Gaston Glock, the Austrian engineer who transitioned from crafting curtain rods to pioneering globally renowned handguns, passed away at the age of 94 on Wednesday.
Glock Inc. officially confirmed the founder’s death on the company’s website, providing no specific cause of death.
The website displayed a solemn tribute, “In Memoriam Gaston Glock 07/19/1929 – 12/27/2023,” accompanied by a photo of Glock in a dark suit and maroon tie, standing with crossed arms against a black backdrop.
Acknowledging Glock’s profound impact, the company stated that he not only revolutionized the small arms industry in the 1980s but also established the Glock brand as a standout leader in the global handgun industry.
The Glock pistol, widely favored by law enforcement agencies, gained recognition in blockbuster movies such as “Die Hard 2” and “U.S. Marshals” and found mention in numerous rap songs, including Wu-Tang Clan’s “Da Glock.”
Born in Vienna, Austria, in 1929, Glock’s company initially supplied knives and bayonets to the Austrian Army in the 1970s. In 1980, he identified the army’s need for a new handgun.
Despite not personally owning a handgun, Glock assembled experts to assist in creating the “pistol of the future.” Throughout the project, he underwent training on handguns and test-fired prototypes with his left hand, ensuring the continuity of his design work in case of accidents.
The result was the Glock 17, a groundbreaking semi-automatic handgun made from industrial plastic or polymer, featuring a magazine capacity of 17 rounds and an additional round in the chamber.
The Austrian Army adopted the Glock as its new service pistol in 1983, and the Norwegian Army followed suit the next year, designating it as their standard sidearm.
Glock’s influence extended to the United States, where the company established its headquarters in Smyrna, Georgia, in 1985, claiming that over 65% of U.S. federal, state, and local agencies have been equipped with Glock pistols.
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