The Glock 42 "Rainbow" is a .380 ACP semi-automatic pistol with a Rainbow Titanium PVD slide finish on a standard polymer frame. It weighs 12.3 oz., has a 3.26-inch barrel with a 1-in-9.84 twist rate, and an overall length of 5.98 inches. Capacity is 6+1 rounds and two magazines are included. Trigger pull averages approximately 5.5 lbs. Sights are white dot front, white outline rear. 
 

Key Specifications 

• Model: Glock 42 "Rainbow" 
• Caliber: .380 ACP 
• Barrel Length: 3.26 inches 
• Overall Length: 5.98 inches 
• Capacity: 6+1 rounds (two magazines included) 
• Weight: 12.3 oz. 
• Frame Material: Polymer 
• Slide Finish: Rainbow Titanium PVD 
• Trigger Pull Average: Approximately 5.5 lbs. 
• Safety Features: Safe Action Safeties 
• Front Sight: White Dot 
• Rear Sight: White Outline 
   

Detailed Features 

The Safe Action system has three passive safeties built into the trigger and firing mechanism - it won't fire unless the trigger is deliberately pulled. The rifled barrel's 1-in-9.84 twist is standard for .380 ACP. The rainbow PVD finish is a titanium nitride treatment applied to the slide; it's durable and adds corrosion resistance. At 12.3 oz the G42 is light even among .380 pistols. 
 

Usage Scenarios 

The G42's size and weight are its main selling points for concealed carry - at 5.98 inches overall and under a pound loaded, it's easy to conceal in a variety of carry positions. For range use and practice, the .380 ACP generates minimal recoil, which makes extended sessions less fatiguing.

The Glock 42 Rainbow gets attention partly for its finish and partly for the platform itself.

On the practical side, owners consistently mention the carry weight - 12.3 oz is genuinely light for a belt or pocket carry, and the 5.98-inch overall length disappears under most cover garments. Glock reliability is a known quantity and the 42 doesn't seem to diverge from that; most owners report clean function with standard .380 loads. The two-magazine box is a straightforward plus.

The .380 ACP caliber generates the usual debate. Some carriers are comfortable with it for close-range self-defense given the manageable recoil and compact format. Others would prefer 9mm and consider the G42's footprint too close to the G43 to justify the smaller cartridge. Neither camp is wrong - it's a genuine trade-off.

The rainbow finish splits opinion. Owners who bought it specifically for the look are usually happy with it; more traditional buyers sometimes feel it reads as non-serious. Either way, the PVD treatment is durable and functional.

Price is occasionally flagged - the G42 sits at the higher end of .380 compacts - but most owners consider Glock's quality and resale value a fair exchange.