Glock Ges.m.b.H.

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For other uses, see Glock (disambiguation).

Glock Ges.m.b.H.
Ges.m.b.H. (Private)
IndustryArms industry
Founded1963; 57 years ago (1963)[1]
FounderGaston Glock
Headquarters
Deutsch-Wagram
,
Austria
Key people
Gaston Glock (Managing Director)
ProductsFirearms
Knives
entrenching tools
apparel
Number of employees
1,196 (2013)[2]
Websitewww.glock.com

Glock Ges.m.b.H. (trademarked as GLOCK) is a weapons manufacturer headquartered in Deutsch-Wagram, Austria, named after its founder, Gaston Glock. While the company is best known for its line of polymer-framed pistols, it also produces field knives, entrenching tools, and apparel.

Glock handguns are used by armed forces and law enforcement organizations worldwide, including a majority of law enforcement agencies in the United States.[3] In some countries Glock handguns are popular with citizens for personal protection and practical shooting. The company sponsors a competitive shooting team which travels worldwide.[4] As of 2014, Glock produces more than two dozen models of handguns in three different sizes and seven different cartridges in three calibers.[5][6]

Products[edit]

Handguns[edit]

Main article: Glock
Original Glock 17 issued by the Norwegian military
Glock 17 gen5 issued by the French military

Glock handguns are common sidearms among law enforcement agencies and military organizations around the world, and are also largely popular weapons amongst civilians for home defense, and concealed/open carry. The popularity of Glock pistols can be attributed to a number of factors. They are widely reputed as highly reliable, being able to function under extreme conditions and to fire a wide range of ammunition types (9mm, 10mm, .40 S&W, .45 ACP, .45 GAP, .357 SIG, .380 ACP; third-party conversion kits for .22 LR, .400 Corbon, .40 Super, and .50 GI are also available). The simplicity of the Glock design as well as its simple operating method contributes to this reliability, as it contains a relatively small number of components (nearly half as many as the typical handgun, each of these being interchangeable requiring no hand-fitting) making maintenance and repair easier and less costly. On December 10, 2019, Glock introduced their first production-Model .22-caliber Pistol, The Glock 44.[7]

The polymer frame makes them lighter than typical steel or aluminum-framed handguns, an attractive feature for police officers and regular citizens who carry firearms for extended periods of time. The trigger is the only operating element; all three safeties are deactivated when the trigger is pulled, and automatically activated when it is released. Glock pistols have no other manual safeties (as some other brands have a lever or button); the only external controls aside from the trigger itself are the slide stop lever, the magazine catch, and the slide lock for disassembly.[8] This adds to the simplicity of use and removes a potential source of error while operating the handgun under stress. Most of the steel components in a Glock pistol are treated with a nitriding process called "Tenifer",[9] which increases the surface hardness and makes the pistol resistant to corrosion and wear.

Though the Heckler & Koch VP70 was the first polymer-framed pistol and predates the Glock 17 by 12 years, the popularity of Glock pistols inspired other manufacturers to begin production of similar polymer-framed firearms, including the Walther P99, Smith & Wesson Sigma, HS2000 (Springfield Armory XD), Steyr M, Taurus PT 24/7, Caracal, FN Herstal FNP and Ruger SR9 pistols.

In addition to their semi-automatic handguns, Glock also produces a select-fire pistol, the Glock 18, which is able to be fired in either semi-automatic or fully automatic mode. This model is generally available only to law enforcement or military organizations and the details of its production are seemingly classified. Conversion kits for other Glocks to be fired in fully automatic mode also exist, but they are third-party, and they are specifically marked as Title 2 devices by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives – restricting their purchase and possession to ATF 3 license Dealers in the US.[10]

Knives[edit]

Main article: Glock knife
Glock Feldmesser 78

Glock currently manufactures two models of knives, the Feldmesser 78 (Field Knife 78) and the Feldmesser 81 (Survival Knife 81).

The Field Knife 78 is a classic type knife, with a 165 mm (6.5 in) blade and 290 mm (11 in) overall length. The Survival Knife 81 has the same overall dimensions with an additional saw on the back of the blade. The Field Knife 78 weighs 206 g (7.3 oz) and the Survival Knife 81 weighs 202 g (7.1 oz).

The grips and sheaths are made of polymer and are available in three colors: olive drab, sand, and black.[11] As of 2016 Glock introduced a new grey color variant of Field Knife 81 and has plans to discontinue Field Knife 78 in other colors than black.[12]

Entrenching tool[edit]

Glock Feldspaten entrenching tool

Glock also produces an entrenching tool, the Feldspaten (field spade).

The Feldspaten features a hardened metal spade blade that can be locked in 3 positions for digging, shoveling, and chopping, and a telescopic handle made out of fiberglass-reinforced nylon containing a 175 mm (6.9 in) long hardened metal sawblade.

The entrenching tool weighs 650 g (23 oz) and fully extended is 630 mm (25 in) long. The spade and handle can be collapsed and shortened for easy transport and storage into a 260 mm × 150 mm × 60 mm (10 in × 6 in × ​2 1⁄2 in) package.[13]

The entrenching tool is supplied with a nylon storage/transport pouch that can be attached to a belt or backpack.

Subsidiaries[edit]

Glock current international subsidiaries are:

Embezzlement[edit]

Glock has been the target of multiple embezzlement schemes involving high-ranking officers of the company or others closely related to the company. In 1999, Charles Ewert attempted to murder Gaston Glock after Glock asked for a meeting regarding an accusation of embezzlement. Ewert was convicted of attempted murder along with an accomplice for his involvement.[14]

In April 2012, Paul Jannuzzo, the former CEO of US subsidiary Glock, Inc., was convicted of racketeering regarding his involvement in an embezzlement scheme against the company.[15]

Investigation of these cases brought to light questionable financial dealings in the background and complicated ownership structure hidden behind a string of shell companies in favourable tax locations around the world.[16][17]

References[edit]

  1. ^ www.businessweek.com. "Glock Company Timeline". Retrieved 21 March 2010.
  2. ^ "Wirtschaftsdaten" (in German). news networld internetservice GmbH. Retrieved 17 November 2015.
  3. ^ Ayoob, Massad (May 2004), "The Glock. Tips for selling more of this hot seller", Shooting Industry, retrieved 2 December 2009
  4. ^ "Team GLOCK Shooting Squad preserves their winning streak with multiple victories" (PDF) (Press release). TEAM GLOCK. 10 August 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 February 2009. Retrieved 2 December 2009.
  5. ^ Dockery, Kevin (2007). Future Weapons. Berkeley Trade. pp. 158–159. ISBN 978-0-425-21750-4.
  6. ^ Hartink, A.E. (2002). The Complete Encyclopedia of Pistols and Revolvers. Edison, New Jersey: Chartwell Books, Inc. pp. 149–156. ISBN 978-0-7858-1519-8.
  7. ^ Glock introduces the .22 cal G44 handgun
  8. ^ Glock Ges.m.b.H (2013). Instructions for Use, Glock Safe Action Pistols (PDF). Glock Ges.m.b.H. Retrieved 1 December 2014.
  9. ^ "GLOCK". Glock.com. Archived from the original on 4 December 2008. Retrieved 27 November 2008.
  10. ^ http://www.atf.gov/firearms/faq/firearms-technology.html#glock-conversion
  11. ^ Glock. "Outdoor knives product page". Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 26 September 2007.
  12. ^ mpicz. "Glock dealer page".
  13. ^ Glock entrenching tool Archived 29 July 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  14. ^ "Top Gun". Forbes. 31 March 2003. Archived from the original on 1 August 2017. Retrieved 8 March 2012.
  15. ^ "Ex-Glock executive sentenced to 7-years in prison". Fox. 11 April 2012. Retrieved 22 January 2013.
  16. ^ Grow, Brian; Ewing, Jack; Barrett, Paul M. (10 September 2009). "Glock's Secret Path to Profits". Bloomberg Businessweek.
  17. ^ Jarvis, John Paul (28 January 2011). "The strange case of Mr. Gaston Glock".

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Further reading[edit]

  • Boatman, Robert H. Living With Glocks: The Complete Guide to the New Standard in Combat Handguns. Paladin Press, Boulder. 2002. ISBN 1-58160-340-1.
  • Kasler, Peter Alan. Glock : The New Wave in Combat Handguns. Paladin Press, Boulder. 1992. ISBN 0-87364-649-5.
  • Sweeney, Patrick. The Gun Digest Book of the Glock: A Comprehensive Review: Design, History, Use. Krause Publications, Iola, Wis. 2003. ISBN 0-87349-558-6.
  • Sweeney, Patrick. The Gun Digest Book of the Glock, 2nd Edition. Gun Digest Books, Iola, Wis. 2008. ISBN 0-89689-642-0.
  • Taylor, Robin. The Glock in Competition, 2nd Edition. Taylor Press, Bellingham. 2005. ISBN 0-9662517-4-1.

External links[edit]

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