The GLOCK Knife That Helped Launch a Gun Legend ~ VIDEO

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Most people hear the name “Glock” and instantly think of the polymer-framed pistols that reshaped the handgun market. But before the Glock 17 became a worldwide sidearm icon, the late Gaston Glock made his mark with something far more old-school—a fixed-blade combat knife built to meet the demands of Austria’s toughest soldiers.

From Curtain Rods to Combat Blades

In the late 1970s, Austria was in a tricky spot. The Cold War had NATO on one side and the Warsaw Pact on the other, and the Austrian military was determined to arm itself without relying on either bloc. That meant building its own gear, including a new “Feldmesser”—a field knife for special forces.

At the time, Gaston Glock wasn’t a gunmaker. He was a master of polymer injection molding, running a small shop making everyday items like curtain rods and door handles. But when the Austrian government announced a competition for the new service knife, Glock decided to jump in—bringing his unique material skills to the battlefield.

The Glock 78: A Knife With a Twist

Glock’s entry, the Feldmesser 78, wasn’t just another combat blade. It had a 6.5-inch spring steel clip-point blade hardened to over 55 Rockwell—tough enough for survival work and combat alike. But the real magic was in the handle.

Instead of a traditional full tang, Glock designed a hollow polymer grip with an end cap. That hollow space wasn’t a weakness—it was the key to turning the knife into a bayonet for Austria’s Steyr AUG service rifle. The upturned crossguard locked neatly under the rifle’s flash hider, and the balance created by the hollow handle made the 78 a surprisingly great throwing knife.

Survivalists have found even more uses: the hollow handle makes it easy to mount on a pole as a spear, and the bent guard doubles as a bottle opener.

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	Glock Field Knife Fixed Blade Knife Battlefield Green Plain Root Saw 6.5" KF039181 1095 Carbon	Palmetto State Armory	$ 46.19 $ 32.99
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	Glock Field Knife Fixed Blade Knife Battlefield Green Plain Root Saw 6.5" KF039181 1095 Carbon	Palmetto State Armory	$ 46.19 $ 32.99
	Glock Field Knife Fixed Blade Knife Gray Plain Root Saw 6.5" KG039180 1095 Carbon	Palmetto State Armory	$ 30.99 $ 26.99

Winning the Contract—and the Workload

The Austrian special forces were sold. Legend has it their first order was for 25,000 knives, forcing Glock and his wife to work in shifts stamping out blades. Just three years later, Glock released the Feldmesser 81, adding a sawback spine for cutting wood and brush—turning the combat blade into a capable wilderness survival tool.

The Knife That Made the Glock Pistol Possible

The Glock 78 and 81 didn’t just put Austrian steel in soldiers’ hands—they built Glock’s reputation with the military. Those connections and the revenue from the knife contracts would eventually give Gaston the opportunity to design his first handgun. Without the knife, there’s a good chance the Glock 17 Pistol might never have been born.

Still Going Strong

Decades later, the Glock Field Knives are still in service worldwide. In Europe, the 78 and 81 are as iconic as America’s KA-BAR—tough, practical tools with a history rooted in both the battlefield and the backcountry.

So next time you see a Glock pistol, remember: before Gaston Glock changed the handgun game, he built a knife that could open bottles, cut wood, attach to a rifle—and help spark one of the biggest firearm success stories in modern history.

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