Gaston Glock: You Will Be Missed

Written by Michael Thervil

Photographer unknown

Gaston Glock the Austria born engineer had humble beginnings before he started manufacturing pistols for the Austrian army as a maker of consumer goods. It wouldn’t be until the 1970’s that he would begin embarking on the manufacturing of goods for the Austrian military. Then it wouldn’t be until the 1980’s that he would be renowned as the creator of the Glock Safe Action Pistol, which enabled him to win a military weapon manufacturers contract.

Gaston Glock with now widowed wife

It should also be known that he created and manufactured field knives, entrenching tools, machine gun belt links and grenade casings for military purposes. The year was 1985 that the Glock Safe Action Pistol found its way into the American market. With all his lifetime of achievements, it's unfortunate to announce that Gaston Glock has died yesterday at the age of 94.

Today, his pistol design is considered the “Gold Standard” for which all other “striker fired” pistols that would soon come after it. The Glock pistol design was truly before its time, and it took quite a while for other pistol manufacturers around the world to catch up. Gaston Glock was not a man that enjoyed basking in the media spotlight for any reason. In fact, he was very discreet about his private and business affairs and never was seen debating about gun rights or gun safety for that matter. In short, he was the king of: “moving in silence”.

VEDA Magazine | Our Glocks. Photo taken by Michael Thervil

In 2011, he and his ex-wife Helga Glock divorced after 49 years and it wouldn’t be too much longer after the divorce that he married Kathrin, his second wife. It should also be noted that there have been assassination attempts on the life of Gaston Glock; some people were after his riches and some assassination attempts were executed out of jealousy and retaliation because of his highly successful creation. Currently, the Glock Safe Action Pistol is the most recognized and used pistol in the world which favors the likes of both Military, Law enforcement and criminals alike. It is the most efficient pistol, that allows for a strong level of customization and is the pistol by which all other pistols are judged.

It is said that the legacy Gaston Glock left behind was exactly like the craftsmanship of his line of pistols – nothing short of “Perfection”.