Gaston Glock, inventor of the pistol that bears his name, dies at the age of 94

By overcoming legal hurdles and taking advantage of promotional campaigns, the Glock became a phenomenal seller, especially in the United States. It happened in the mid-1980s, when crime rates were soaring and police officers felt out of touch. New models and calibers with extended clips were introduced. Two-thirds of U.S. police departments, including New York City, adopted the Glock, as did many federal, state, and provincial agencies.

Mr. Glock established manufacturing plants in the US, Europe and Asia and amassed a large personal fortune. He bought jet planes and a yacht, built a riding school to indulge his passion for horses and turned his vacation home in Velden, Austria, into a country house on a guarded estate. He traveled and entertained colleagues, including right-wing extremist Jörg Haider. But he avoided publicity and valued his privacy.

He was vilified by gun control advocates and praised by gun enthusiasts. Despite the popular portrayal of the Glock as a criminal’s weapon and its use in some of America’s most spectacular mass shootings, Mr Barrett, the author of ‘Glock’, said the weapon was not often traced to crime scenes – in fact, much less than other brands of firearms.

“Thus, Glock is not a specific villain within the firearms fraternity,” Mr. Barrett wrote. “Nor is he a hero – no matter what Hollywood tells us about either score.” In summary, he added: “Gaston Glock is one of the giants in the history of small arms, worthy of mention alongside Colt, Browning, Smith and Wesson.”

Gaston Glock was born in Vienna on July 19, 1929, the son of an Austrian railway worker. He attended public schools and graduated from a technical institute after his brief military service. Trained as an engineer, he joined a hand exercise company, worked his way up to management and held a series of supervisory positions.