Did Gaston Glock Really Design the Glock 17?

[Tecolote]

I've heard conflicting stories about the origins of the Glock 17.

In one version Gaston Glock interviewed small arms experts and asked for their feedback on what would be the ideal service sidearm. He then set to work on his own and after five prototypes he came up with the Glock 17.

In another version Gaston Glock also interviewed small arms experts, got their feedback on the ideal service sidearm but instead of designing the 17 himself he hired a group of engineers that after five prototypes came up with the Glock 17.

I don't mean this thread to cast aspersions on Gaston Glock but I'm just curious if anyone has factual evidence to support one version over the other.

 

[Hkmp5sd]

In 1963 Gaston Glock created Glock Ges.m.b.H in Deutsch-Wagram, Austria. Glock started off manufacturing various products such as doorknobs and hinges. Later, Glock went on to make several items for the Austrian military. Some of these items included knives, entrenching tools, hand grenades, and machine gun belts. In 1980 the Austrian army began searching for a new 9mm pistol to issue it's troops. In 1982, after learning of the army's search for a new 9mm pistol, Gaston assembled a team of firearms experts from throughout Europe. The prototype Glock Model 17 pistol was then developed in only three months! The pistol was submitted to the Austrian military for testing. In late 1982 the Austrian government notified Glock that the Glock Model 17 had been accepted and would be the new standard issue for the Austrian army. The Austrian army placed an initial order for 25,000 Glock Model 17 pistols. In 1985, after evaluating the U.S. market for the Glock pistol, Glock began taking steps to bring the Glock pistol to the United States. In July, Glock submitted a model 17 to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms for import evaluation. The BATF required two changes be made to the Glock pistol before they would allow it to be imported. These changes included the addition of a metal serial number plate and replacement of the fixed rear site with an adjustable one. Later that year Glock, Inc. was formed in Smyrna, Georgia as the importer and distributor of Glock pistols in the U.S. Final approval for importation of the Glock pistol came from the BATF in January 1986. An additional plant was constructed at the Smyrna, Georgia home of Glock, Inc. in 1990. Although all Glock pistols are still manufactured in Austria, the new Glock facility at Smyrna now assembles and test fires all pistols imported to the United States.

http://www.glockmart.com/history.html

 

[10-Ring]

Whether he did or didn't, he's taking credit for it and has been able to grow his company to a major player in the industry. I'd say he's doing alright for himself.

 

[dude]

yes and yes

....get the book on the History of the Glock, very informative about what was going on with Military pistol development and ammo R&D at the time. It will also answer the orginal 'non drop free' mag issue!

http://shopping.msn.com/eshopframe....=msn-featsite-am-20&path=subst/home/home.html

 

[El Tejon]

He did not. It was Lord Francis Bacon.

 

[bad_dad_brad]

According to the book "Glock: The New Wave in Combat Handguns" by Peter Alan Kasler - Paladin Press @ 1992, in 1980 the Austrian Army began looking for a state of the art 9mm pistol. Glock's company had been supplying the Austrian army with implements, knives, etc. so he probably had contacts with the government already and what the heck, he probably thought, I can design a pistol.

So he took the Austrian Army's requirements and assembled a panel of European firearms experts to glean there experience on what would be the ideal combat handgun. Glock's company was already a leading manufacturer in tough polymers, so it was a natural, that this be used in any handgun he would design, and he wasn't breaking any new ground. H&K was already producing a polymer framed pistol.

Using the requirement list from the Austrian Army, and the list of an ideal combat pistol from the European handgun experts, the story goes, that Gaston Glock designed the Glock 17 himself from that input.

The numeric designation 17 was so coined because the Glock 17 was the 17th interation of designs that Glock tried. He submitted a working prototype of the G17 to the Austrian Army in just 3 months.

Gaston Glock is an admirable captain of industry, a master armorer, and a shrewed business man. And I find my G17 and G19 pistols to be superior to other pistols in reliability, ease of maintenance, combat accuracy, and ergonomics.

 

[Tecolote]

I'm aware of Kasler's book but he doesn't provide any evidence for the claim.

Whether Glock has been successful or not is irrelevant to my question. I'm interested in who designed the first Glock because I'm also interested in the history of firearms technology.

 

[CZ-75]

And Bill Gates didn't write DOS either, he just knew how to market it.

 

[Serpico]

It was actually designed by a guy named Eddie...

 

[Handy]

I imagine it was an easy jump from shower curtain rings to handgun. He probably woke with the details worked out one morning.

 

[arinvolvo]

Are you sure it wasnt KEVIN Bacon? That guy seems to have a hand in everything.

 

[NIB]

"Gaston was not an armorer nor knew anything about firearms. After he got the design from his assembled panel of experts he had some machinist make out the parts. Gaston would then test fire the pistols with his left hand, this way if the gun blew up then he could at least still write and draw with his right hand." This is from the Holy grail of all.....the Glock Annual.

 

[Schuey2002]

It was actually designed by a guy named Eddie...

Actually, it was designed by a guy "living in a van down by the river!!"

 

[El Tejon]

The Danube?

 

[Tecolote]

NIB,

Thanks for the info. The Glock Annual is approved by Glock so I figure it's pretty reliable.

Handy,

Good point. I'm not doubting Gaston Glock's marketing genuis or the success of his company but I never believed that someone could go from curtain rods and spades to firearms in six months.

 

[longeyes]

arinvolvo

Actually it was Francis Bacon, not Kevin Bacon...

 

[Sox]

I though Wilhelm Bubbits had something to do with it. He is also the designer of the Steyr M and S series. If I am not mistaken, I think Mr. Bubbits actually approached Glock about the Steyr design and they didn't want anything to do with it.