Gaston Glock (July 19, 1929 – December 27, 2023)

Gaston Glock, an icon in the world of pistol design and manufacturing has passed at the age of 94. We should be forever grateful for his revolutionary work.

Gaston Glock started his adult life in his Austrian homeland working for others. But at age 30, using the savings he and his first wife were going to use for an apartment, the future arms designer and manufacturer started his own business career making curtain rods.

It was not until the 1970s and a contract with the Austrian army for Glock to get into the weapons business, making knives. Then, at a dinner in 1980 with several higher-ups of the Austrian military, Glock offered to redesign the army’s sidearm. The military accepted the offer and thus began the growth of Glock as we know it today.

Enter the Glock 17

The next year in 1981, Glock created the gun that would forever change the gun industry, known as the Glock 17, and the company began to grow almost exponentially. And because it functioned so well, he went under contract to manufacture 20,000 sidearms for that military in the early 1980s.

By the time the mid-1980s came around, Glock brought his expertise to the United States and began the process of growing his company further. Over the next 30 years, Glock would grow into a powerhouse which makes over 400 million dollars per year.

Make it simple, make it perfect.

Following this guiding principle, Glock not only revolutionized the world of small arms in the 1980s, but also succeeded in establishing the GLOCK brand as the global leader in the handgun industry. His internationally renowned GLOCK Perfection stands for uncompromising quality and maximum customer satisfaction.

Gaston Glock charted the strategic direction of the GLOCK Group throughout his life and prepared it for the future. His life’s work will continue in his spirit.