Gaston Glock
Gaston Glock | |
|---|---|
| Born | 19 July 1929 |
| Occupation |
|
| Known for | Founder of Glock Ges.m.b.H. |
| Title | Managing director of Glock |
| Spouses | |
| Children | 3 |
Gaston Glock (born 19 July 1929) is an Austrian engineer and businessman who is the founder of the company Glock, who are best known for developing the Glock pistol in 1981.[1]
Manufacturing
Glock began as a manufacturer of curtain rods in the 1960s, and knives for the Austrian military in the 1970s,[2] and did not design or manufacture a firearm until he was 52 years old. He already had experience with polymers as a result of his previous business ventures. In 1980, he bought an injection-moulding machine to manufacture handles and sheaths for the field knives he was making for the Austrian army in his garage workshop. His earliest employees were from the camera industry and experienced in producing polymer components. His first pistol took one year to produce from the design and concept stage to production, and he applied for an Austrian patent in April 1981 for the pistol known as the Glock 17.[3]
Personal life
Glock married Helga Glock in 1958, and they co-founded the family business in 1963.[4] They divorced in 2011 and went into litigation over accusations that Glock engaged in racketeering.[5] The lawsuit was dismissed in 2017.[6] Glock supports different charities in Austria, having donated over one million euros. He also was quoted for giving funds to the Freedom Party of Austria.[7][8][9][10]
Murder attempt
In July 1999, Glock suspected that Charles Ewert, one of his closest financial advisers, had been embezzling funds. Glock confronted Ewert, who had hired a French mercenary (aged 67)[11] to murder Glock with a rubber mallet in a car park, in an attempt to make it look like an accident.[12][13] Glock was hit in the head but able to fight back, punching the man until he collapsed on top of Glock.[11] Both Ewert and the assassin were convicted of attempted murder and sent to prison.[11]
References
- ^ "How The Glock Became America's Weapon Of Choice". www.wbur.org. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
- ^ Prince, Rosa (14 October 2014). "The Glock family feud has its roots in 1960s Austria". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
- ^ Barrett, Paul M. (2013). Glock: The Rise of America's Gun. Broadway Books. ISBN 978-0-307-71995-9.
- ^ Hooper, Mark (13 October 2014). "Guns, money and misery: billionaire Gaston Glock's ex-wife sues for $500m" – via The Guardian.
- ^ "Glock Defeats Ex-Wife's $500 Million 'Shotgun' Racketeering Suit". 30 March 2017 – via www.bloomberg.com.
- ^ "Judge dismisses suit accusing Glock founder of racketeering". The Seattle Times. 28 March 2017. Retrieved 18 September 2022.
- ^ "Charity donations as documented by the Glock-organization GHPC". Archived from the original on 18 October 2012.
- ^ "Glück für Glock". Kleine Zeitung. 29 July 2011. Archived from the original on 25 September 2011. Retrieved 19 September 2011.
- ^ "Doppelte Hilfe für die Flutopfer". Kleine Zeitung. 7 November 2011. Archived from the original on 3 February 2013. Retrieved 7 January 2013.
- ^ Mounk, Yascha (21 May 2019). "A Russia Scandal Even Populists Couldn't Stomach". The Atlantic.
- ^ a b c "Top Gun". Forbes. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
- ^ "Jim Armitage: Don't mess with Gaston – he's still got his hand on". The Independent. 13 July 2013.
- ^ "The Glock, From 'Handgun Tupperware' To Top Pistol". NPR.org. Retrieved 9 May 2021.