In 1963 Gaston Glock founded GLOCK KG in the Austrian town of Deutsch-Wagram, where he produced a wide variety of products made from wood, polymer, and metal.

In the mid-1970's, Gaston Glock demonstrated his technical and entrepreneurial capabilities in a new way through the development and production of first military products. These included field knives (FM 78), components for fragmentation and training grenades, and machine gun belt links.

In the early 1980's, the Austrian Ministry of Defense proceeded with the modernization of the Austrian Armed Forces through an invitation to tender for a new service pistol, which it designated as “Pistole 80” or “P80”. Gaston Glock founded GLOCK GmbH in 1980 in Deutsch-Wagram, Austria and designed a technically revolutionary pistol system that was also incredible for its brilliant simplicity. The GLOCK P80 was born! It was ranked first overall in the tender and emerged as the clear winner. It's polymer frame and the developed Safe Action® System revolutionized the pistol market.

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News of the introduction of the GLOCK P80 to the Austrian Armed Forces spread fast. Consequently, numerous European military and police forces were alerted to the special product features of the pistol, starting with Norway.

As a result of its unbeatable safety, cost efficiency and positive international reception in the media, the attention of the U.S. market was also drawn to Gaston Glock’s ingenious product. On November 25th, 1985, Gaston Glock founded GLOCK, Inc. in Smyrna, Georgia.

The second GLOCK plant in Austria was opened in Ferlach with a specific focus on producing the highest quality products.

The product range grew, and the huge demand for the new models confirmed the virtues of Gaston Glock´s innovative pistol. He pioneered a new era in which the modern GLOCK pistol was steadily replacing the traditional revolver. The increased magazine capacity, superior safety standards, exceptional durability and reliability, and economical maintenance were among the pistol’s benefits for law enforcement customers.

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The construction work for the GLOCK factory in Deutsch-Wagram, Austria has been finished, providing additional space to meet the continuous demand for GLOCK products.

A new subsidiary was founded in Bratislava.

GLOCK celebrated the 40th anniversary of the FM78 with a limited edition of 780 field knives. It comes in a silver polymer case with an engraved foam inside and a certificate which confirms the authenticity.

Opening of the new office building in Deutsch-Wagram. The building offers modern office facilities, an extended event & training space as well as a new shooting range.

With the revolutionary Safe Action® System and a resistant and durable polymer frame the GLOCK P80 surpassed a series of military tests and became the standard service pistol for the Austrian Army.

Established in the 1980s the GLOCK P80 later got released to the commercial market as the GLOCK 17 and became one of the most known pistols in the world. This number corresponded to its magazine capacity.

As one of the few privately run and independent businesses in the world market, GLOCK lives by the values of its charismatic founder Gaston Glock: striving for Perfection and unconditionally determined to reach unique achievements through drive, commitment, and passion.

The life's work of our founder, Gaston Glock, is continued in his spirit by his wife Kathrin Glock.