Glock Ges.m.b.H.
![]() | |
Company type | Private |
---|---|
Industry | Arms industry |
Founded | 1963[1] |
Headquarters | , |
Key people | Gaston Glock, Founder & Executive Chairman |
Products | Firearms Knives |
Number of employees | 1,325 (2015) ![]() |
Website | http://www.glock.com |
Glock GmbH (trademarked as GLOCK) is a weapons manufacturer headquartered in Deutsch-Wagram, Austria. Glock was named after its founder, Gaston Glock. The company is best known for its line of striker-fired polymer-framed pistols. Glock also currently produces equipment such as field knives and entrenching tools as well as sponsor a competitive shooting team that travels around the world promoting the company.
The Glock handguns are in use by a majority of US and international law enforcement agencies and military personnel. Glock handguns are also very popular with civilians, especially for personal protection and practical shooting. Glock currently produces 22 models of handguns. The US-led Multi-National Force - Iraq has equipped the Iraqi military and the Iraqi National Police with Glock sidearms.
Products
Handguns
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d4/Glock22inOliveDrab.jpg/290px-Glock22inOliveDrab.jpg)
Glock handguns are common sidearms among law enforcement agencies and military organizations around the world. The popularity of Glock pistols can be attributed to a number of factors. They are said to be very reliable, being able to function under extreme conditions and to fire a wide range of ammunition types. The simplicity of the Glock design contributes to this reliability, as it contains a relatively small number of components (nearly half as many as the typical handgun) making maintenance and repair easier.
The polymer frame makes them lighter than typical steel or aluminum-framed handguns, which is attractive to police officers and civilians who carry firearms for extended periods of time. The trigger is the only operating element; all three pistol safeties are deactivated when the unique trigger is pulled, and automatically activated when it is released. Glock pistols have no manual safeties, and the only external controls aside from the trigger are the slide release and magazine release. This adds to the simplicity of use and removes a potential source of error when operating the handgun under stress. Most of the steel components in a Glock pistol are treated with a nitriding process called "Tenifer",[2] which increases the surface hardness and makes the weapon resistant to corrosion and wear.
The popularity of Glock pistols inspired other manufacturers to begin production of similar polymer-framed firearms, including the Springfield Armory XD, Steyr MA1, Smith & Wesson M&P, and Walther P99 pistols. Glocks tend to be in the middle of the price range for quality pistols: generally less expensive than similar SIG Sauer and Heckler & Koch USP pistol models, but more expensive than Ruger or Taurus models.
Knives
Glock currently manufactures two models of knives: The Field Knife 78 and the Survival Knife 81. The Field Knife 78 is a classic knife, with a 6.5 inch (165 mm) blade and 11.4 inch (290 mm) overall length. The Survival Knife 81 has the same overall dimensions with an additional saw on the back of the blade. Both knives are phosphate-treated and have a Glock-polymer sheath and are available in olive, tan, and black.[3]
Subsidiaries
Glock current international subsidiaries are:
- Glock America N.V. (Uruguay)
- Glock France S.A.
- Glock, Inc. (U.S.A.)
- Glock (H.K.) Ltd. (Hong Kong)
References
- ^ www.GlockFaq.com. "Glock Company Timeline". Retrieved 2007-09-26.
- ^ "GLOCK". Glock.com. Retrieved 2008-11-27.
- ^ Glock. "Outdoor knives product page". Retrieved 2007-09-26.
Literature
- 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. 2003. ISBN 0-87349-558-6.
- Sweeney, Patrick. The Gun Digest Book of the Glock, 2nd edition Gun Digest Books, Iola. 2008. ISBN 0-89689-642-0.
- Taylor, Robin. The Glock In Competition, 2nd edition. Taylor Press, Bellingham. 2005. ISBN 0-9662517-4-1.