The Glock company tells us their founder, Gaston Glock, passed away today at the age of 94.
“With visionary foresight, Gaston Glock built his company and led it to the top of the world with the internationally valued Glock Perfection,” the company said in a statement. “Until the very end, he was responsible for the strategic direction of the Glock group of companies and its employees.”
Glock founded his weapons company in 1963 in Austria, and now has branches world wide. Glock reportedly has a 65% market share of handguns that are sold in the U.S. The company owns 99% of the business, while the family is worth some $1.1 billion as of 2021, according to Forbes.
Gaston Glock got started in the gun business in the 1980s when the Austrian military was looking for a new weapon. Glock’s team came up with the Glock 17, a lightweight semi-automatic weapon largely made of plastic. The gun went on to form the foundation of the highly successful business.
“His life’s work will continue in his spirit,” the company said.
May he Rest In Peace.