Glock Switch Keychain

A Glock switch keychain is a small device that attaches to the rear of the slide of a Glock handgun, converting the semi-automatic pistol into a machine pistol capable of fully automatic fire. Glock does not manufacture switches to be attached to their firearms, nor do they design their firearms with the intent of having conversion devices for machine guns installed. They are aftermarket parts manufactured and sold illegally through the black market.

As a type of auto-sear, it functions by applying force to the trigger bar to prevent it from limiting fire to one round of ammunition per trigger pull. This device, regardless of whether it is installed on a slide, is classified by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) as a machine gun, making its possession illegal in the United States under most circumstances.

A Glock switch keychain is, in reality, a whole replacement piece for your Glock’s rear cover plate. The rear cover plate features a select-fire switch or a button in order to flip the firearm from semi-auto to full-auto fire. This, according to the ATF’s definition of a machine gun, makes the Glock switch an NFA item that would otherwise be illegal to own without ATF approval.

Glock Switch Keychain for Sale 

WHAT IS A GLOCK SWITCH, & HOW DOES IT WORK?

A Glock switch is a machine gun conversion device that allows for full-auto fire.

In a normal, unmodified Glock, when the trigger is pressed, the gun fires, and the slide reciprocates, partially cocking the trigger. The trigger bar prevents the firing pin from being released for a second time until the trigger is released and pulled a second time.

This function prohibits full-auto fire and creates a semi-automatic firearm—your typical, everyday Glock pistol.

However, when a Glock switch is installed, the device applies force to the trigger bar. This prevents the bar from catching and resetting the firing pin after a shot is fired.

The effect is a full-auto firearm—meaning, the gun will fire as long as the trigger is held down and as long as the magazine contains ammunition.

Due to the short slide travel of a semi-auto firearm, the rate of fire reaches nearly 1,200 rounds per minute (RPM). For comparison, something like the purpose-built M240B machine gun fires around 650 RPM.

Glock does produce a machine pistol, the Glock 18, which is full auto. It does not use a switch, though. Instead, the G18 is integrally automatic.

Glock switches, on the other hand, are aftermarket parts produced by other companies (sometimes, even using the Glock logo).

To be completely clear, Glock is not making Glock switches.

Glock switches are auto sears designed for use on Glock pistols. They attach to the back of a Glock’s slide and interfere with the internal trigger mechanisms to allow for fully automatic firing. It’s also important to note that these devices are not manufactured by Glock, even if they are branded or referred to as such.

In essence, the switch has a small protrusion called a “disconnector” that holds the Glock’s trigger bar down, allowing the striker to continue firing as the slide reciprocates with recoil. This produces a lot of wear and tear on the pistol’s smaller internal parts because they are not meant for this consistently high rate of fire, at roughly 1,200 rounds per minute.

However, some designs omit the selector entirely and only allow for fully automatic firing. These “backplate” auto sears don’t extend from the rear of the slide, making them harder to recognize.

Glock Switch for Sale

ORIGIN OF THE GLOCK SWITCH

A Venezuelan man named Jorge Leon is widely credited with the creation of the first Glock switch.

Leon claims he created the conversion device in 1987 with the intention of selling it to the military and police, but his patent wasn’t filed until 1996. It was approved in 1998, and Leon would only sell to qualified individuals, though it’s unclear if he sold any, even to those who qualified.

In 2016, the patent expired, and any ability for him to prevent the proliferation of these devices was effectively null. He has disavowed any illegal use of the device and gone so far as to say he regrets every patent for it.

Social Media Craze

Like anything else out there, the Glock Switch has cheap, affordable, and abundant imitations. Around 2019, more and more social media footage of illegally converted full-auto Glock pistols started to be posted. Many of these videos, posted often, seemed to feature firearms in the hands of children or being used in areas other than gun ranges. The ATF later recovered thousands of knock-off Glock switches coming from China and often sold through online discount stores.

Since these companies don’t face any sort of financial or legal repercussions for shipping these illegal devices straight to your door, thousands of them wound up in the hands of irresponsible gun owners who, in turn, chose to install and operate these switches—typically on social media. After all, who can resist the chance to fire a full-auto Glock?

3D printers also got in on the buzz-plate craze, and as a result, the ATF also started chasing down not only Chinese-imported Glock switches but 3D-printed ones as well. While the STL files for these devices are not illegal (you could, in theory, legally manufacture one if you owned the proper licenses), the ATF certainly still considers a printed Glock full-auto sear a machine gun.

Full Auto Functionality?

As cool as a full-auto Glock sounds (because it is), a full-auto machine pistol without a stock isn’t exactly the most useful thing in any combat arena. Real-world experience and evidence show us that even stocked machine pistols like the Glock 18 have very poor accuracy, and therefore, we don’t see a lot of real-world use for these types of guns. That’s certainly why in the last couple of years, we’ve seen them mostly in the hands of people who aren’t military or law enforcement—they’re just fun to shoot. For the most part, full-auto fire is also mostly just for fun these days for most of us, so I can see why these devices, illegal as they are right now, might take off in popularity, especially when they are so affordable and easy to install on a commonly available handgun.

Glock Switch

The Legal Risks of Glock Switches

Let’s be real—owning or even possessing a Glock switch without the proper ATF approval is a fast track to serious legal trouble. These devices are classified as machine guns under federal law, meaning they fall under the National Firearms Act (NFA). If you’re caught with one, you’re looking at up to 10 years in federal prison and fines of up to $250,000. The ATF has been cracking down hard on these illegal devices, especially the ones flooding in from overseas or being 3D-printed at home. Bottom line? It’s not worth the risk.

ARE GLOCK SWITCHES LEGAL?

Conversion switches, a.k.a. Glock switch keychain, are illegal under the NFA, which regulates machine guns and imposes stiff fines and criminal penalties for illegal machine guns.

Simple possession of such a conversion switch can lead to 10 years in federal prison. Using a Glock switch in a crime mandates a federal crime with a 30-year minimum sentence. A second offense calls for life in prison.

New production of transferable machine guns was banned in 1986. Any machine gun produced after 1986 can only be transferred to law enforcement, military, and FFLs (Federal Firearm Licensees) with appropriate licenses and special occupational taxes.

While a Glock switch by itself is not a machine gun, its ability to easily convert a Glock into a machine gun means it’s regulated the same as an actual machine gun.

FAQs

How inaccurate is a Glock switch?

A Glock switch makes the firearm extremely difficult to control, leading to poor accuracy. Without a stock or stabilizer, rapid fire often results in missed shots.

Are Glock switches illegal?

Yes, Glock switches are classified as machine guns under the ATF’s definition. They are illegal to own or use without proper ATF approval and licensing.

How does a Glock switch work?

A Glock switch replaces the rear cover plate and forces the trigger bar to bypass the semi-auto mechanism, enabling full-auto fire with a single trigger pull.

What does a Glock switch look like?

It’s a small device, often the size of a thumb, that replaces the Glock’s rear slide cover plate. Some versions include a selector switch to toggle between semi and full-auto modes.

How to legally own a Glock switch?

To legally own one, you must obtain proper licensing from the ATF, such as a Class 3 license, and the firearm must have been registered as a transferable machine gun before 1986.

What is a Glock switch keychain?

It’s a form of Glock auto switch designed to resemble a keychain. While small and discreet, it functions the same way when installed on a compatible model.

What is a drop-in auto sear?

A small device placed inside an AR-15 lower receiver that enables automatic fire without altering the receiver’s design.

Do you ship worldwide?

Yes, shipping is available to most countries with discreet labeling.