Airgun Manufacturers in Zella-Mehlis Germany

[dvd]

Hard to believe I will admit, as where are they all now?

It may be that many persons who owned airguns thought they had better get rid of the airguns rather than be found in possession of what looked like a real weapon and risk arrest or whatever.
If substantial training airguns were made for the armed forces, then I would think that they were kept in barracks and duly destroyed when Germany was over-run or perhaps they had already been melted and machined into powder burners when materials became scarce in the closing stages of the war.
I am no historian but just guessing.

[Geezer]

It may be that many persons who owned airguns thought they had better get rid of the airguns rather than be found in possession of what looked like a real weapon and risk arrest or whatever.
If substantial training airguns were made for the armed forces, then I would think that they were kept in barracks and duly destroyed when Germany was over-run or perhaps they had already been melted and machined into powder burners when materials became scarce in the closing stages of the war.
I am no historian but just guessing.

As far as I know, the German armed forces did not use air guns as trainers. Some were used by the Hitler Youth for marksmanship training.

I believe the “military trainer” thing was started after the war by dealers as a way to boost interest in secondhand German bolt action ball firers.

[arnie2b]

Incase you're not aware of this book, it's in German only though.

[DT Fletcher]

Appears to be available at this source, only.
https://vsmedien-shop.de/buecher/waf...945-2.-auflage

google trans of description:
Product information "Air rifles and air pistols from Suhl and Zella-Mehlis after 1945 2nd edition"
Air rifles and air pistols from Suhl and Zella-Mehlis after 1945 2nd edition
Author: Ernst G. Dieter

After publication of the title "air rifles and air pistols after 1945 from Suhl" about ten years ago and after the discovery of new sources, the time seems ripe,
a revised, new technical details containing and also new models (at times unknown prototypes, patterns) descriptive edition.
In addition to additions in the form of their own, at least knowledge-related "new acquisition", there was both thanks to friendly people interested in topics
the possibility of models offered on relevant "markets" / forums, usually not available for public sale in former times,
e.g. the repeating air rifles from the August-Bebel-Werk, Zella-Mehlis, as well as other interesting developments (eg compressed air or CO² guns)
u. a. of the Suhl companies ETW and FAJAS.

[45flint]

Incase you're not aware of this book, it's in German only though.

Right on target with computer translating abilities now might be worth it? Certainly has the right pistol on the cover! Lol

[arnie2b]

Die Herstellung von Druckluftgewehren und -pistolen hat in der Region um Suhl und Zella-Mehlis eine mehr als hundertjährige Tradition. Neben einer Reihe weiterer namhafter Firmen, hat insbesondere die Firma C.G. Haenel Suhl, Gewehr- und Fahrradfabrik, in den 1920er und 1930er Jahren des letzten Jahrhunderts ein breites Sortiment unterschiedlich ausgestatteter Gewehr- und Pistolenmodelle mit Feder-Druckluft- Antrieb angeboten. Im MEWA- Ernst- Thälmann- Werk Suhl, dem standortidentischen Nachfolgebetrieb des ehemaligen Haenel - Werkes, nahm man nach 1945 unter Nutzung der hier gegebenen personellen und materiellen Vorausetzungen, einige der hauptsächlich von H. Schmeisser entworfenen Druckluftwaffenmodelle zum Vorbild für die in Gang kommende Produktion. Die private Firma Reinhold Manteuffel & Co., sowie das "August- Bebel"- Werk, beide aus Zella-Mehlis, stellten um bzw. nach 1950 einige Jahre ebenfalls Druckluftwaffen her. Hauptproduzenten einer Palette von Luftgewehren für unterschiedliche Ansprüche waren ab etwa 1955 die neu strukturierte Firma "Ernst- Thälmann- Werk Suhl", das daraus ab ca. 1970 hervorgehende "Fahrzeug- und Jagdwaffen Werk Suhl", sowie die hieraus nach 1989 entstandene "Jagd- und Sportwaffen Suhl GmbH". Nach deren Insolvenz 1993 reduzierte die neu gegründete "Suhler Jagd- und Sportwaffen GmbH" dieses Programm auf die Herstellung eines Biathlon - Druckluft - Gewehres. Im Mittelpunkt der insgesamt etwa sechzig Modelle umfassenden Übersicht steht die Vorstellung der nach 1945 von den genannten Firmen produzierten Luftpistolen, Repetier-luftgewehre und Kipplaufluftgewehre für den Jugend- und Freizeitbereich. Aber auch neu entwickelte Druckluftgewehre für den Wettkampf und den Hochleistungs-Match-Bereich sowie Funktions- bzw. Entwicklungsmuster und Prototypen werden beschrieben. Informationen zu technischen Details bestimmter Baugruppen der vorgestellten Druckluftwaffen, wie Abzugs- und Sicherungsmechanismen, Methoden zum Laden dieser Schussgeräte, Komponenten der Visiereinrichtung und Ausführungen zu den physikalischen Grundlagen ergänzen die Modellübersicht. 246 Seiten, Abbildungen s/w und teilweise Farbabbildungen.

Dab musst ihr mahl uben.

German gun books tend to be quite technical, I've got several and they haven't disappointed me yet.
I've not had the need to buy the above copy though.

[frakor]

The books from Ernst G. Dieter are available from schneider sportwaffen too:

https://www.versandhaus-schneider.de...oducts_id/1143

https://www.versandhaus-schneider.de...ducts_id/24598

======================
Frank

[DT Fletcher]

Right on target with computer translating abilities now might be worth it? Certainly has the right pistol on the cover! Lol

Modern German translates very well by computer. It's older text, especially pre-spelling reform, where things get weird. The effort would be in entering the text into computer to then be translated. I, and I'm sure others, would be happy to help if there are any problems.

[ccdjg]

It is an excellent book, but if you are thinking of buying a copy make sure you get the second edition, which contains a lot more information and many full colour illustrations (no colour in the first edition).

Although the book does cover pre-war airguns from the principal Suhl and Zella-Mehlis manufacturers, its unique value is that it gives a first hand account of airguns manufactured after the war, over the period when Zella-Mehlis and Suhl were under communist control in East Germany.

Fascinating to read what became of the well known airgun companies after the Russian occupation and what air rifles and pistols were produced and developed. For example, the Tell 3 became the Modell 75 and the manufacturer became Rheinhold Manteuffel & Co. Zella Mehlis. Manufacture of Haenel airguns was transferred to Ernst-Thalmann-Werk Suhl, and the Haenel 26 and 28 pistols disappeared, to be replaced by the Model LP54 pistol, the official millitary youth trainer (personal ownership of airguns was forbidden in East Germany). The new Haenel LP55 repeater and Model 300 were also introduced but were not commercialised. (I am currently making a reproduction of the LP55 and hope to be reporting on it on this forum in the near future).

[45flint]

It is an excellent book, but if you are thinking of buying a copy make sure you get the second edition, which contains a lot more information and many full colour illustrations (no colour in the first edition).

Although the book does cover pre-war airguns from the principal Suhl and Zella-Mehlis manufacturers, its unique value is that it gives a first hand account of airguns manufactured after the war, over the period when Zella-Mehlis and Suhl were under communist control in East Germany.

Fascinating to read what became of the well known airgun companies after the Russian occupation and what air rifles and pistols were produced and developed. For example, the Tell 3 became the Modell 75 and the manufacturer became Rheinhold Manteuffel & Co. Zella Mehlis. Manufacture of Haenel airguns was transferred to Ernst-Thalmann-Werk Suhl, and the Haenel 26 and 28 pistols disappeared, to be replaced by the Model LP54 pistol, the official millitary youth trainer (personal ownership of airguns was forbidden in East Germany). The new Haenel LP55 repeater and Model 300 were also introduced but were not commercialised. (I am currently making a reproduction of the LP55 and hope to be reporting on it on this forum in the near future).

Tell 3 became the Model 75? Is it the same design? Are there examples?

[ccdjg]

Tell 3 became the Model 75? Is it the same design? Are there examples?

There may not be any known surviving examples as even the author could not provide a photograph and uses an artists impression in his book. The existence of the Model 75 is based on the fact that it was listed in the post-1945 product range of Fa. Manteuffel and it is possble that is where Dieter got his illustration from. He states that it is identical to the Tell 3 in almost every respect, differing only in the markings and grip medallions and possibly screw heads.

[45flint]

Well I’m ordering the book, a challenge just to navigate the website. Got it to the cart and postage to the US, equal to the price of the book! Lol. Now the courage to press the buy button and hope it comes.

[Garvin]

Tell 3 became the Model 75? Is it the same design? Are there examples?

More on the 75 and others in John's article here:

https://forum.vintageairgunsgallery....r-issue-three/

[45flint]

More on the 75 and others in John's article here:

https://forum.vintageairgunsgallery....r-issue-three/

Hard to believe at this point no examples have surfaced if they actually made them?

[Garvin]

Hard to believe at this point no examples have surfaced if they actually made them?

Has been known. This pistol only surfaced recently for instance.