Bisina SomtoGaston Glock, the visionary Austrian engineer who transitioned from crafting curtain rods to the global handgun industry, passed away on Wednesday at the age of 94. Glock Inc. confirmed his demise on the company’s website, leaving the cause of death unspecified.
The website displayed a poignant tribute, “In Memoriam Gaston Glock 07/19/1929 – 12/27/2023,” accompanied by a solemn photo of Glock in a dark suit and maroon tie, standing with crossed arms against a black backdrop.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelAcknowledging Glock’s profound impact, the company stated that he not only transformed the small arms industry in the 1980s but also firmly established the Glock brand as a global leader in handgun manufacturing.
The Glock pistol, a favorite among law enforcement agencies, became iconic in blockbuster movies like “Die Hard 2” and “U.S. Marshals.” It even found its place in numerous rap songs, including Wu-Tang Clan’s “Da Glock.”
Born in Vienna in 1929, Glock’s journey began with supplying knives and bayonets to the Austrian Army in the 1970s. In 1980, he identified the army’s need for a new handgun.
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Despite not personally owning a handgun, Glock assembled a team of experts to create what he envisioned as the “pistol of the future.” Throughout the project, he underwent training on handguns, test-firing prototypes with his left hand to ensure the continuity of his design work in case of accidents.
The result of his visionary efforts was the Glock 17, a groundbreaking semi-automatic handgun crafted 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 reached the United States, where the company established its headquarters in Smyrna, Georgia, in 1985. Glock proudly claimed that over 65% of U.S. federal, state, and local agencies have been equipped with Glock pistols.
Somto is an Entertainment Reporter with a passion for uncovering the latest stories in the world of entertainment. As a dedicated journalist, Somto delivers in-depth reporting, exclusive interviews, and breaking news coverage.
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