Glock GmbH facts for kids
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|
| Private (GmbH) | |
| Industry | Arms industry |
| Founded | 1963 |
| Founder | Gaston Glock |
| Headquarters |
Deutsch-Wagram, Lower Austria
,
Austria
|
| Products | Firearms Knives Entrenching tools Apparel Horse care products |
|
Number of employees
|
1,325 (2015) |
Glock GmbH, known simply as GLOCK, is an Austrian company that makes different kinds of equipment. It is based in Deutsch-Wagram, Austria, and was started by Gaston Glock. The company is famous for its popular pistols with special plastic frames. Glock also makes knives, entrenching tools (small shovels), and even products for horses and clothing.
Products
Handguns
Glock handguns are very common sidearms for police and military groups worldwide. They are also popular for home protection and for people who carry firearms. These pistols are known for being very reliable. They can work well even in tough conditions.
Glock pistols come in many different ammunition types. These include 9mm, 10mm, .40 S&W, .45 ACP, .45 GAP, .357 SIG, .380 ACP, and .22 LR. Some special kits can even change them to use other types of bullets.
The design of Glock pistols is simple. This helps make them very reliable. They have fewer parts than most other handguns. This makes them easier and cheaper to fix. In December 2019, Glock released its first .22-caliber pistol, called the Glock 44.
The special plastic frame makes Glock pistols lighter than those made of steel or aluminum. This is a good feature for police officers and others who carry a pistol for a long time. The trigger is the main control. When you pull the trigger, all three safety features turn off. They turn back on automatically when you release the trigger.
Glock pistols do not have a manual safety lever or button like some other brands. The only other controls are for the slide and magazine. This simple design makes them easy to use, especially in stressful situations. Most metal parts of a Glock pistol are treated with a process called Tenifer. This makes the surface very hard and helps prevent rust and wear.
The Heckler & Koch VP70 was the first pistol with a plastic frame. It came out 12 years before the Glock 17. However, Glock pistols became very popular. This inspired other companies to make similar plastic-framed firearms. Some examples include the Walther P99 and the Springfield Armory XD.
Glock also makes a special pistol called the Glock 18. This pistol can fire in both semi-automatic and fully automatic modes. This model is usually only available to police or military groups.
Other Products
Besides handguns, Glock also makes other useful items. These include field knives and entrenching tools. They also produce various products for horse care and different types of clothing.
Global Presence
Glock has offices and companies in different countries around the world. These are called subsidiaries.
| Subsidiary | Country |
|---|---|
| Glock America N.V. |  Uruguay |
| Glock, Inc. |  United States |
| Glock Middle East FZE |  United Arab Emirates |
| Glock do Brasil S.A. |  Brazil |
Impact and Use
Glock handguns are used by armed forces and police groups worldwide. This includes most law enforcement agencies in the United States.
Glock pistols are also popular in some countries for personal protection. Many people use them for competitive shooting sports. The company even supports its own shooting team that competes around the world.
As of 2014, Glock had created more than two dozen models of handguns. These came in three different sizes and seven different calibers.
