any available source, not only will they fit but they will work.

Many older pistol designs from other manufacturers require an experienced person to „fit‟

the part, to ensure functionality.

Select Fire Conversion Devices –

i. What are they?

Definition: A separate device of generic manufacture which can be fitted to a semi-automatic firearm, allowing select fire or fully automatic fire only modes.

Glock manufacture their own select fire pistols known as the Model 18 or 18C (compensated). A selector switch is machined into the left hand side of the slide which has the ability to contact and push the trigger bar downward at the correct moment to facilitate automatic fire.

The most popular after market conversion methods do not use this left hand side switch position at all, but utilise a supremely simple method of replacing the slide cover plate with another cover plate which is fitted with a „selector tail‟ which acts upon the trigger bar at the right moment allowing automatic fire.

ii. How they work.

Variant 1; this select fire conversion is the oldest select fire conversion style, first documented in the 1990‟s. This method would now be considered an obsolete conversion style.

Figure 3: Book cover from “The Glock Exotic Weapons System”4

The image above shows the book cover from an anonymous offering on the Internet, perhaps more „ersatz‟5 than exotic.

Figure 4: Photo showing the type select fire mechanism used

Variant 2; these commercially manufactured devices are available in fully automatic mode only (see pictures below) which means there is nothing visible or protruding from the back of the slide that would give away any fully automatic capabilities.6 The example shown in Figure 5 shows a slide cover plate in „fully automatic only‟ configuration – i.e., no selector switch.

Figure 5

Variant 3; this is by far the most common variant incorporating a select fire „switch‟ which means the pistol can be fired in „fully automatic‟ or „semi automatic‟ mode. These devices have been available for many years and rely on a system which enables the trigger bar cruciform to be pushed out of engagement with the firing pin tail at the appropriate moment. Their popularity has resulted in many variations of the design of the select fire switch-work only.

A U.S. patent document explains and shows the process clearly (Figure 6).

„A device for converting a semi-automatic gun into an automatic gun, the gun having a trigger bar, a reciprocating slide, and a longitudinal firing mechanism….the device comprising: a member mountable on the reciprocating slide of the gun and in operative relationship with the trigger bar of the gun, the member moveable into an activating longitudinal position in which contact between the member and a contact area of the trigger bar occurs to urge the trigger bar away from its first position thereby effecting automatic operation of the gun,…‟ 7

Figure 6: Operating cycle8

Figure 7: US Patent Drawing No. 5,705,763

This U.S. Patent drawing9 No. 5,705,763 shows internal trigger linkages and contact points utilised by the select fire device (Figure 7). ` The conversion is fast and simple, replacing the polymer slide cover plate with the select fire device in about 1 minute. Whatever conversion device is used the expected cyclic rate will be approx 1200 rounds per minute. Figure 8 shows a Glock compatible Select Fire Kit available for purchase from an internet auction site and are advertised as…”80% complete…100% legal to own…and are sold as collectors or novelty items.” Although it is stated that machining is required to complete these items, most of the hard work seems to have been done.

Figure 8

Fully automatic

position

Select fire device in

semi automatic mode

Select Fire Devices and Select Fire Modifications that have been recorded or examined recorded by Western Australia Police.

1. IMS receipt number 280810 0450 10751 (Figure 9). (also seized; 193 x 9mm rounds +

spare Glock Magazine + large quantity of drugs reported but not located)

Figure 9: Glock Model 17

Figure 10 shows the select fire device fitted to a Glock Model 17, 9 x 19 mm calibre. This

mechanism is visually crude and clumsy although still fully functional.

Figure 10

Position 1: Full Automatic mode

Position 2: Semi-Automatic mode

Automatic actuator tail

Figure 11

Figure 11 shows the actuator arm and its retaining pin in its crude hand finished form.

Automatic fire actuator

arm

Actuator arm pivot pin

Figure 12

Figure 12 shows the somewhat clumsy select fire conversion mechanism as adapted to this

Glock Model 17. This is an adaption of the mechanism described in the publication “The

Glock Exotic Weapons System”10

Removal of Trigger housing material

Actuator arm pivot pin

Metal has been removed from the edge

of the trigger bar cruciform to facilitate

the in-line positioning and operation of

the actuator arm.

actuator arm

2. IMS receipt number-Unknown, Fitted to Glock Mod 22, .40 S&W calibre. (Figure 13,

Figure 14, Figure 15.)

Figure 13

Figure 14: Select Fire switch set to semi-automatic fire mode

These types of conversions can be readily identified because of the crude „manufacture‟ of

the visible parts of the device.

Figure 15

3. IMS receipt number 010111 0130 12727. (Figure 16) (also seized; 129 x 9mm rounds +

3 x spare Glock Magazines, Glock magazine loader + shoulder holster + 30 g

methylamphetamine).

Figure 16: Select Fire Device fitted to Glock pistol

Semi-automatic mode selected

Actuator arm cut-out to clear

rear of polymer frame

Contact surface to depress

and operate activator arm

Cam surface designed to contact

and depress trigger bar cruciform

Figure 17 shows a Glock Model 19, 9 x 19 mm calibre fitted with a particularly well made

and unobtrusive select fire device. This example could be further dismantled to remove the

lever.

Figure 17: showing fully automatic mode selected.

Figure 18

In Figure 18 the ragged notch seen at the rear of the frame is necessary to accommodate the

„tail‟ of the select fire device in a position low enough to contact the trigger bar cruciform at

the appropriate moment to facilitate the automatic fire mode. It is an indicator of select fire

device usage.

Figure 19: Select fire device fitted to a Glock slide.

The select fire device when fitted to the Glock slide shows solid construction and tight

tolerances. The longevity of this device could be considerable.

4. IMS receipt number 150212 0725 7440. (Figure 20) (also seized; Glock buyers

handbook + 5 x spare Glock magazines (associated seizure IMS 150212 1445 7440; 8 x

30 round Glock magazines) + 80 x 9 mm rounds + Glock gun cleaning equipment + 2

x spare barrels (Glock compatible) + 63 g methylamphetamine).

Figure 20: Select Fire Device IMS receipt number 150212 0725 7440

Select fire device set to

automatic fire setting

The device shown in Figure 21 was seized in association with the Glock carbine kit shown as

the picture insert in Figure 24. The select fire device had not been adapted for use with the

Glock carbine kit, which was supplied with its own slide cover plate (Figure 23) with

attached cocking handle.

Figure 21: Cocking handle shown with integral slide cover plate (Carbine Kit)

The cocking handle supplied with the Glock compatible carbine kit could easily be made

suitable for fully automatic fire by the addition of a disconnector bar.

5. IMS receipt number 300506093084498. (Figure 22) This item was seized by Australian Customs and forwarded WA Police for examination.

Figure 22: A.F.S. brand slide cover plate with built in disconnector „tail‟.

Further considerations

The Glock pistol design allows easy modification into “select fire” or “full auto only” modes.

This modification can be achieved using a variety of „low tech‟ methods, but all rely on the

disengagement of the trigger bar from the striker tail at the appropriate moment in the firing

cycle.

Police officers and law enforcement organisations should endeavour to understand this

simple mechanism and by doing so will be able to identify any of these devices should they

be received attached to a firearm or received in component parts.

1. 3D Printed components

Figure 23: CAD drawing-Full Auto only11 .

Figure 23 shows a CAD drawing of a Glock compatible slide cover plate facilitating fully

automatic fire only. Interestingly, this one piece design has no moving parts and would be

suitable as a candidate for 3D printing.

A 3D printed full auto device „could' possess sufficient strength to facilitate fully automatic

fire when fitted to a Glock pistol, bearing in mind that advancements in technology might

mean that this device could be printed in a metal alloy which would increase the longevity

of the device in service.

The use of 3D printers to produce parts such as these, present police officers with a new era

of challenges relating to the illicit manufacture of all types of firearm components.

2. Select fire accessories

Figure 24: shows a website12 advertising Glock carbine compatible select fire kits.

The photo insert in Figure 24 shows a „Fab Defence-KPOS‟ brand Glock compatible folding

stock carbine kit with fitted a Glock pistol, it is this type of carbine kit for which the

extended cocking handle has been designed and in this instance has been commercially

produced as a select fire device.

Figure 25

Figure 25 shows a selection cocking handles available for purchase from a Philippines

internet sales site13. The proliferation of Glock compatible parts and accessories has

increased markedly over the past few years, it is also my opinion that the production quality

of these parts and accessories has also greatly improved.

‘Any opinions outlined in this report are the views of the author and should not be taken as the view

of the Western Australia Police.’

1 Monica Heary and Emma Partridge., “Global Gun Trafficking Ring Arrests”, St George & Sutherland Shire Leader, March 14, 2012. 2 Box, Dan., “Australian Police Crackdown Drives Gun Cost Up”, „The Australian‟ newspaper article, 4 Sep 2013. 3 Sweeny, Patrick., The Gun Digest Book of the Glock, 2nd Edition, Gun Digest Books 2008 4 Anonymous.,The Glock Exotic Weapons System, Paladin Press, 2001 5 An ersatz (German pronunciation: [ɛr z̍ats]) thing is an inferior substitute for an item.

6 Perfect Union., <http://www.perfectunion.com/vb/semi-auto-handgun-talk/54238-glock-22-a.html>

Accessed 2012 Aug 28 7 Leon, Jorge, United States Patent Number 5,705,763,.Fire Selector System for selecting between Automatic and

Semi-Automatic Operation of a Gun. Jan. 6, 1998 8 Ibid, Sheet 2 of 6. 9 Leon, Jorge, United States Patent Number 5,705,763,.Fire Selector System for selecting between Automatic and

Semi-Automatic Operation of a Gun. Jan. 6, 1998 10 Anonymous.,The Glock Exotic Weapons System, Paladin Press, 2001 11 “Silencer Talk and Modern Rifle”

<http://www.silencertalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=53&t=7782&start=150>accessed 04Sep2013 12

“sulit.com.ph”,.http://www.sulit.com.ph/index.php/view+classifieds/id/20408544/accessed 04SEP2013 13

Ibid,