ExNotes Review: Glock (by Paul Barrett)

By Joe Berk

I’m not a Glock guy and it’s not likely I’ll ever own one, but Glock (a book by Paul M. Barrett about Gaston Glock and the pistols that carry his name) sure is an interesting read.

Gaston Glock surprised everyone when he submitted a bid with a new design for a military handgun.  He surprised people even more when he won the competition, and then he (and the company that bears his name) were on their way.  Glock ran a small-potatoes company in Austria that made automobile radiators.   He knew nothing about firearms and military contracts.  Maybe that was his advantage.  Glock started with a clean sheet of paper, both for the gun’s design and his approach to market.

Barrett tells an interesting story about how Glock employed unorthodox marketing practices (practices involving a former porn princess and lots of  company freebies) to become one of the most successful arms manufacturers on the planet.  It really is a fascinating story.  Corporate shenanigans, arms deals, palace intrigue, an attempt on Gaston Glock’s life, police shootouts, and more:  Glock has it all.

I’ve shot Glocks (I have friends who own them).  I get that they are inexpensive and reliable.  I don’t like striker-fired (i.e., hammerless) trigger pulls and I’m not a big fan of Tupperware guns (even though my primary carry gun is a Tupperware Smith and Wesson), but I understand the reasons behind Glock’s success, and I understand those reasons even better now that I’ve read Barrett’s book.  Trust me on this:  If you’re interested in firearms and you want a good read, look no further than Glock.  You can thank me later.

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