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    Airgun Manufacturers in Zella-Mehlis Germany

    Were there any other manufacturers of airguns in Zella-Mehlis besides Tell and EM-GE?

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    Quote Originally Posted by 45flint View Post
    Were there any other manufacturers of airguns in Zella-Mehlis besides Tell and EM-GE?
    John Walter wrote a fantastic account in the 3rd edition of his Airgun Book:


    Vintage Airguns Gallery
    ..Above link posted with permission from Gareth W-B
    In British slang an anorak is a person who has a very strong interest in niche subjects.

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    Good stuff. Thanks

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    Interesting he says Germany continued Airgun production through WW2 until 1945? I always read Airgun production ceased as it did in Britain?

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    Walther, Anschütz and Weihrauch all started in Zella-Mehlis.
    Must have been the German equivalent to the gun quarter in Birmingham.

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    Quote Originally Posted by ptdunk View Post
    Walther, Anschütz and Weihrauch all started in Zella-Mehlis.
    Must have been the German equivalent to the gun quarter in Birmingham.
    That’s crazy such a small town.

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    Quote Originally Posted by 45flint View Post
    Interesting he says Germany continued Airgun production through WW2 until 1945? I always read Airgun production ceased as it did in Britain?
    The last German airgun I've seen date marked is 1940 (a Diana).
    Vintage Airguns Gallery
    ..Above link posted with permission from Gareth W-B
    In British slang an anorak is a person who has a very strong interest in niche subjects.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Garvin View Post
    The last German airgun I've seen date marked is 1940 (a Diana).
    That makes sense, I find it impossible to believe anyone was making airguns during the war.

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    Quote Originally Posted by 45flint View Post
    Were there any other manufacturers of airguns in Zella-Mehlis besides Tell and EM-GE?
    Wasn't the Langenhan company based there?
    I thought that the 'L' and 'Z' in their earlier crossed-arms trademark (pre WW1?) stood for for Langenhan and Zella-Mehlis; likewise in their later circled 'FLZ' trademark (post WW1?) the letters stood for Freidrich Langenhan Zella-Mehlis.
    It would be nice to get this verified, as I now have a couple of pre-WW1 Langenhan rifles and would like to be sure of their manufacturing origins.
    Atb, Clogger

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    Quote Originally Posted by CLOGGER View Post
    Wasn't the Langenhan company based there?
    I thought that the 'L' and 'Z' in their earlier crossed-arms trademark (pre WW1?) stood for for Langenhan and Zella-Mehlis; likewise in their later circled 'FLZ' trademark (post WW1?) the letters stood for Freidrich Langenhan Zella-Mehlis.
    It would be nice to get this verified, as I now have a couple of pre-WW1 Langenhan rifles and would like to be sure of their manufacturing origins.
    Atb, Clogger
    Looks like Zella-Mehlis see below:

    https://guns.fandom.com/wiki/Langenhan_pistol

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    Quote Originally Posted by CLOGGER View Post
    Wasn't the Langenhan company based there?
    I thought that the 'L' and 'Z' in their earlier crossed-arms trademark (pre WW1?) stood for for Langenhan and Zella-Mehlis; likewise in their later circled 'FLZ' trademark (post WW1?) the letters stood for Freidrich Langenhan Zella-Mehlis.
    It would be nice to get this verified, as I now have a couple of pre-WW1 Langenhan rifles and would like to be sure of their manufacturing origins.
    Atb, Clogger
    This should give you proof of Zella-Mehlis and Langenhan


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    Quote Originally Posted by 45flint View Post
    This should give you proof of Zella-Mehlis and Langenhan

    Thanks for that, and it's a rather nice piece of artwork too.
    The German youth in the foreground looks well pleased with his rifle, which looks rather like my FLZ Original V!
    Regards, Clogger

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    Was strolling around Suhl and noticed the Suhl Waffenmuseum. Not much of a website but if you decide to make a trip to the area, might be worth a stop.

    http://www.waffenmuseumsuhl.de

  14. #14
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    Quote Originally Posted by DT Fletcher View Post
    Was strolling around Suhl and noticed the Suhl Waffenmuseum. Not much of a website but if you decide to make a trip to the area, might be worth a stop.

    http://www.waffenmuseumsuhl.de
    I visited that one 23 years ago. Unless it has changed you've seen it all in less than an hour and there were no airguns at that time present. All the guns listed on the website were there.

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