Gaston Glock of firearms fame dies at 94

Gaston Glock, founder of the brand widely known for its popular pistols, has passed away at the age of 94 years old, his company has indicated.

"Gaston Glock not only revolutionized the world of small arms in the 1980s, but also succeeded in establishing the GLOCK brand as the global leader in the handgun industry. His internationally renowned GLOCK Perfection stands for uncompromising quality and maximum customer satisfaction," the company stated on its website. "Gaston Glock charted the strategic direction of the GLOCK Group throughout his life and prepared it for the future. His life's work will continue in his spirit."

The company was founded in Austria and has a subsidiary in the U.S. that is located in Georgia.

"In the early 1980's, the semi-automatic GLOCK service pistol was born in response to meet the needs of the Austrian military. It's polymer frame and the developed SAFE ACTION® System revolutionized the pistol market," the company says.

In 2011, Glock and his wife of decades divorced, and the octogenarian wed a 31-year-old, according to the New York Times, which also reported that he had been a conscript in Nazi Germany's Wehrmacht at the end of World War II.

"Been carrying a @GLOCKInc for decades. My Family says thank you Gaston Glock for bringing me an others home safely," Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb, who is currently running for a U.S. Senate seat in Arizona as a Republican, tweeted.

"Rest in Peace to a legend, Gaston Glock," the National Rifle Association tweeted.

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