Gaston Glock, creator of handgun that flooded the world, dies at 94

Gaston Glock, the Austrian inventor who created the world-renowned handgun that became popular with law enforcement and the military around the world, has died. He was 94.

Glock’s family said Saturday he died during the night before in Vienna. They did not specify a cause.

Gaston Glock, a toolmaker and mountaineer who had never made a gun before, in 1982 created the Glock 17 – a 9-millimeter, semi-automatic pistol with a striking resemblance to a futuristic, streamlined Ray Gun.

It was quickly adopted by Austrian police and became a favorite of police forces and military around the world, from Brazil to Britain, Japan and the United States. It was widely copied or imitated.

It has become, in some circles, an iconic symbol of modern crime-fighting techniques. It also had a bit of a cult following among gun enthusiasts, who bemoaned the consciousness of science-fiction Hollywood using futuristic-looking props for want of a real-world equivalent.