The above picture is a screen grab from an auction that’s listed and it uncovered a previously unknown variant, but it also brought up an interested sub-set of rare Glocks: import marked models.

The early early guns had Austrian proof marks but there are some random models that have shown up in the US not only with the proof marks (designated being produced in Austrian but NOT intended for the US market) but also have import marks. This would indicate the gun was made for and sold to a non-US market and was imported later on in it’s life. CAI is and has been a major importer so a lot of these with have that import marking somewhere on the gun.

What’s interesting about the 17L posted here is the the only visible import stamps are on the slide–and I’m no expert, but I believe that the frame would have to be stamped to make it legal for importation. So not only is it rare to get one here with the import marks at all, this one was potentially mis-marked. (feel free to send hate mail if I’m off on my importation rules)

The models that I have observed at auction thus far include: 2 Gen 17L, 3 Gen 17L, 19 (commonly called the “Obama Glocks”), 22, & 23. While I am SURE there are more examples that have been brought in over the last thirty years, I don’t like to add anything to the known list without confirmation. Come to think of it, I HAVE added some early Gen 1 17s that predate US importation (duotones) that I know were personally imported by a fellow collector–but that’s a whole other topic.

Always keep a sharp eye out, these gems are out there if you know what you’re looking for.