None are so blind as those who refuse to see.
Do not count any KB with a reload. Only count KB's with factory ammunition. There HAVE been enough reports from various Law Enforcement agencies, to establish that it is and has been a problem.
I witnessed a model 21 KB about 9 years ago, I knew the guy, and he only used factory ammo. At the time he was running Remington UMC, 230gr.
Glock KB"S Primarily to 40 cal, and to a lessor degree 45 acp.
The Glocks with the problem do have something in common. The Glock 40 is an over bored 9mm just as the the 45 is an over bored 10mm (40).
I was involved with some engineers several years ago, that sent several Glock barrels for metallurgic exam.
The opinion was that the particularly the 40 and to a lessor degree the 45 Glocks had minimal safe amount of steel for their alloy. They think that a quality control problem with the tennifer process was probably the reason that a few Glocks KB'd. That point being that the process would either leave the rare barrel either to brittle or soft.
Put that together with a factory round on the high side of normal range of pressure, would create the occasional true KB.
This cannot be proven by the sources we had available to us at that time. I no longer live where I have access to these guys, and most of them have moved on, as I did.
For folks who think if Glock has a problem that the lawyers would stop them. Well historically Gaston has been and is fanatical about keeping things secret.
Look at the 4 non recall, recalls GLOCK has had during it's history. Starting back around 1990, ending with the 'E' series frame exchange program. There may be more that I am not aware of.
Talk to armour's in agencies that have shooting 40 & 45 Glocks for any length of time. Most of them are not kool aide drinkers.
Some one mentioned all the competitions that Glock had won in regards to reliability.
Please show me where I can find one certified test. All the ones I know of show the Glock not finishing first. Last that I am aware of was when Ohio State Police were looking for a replacement for their unreliable Berretta 96's.
In that test SIG finished 1&2,followed closely by HK and Glock. The functional difference between the weapons was very small, so as not to be significant. Interesting point is that all makers 45 acp pistols DNF'd. Not one 45 made it through the tests. Only the 40's. (the test was of 40 and 45's only.)
Glocks strength for Law enforcement is, reasonably reliable, rugged, cheap, easy and cheap to maintain. accurate enough.
Frankly if I decided to equip a dept in 40 S%W or 45 acp I would not choose a Glock, for safety reasons.
In 9mm, Glock really shines. Of course that is the caliber it was designed for. Interestingly enough, I have yet to see any reports of any problems with the 357SIG or 10mm models. I have personally seen a 20 come apart, but it was with a reload, and I never blame a weapon for a reload problem.
I have seen many Glocks break. Most were appropriate, a few were not. Appropriate meaning that wear and tear via number of rounds were such that a failure was find. Friend of mine had his 23 shear both rear rails, I was an 'E' series frame. He had about 27,000 round through it.
Another had the lugs on the barrel of his model 17 shear, but the gun had over 170,000 (yea, one hundred seventy thousand) rounds through it. No problem with any breakage that gun could have.
I like the price of Glock parts, and the ease to maintain the gun. I am presently down to only 3 Glocks. All 9mm. I have never been a fan of the 40, in any make, and I got rid of my Glock 45's after my friends destroyed it's self. I have owned about 19 different Glocks. Never cared for it for CCW though.
By the way, I have never seen a Glock failure cause any more than Band-aid type injuries.
So there you have it. I presently am campaigning in Steel challenge with a Glock 34, and I just acquired a Glock 19, I really like it.
I just don't see the Glocks replacing my Hipowers or 1911's at this time. I have never seen a Hipower KB, although I am sure some have. I have seen many 1911's KB. Everyone of them was by Reloads.
There you have it. I like Glocks but I don't worship Gaston's products.
Right now there are a bunch of very good and quality sidearms out there. They are all pretty well made. Most are very reliable. The differences these days are more of parts availability and ease of maintenance, and personal fit and feel. Glock, SIG and 1911's, Hipowers pass that test for me. I have not owned a XD, HK, Berretta, Walther, S&W etc... So I cannot pass judgment on them. But if I cannot get a part or parts, or need a gunsmith to replace certain parts, I am not interested in the weapon.
So I look at Glocks for what they are. A tool. Pretty good, not the best in some area's, not the worst in other area's, just a good tool.
Can't we all just get along?
Go figure.
Fred
I'm not saying that other guns do not blow up. I'm a mechanical engineer and I know that everything will fail eventually. EVERYTHING. I'm saying that Glocks are known for it. It's their #1 claim to fame in the firearms world. I've actually heard people on the range say, "Don't stand behind that guy, he's shooting a Glock .40!" 
