- Last edited:
- Replies: 9
Last edited:
The year is 2025 and Weihrauch is 126 year old. Moreover, it’s still a real “family company”, run on a day-to-day basis by the direct descendants of the original founders. It’s never been sold-out, taken-over or absorbed by some big, soulless corporation or venture capital group.
That’s an incredible achievement for any company and – in particular – for the Weihrauch family. Felix Weihrauch, the CEO since 2023, is the fifth-generation representative of his family to run the business and he’s made a great start!
Above, Felix Weihrauch with his father Hans-Hermann (right) and Thilo Schallenkammer (left).
Anyone who has any interest whatsoever in airguns knows the name of ”Weihrauch”. They also intuitively understand that this brand produces solid, reliable, German-manufactured, high-quality precision products.
Weihrauch doesn’t chase fashion. The company continually hones it’s range of long-running products, making these “perfect airguns” ever so slightly better every year.
Yes, Weihrauch airguns are heirloom-grade models. Shooters buy them to use for precision shooting, then hand down to their children and grand-children. Oh, and the full expectation is that the grandkids will be using these guns actively too, they will not be just a pretty wall hanger.
So how did the company begin and how did it reach today’s outstanding position in the airgun market? Read on, we’ll find out…
The Weihrauch Company Before Airguns
Hermann Weihrauch founded his company in the year 1899 in Zella St. Blasii, a small town in the Schmalkalden-Meiningen district, in Thuringia, central Germany. It is situated in the Thuringian Forest, 5 km north of Suhl, and 20 km east of Meiningen. Here, Hermann quickly established a name for himself manufacturing high-quality hunting rifles and was able to expand the company.
Naturally, Hermann Weihrauch’s sons, Otto, Werner, and Hermann, Jr., also joined the family company as they grew up. That’s them all in the photograph below.
In 1919 – after World War One – Zella St. Blasii was combined with the town of Mehlis to create the town of Zella-Mehlis. This was the same German town where several other famous gun manufacturers such as Walther and Anschütz also operated.
In this immediate post-war period, the Hermann Weihrauch company introduced a number of new models. These included the HWZ 21 smallbore rifle (HWZ represents Hermann Weihrauch, Zella-Mehlis).
This was the first mass-produced German .22 rimfire rifle and soon developed an excellent record. The company also produced a range of guns – double and triple barrel as well as, over and under models, together with heavy caliber hunting rifles.
In 1928, the company expanded its product range to manufacture and sell bicycles and parts under the “Thuringia” brand, together with hydraulic door closers. This proved to be a good decision and during World War II, Weihrauch continued production of bicycles and spare parts. (The Wehrmacht used a significant number of bicycles, in addition to civilian needs for personal transport).
In a 2018 interview with Hard Air Magazine, Hans-Hermann (usually known as Hans) Weihrauch explained: “Our family tradition in working in the gun trade started in the late 1890s. In 1899 our great-grandfather founded his first company to produce hunting rifles. Over the following decades the company grew and a lot of different models followed as well as other products like pedals and cranks for bicycles and hydraulic door closers.”
“In 1939 the first airgun, an air pistol, was introduced, but due to World War II it never got into production.” Hans continued. “There is at least one prototype still existing. I’ve seen it myself, but unfortunately it’s not owned by us any more.”
“In the early fifties of the last century the first air rifles HW50 and HW 35 were launched. A lot of different models have followed over the years!”
Along with Walther and Anschütz, the company moved westwards after 1945 out of the on-coming Soviet occupation zone. Smart move!
In fact Hermann Weihrauch, Jr. re-located just 30 miles away (but critically West of the Iron Curtain) to the picturesque little village of Mellrichstadt in Bavaria (2025 population 5,500) where the company remains to this day. Here, he re-started the company, initially producing bicycle parts again.
Below. The Mellrichstadt factory in it’s early days.
This is how it looks today!
Weihrauch produced it’s first air rifle, the HW Model 50V in 1950. This airgun had a smooth bore because of Allied Occupation Government rules. Eventually, the the production of rifled barrels was allowed. However, because the production of firearms was still not possible at that time, Hermann Weihrauch Jr. focussed on the production of airguns.
Fortunately for us, air rifle production remained a core part of the Hermann Weihrauch company business, even after the ban on firearm manufacturing was lifted.
The Weihrauch Family Dynasty
Hermann Weihrauch, Jr. – the founder’s son – had navigated his company through some extreme conditions. Sadly he died in 1967 and the company continued under the leadership of Hans Weihrauch, Sr. and his wife Christel.
During the late 1970s, Hans and Christel developed a strong business and social relationship with the Californian Robert Beeman and his wife Toshiko. This was a crucial period resulting in the opening-up of the huge US market for Weihrauch airguns.
Great Britain was another major market for the company. In 1980, three HW35 air rifles were gold-plated and presented to the then-directors of the Hull Cartridge Company. This was to recognize the company’s success in selling Weihrauch products in the UK.
It’s a rare demonstration of corporate loyalty that Hull Cartridge remains Weihrauch’s official UK distributor to this day!
The 1970s and 80s also led to a flowering of new Weihrauch airgun designs, most of which are still with us in 2025. In 1983, air rifle number 1,000,000 was manufactured. A special gold-plated HW35, it was destined for the company’s factory museum.
Sadly Hans Weihrauch, Sr. passed away on 3 April 1990 aged just 63. His business accomplishments were so admired that he was posthumously decorated with the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany. This is the country’s highest federal decoration which had been created by the first President of the Federal Republic of Germany in 1951. That award was a BIG DEAL and showed the importance of his achievements at a national level.
So Christel, together with sons Stefan and Hans-Hermann, took the reins of the company. Christel Weihrauch had always shared in the management of the firm and remained influential until her passing in 2024.
Above, (left to right) Hans-Hermann, Stefan and Christel Weihrauch in 1999.
During the 1990s, Weihrauch established a relationship with the British airgun manufacturer Theoben. One result of this was the HW90, the only gas ram-powered model in the company’s line-up (below).
To this day, Weihrauch recognizes the Theoben heritage in it’s HW90 product descriptions. There’s that amazing corporate loyalty in action again!
Fortunately Stefan and Hans-Hermann were well prepared for their expected future management roles. Both had been involved with the company all of their lives and had received training in engineering and marketing. After Stefan’s passing in 2015, it was Hans-Hermann who led the company – now known as Weihrauch-Sport.
In the 2018 interview with Hard Air Magazine, (above) Hans explained: “At about the age of 10-12 years, I started shooting with an air rifle. My father was a member of a shooting club and took me to a German ‘Schützenhaus’, shooting on a 10 Meter target range. Shooting instructors taught other young guys and myself how to hold the air rifle and to aim at the paper targets.”
“I started this kind of shooting with a HW 55 match type air rifle.” Hans explained to me. “This rifle is still standing in my gun cabinet. I still own it and I am proud of it!”
At the company’s 125 anniversary celebrations in 2024 (below), Hans-Herman’s son Felix was introduced as the CEO of Weihrauch Sport. It is he – the fifth generation Weihrauch – who will take the company forward into the challenges of the future.
Make no mistake: he has the support and best wishes of all airgun enthusiasts!
Weihrauch In The USA
It’s important to note that Weihrauch air rifles have been a vibrant part of the “serious airgun” scene in the USA for over 60 years.
Starting from the early 1980s, Weihrauch manufactured a range of the company’s products in Beeman-branded form for sale in the US market. That is yet another long-lasting relationship that continues with the Beeman R7 and R9 models that you can buy new today from Pyramyd.
This relationship with Beeman is well-known and documented in The Blue Book of Airguns and elsewhere. However, Weihrauch airguns had been sold in the USA well before that branding program began.
Below Hans Weihrauch with Robert Beeman in 1991.
Indeed, Robert Beeman himself had sold Weihrauch-branded air rifles before this. In the December 1, 1976 price list for “Beeman’s Precision Airguns, Inc.” of San Rafael California (devotees will notice the name), the HW30, 35 and 55 models were listed with no Beeman descriptor.
By 1979, the January edition of Beeman Precision Airguns’ “Airgun News”, showed the range as “Beeman/HW” models. Later they became branded as Beeman R7 etc.
But before the Beemans entered the airgun industry, Robert Law’s “Air Rifle Headquarters” had sold Weihrauch airguns. Here was the real founder of the adult airgun market in the USA.
Below. The HW50 as featured in a 1980 Air Rifle headquarters catalog.
The oldest Air Gun Headquarters catalog I have dates from October 1965. This lists both the HW35 and HW55 models. Today, it’s fun to read the HW35E being described as “one of the World’s most powerful spring air arms with an estimated .177 velocity of over 700 fps.”
It’s also interesting to see that the “Weihrauch 35E Special Export Model” was listed at a special discount price – absolutely for a one-time only cash payment – of $59.99!
According to the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, that’s the equivalent of $613.59 in 2025. Today, even the most expensive HW35 variant – the HW35S with walnut stock and stainless look metal – sells for $629.99 at Airguns of Arizona.
So 60 years later, the HW35 is still a popular-selling air rifle with a devoted following. It’s almost the same price, accounting for inflation, and still loved by many. That’s concrete proof of the timeless value and performance of the company’s products.
Over 40 years ago – in 1984 to be precise – the noted British airgun author John Walter stated in his “The Airgun Book” that “Weihrauch is rightly regarded as one of the last bastions of traditional airgunsmithing.” What was true then is even more true today!
Below. Felix Weihrauch with his father Hans-Hermann in 2024.
Acknowledgements:
I would like to thank Felix Weihrauch, Hans Weihrauch and Thilo Schallenkammer for their help in producing this history.
Online References:
Weihrauch company website
Multiple Hard Air Magazine articles
Wikepedia
Hard Copy Refrences:
Weihrauch catalog “125 Years of Family Tradition 1999 – 2024”, 2024.
The Collector’s Guide to Air Rifles, Enlarged Third edition. By Dennis E. Hiller, 1986.
The Airgun Book 3rd edition. By John Walter, 1984.
The Blue Book of Airguns 13th edition. Tom Gaylord et al. 2020.
Multiple Beeman and Air Gun Headquarters catalogs.
The post The History Of Weihrauch appeared first on Hard Air Magazine.
