Glock

Glock is an Austrian firearms manufacturer known for its polymer-framed, striker-fired pistols. The company, Glock Ges.m.b.H., was founded by Gaston Glock in Austria and is headquartered in Deutsch-Wagram, near Vienna. Glock began producing pistols in the 1980s, introducing the Glock 17 at the 1982 IWA show. The pistol was adopted by the Austrian Army that year and would later be adopted by police and military forces around the world.

Glock pistols are characterized by a polymer frame, steel slide, and a short recoil, tilting-barrel action. They are powered by a striker-fired mechanism and use a Safe Action trigger system, which comprises three independent safeties: a trigger safety, a firing-pin safety, and a drop safety. The safeties are automatic and require no manual safety disengagement.

The most widely known model is the Glock 17 full-size 9mm pistol, followed by the compact Glock 19 and other variants in multiple calibers. The line has expanded to include subcompact, compact, and competition models, as well as versions with different finishes and features. Glock pistols are widely used by police, security forces, and many civilian shooters due to their perceived reliability, simplicity, and high magazine capacity.

Production and distribution are centered in Austria, with a U.S. subsidiary and distribution network to supply international markets. Glock’s design has had a lasting impact on modern firearms, influencing the development of polymer-framed, striker-fired handguns adopted worldwide.