History

Joh. Springer’s Erben – gunmaking tradition since 1836

HISTORY OF THE TRADITION-RICH COMPANY JOH. SPRINGER’S ERBEN

Hundred eighty years of Gunmaking Tradition

1830-1880

Throughout the Great War

1908-1963

Joh. Springer’s Erben today

2000-2022

Throughout the Great War

The brothers Rudolf and Gustav Springer succeeded in establishing the factory in the Josefsgasse and their products received the Golden Austrian State Prize and many other awards such as the Monte Carlo Grand Prix Award in 1908.

The k.u.k. title of Purveyor to the Imperial Court of Austria was successively renewed in 1911. In addition to the Austrian imperial court many members including the emperor himself and such illustrious figures as Archduke Franz Ferdinand and Archduchess Maria Theresia, the company’s customers included numerous noble families, including Liechtenstein, Esterházy, Coburg and Orłowskis.

Springer maintained its own factory and display at Josefgasse 10 in the 8th district and three storefronts in Vienna, including the Graben in the 1st district and Mariahilf.

The First World War and the collapse of the monarchy brought difficult times to the country and the company.

In the interwar period the company prospered due to the sale of the now famous Springer shotguns (side lock double shotguns of exceptional quality), which were produced and sold throughout Europe. In the 1930s, Joh. Springer’s Erben was additionally appointed as the purveyor of arms to the court of Monaco.

During the Second World War, the company had to manufacture parts for the V2 rockets, among other things. Gustav Springer died in 1944 and his nephew Johann Paul Springer became the new principal of the firm. His challenge was to rebuild the company after the Second World War.

1955 the production of weapons was resumed and attracted the custom of personages such as the Soviet Marshal Konew and General Kaltschenko, noted allied officers as well as the big game hunter Ernst Zwilling. Due to growing debts, the production of weapons had to be stopped in December 1956, but the trade of weapons remained as a line of business for the company.

Despite attracting several industrial scale customes, debts increased due to the economic climate in Austria and in 1958 the family villa and the factory (today the Hotel Josefshof) had to be sold to reorganize the finances.

In 1963 Gustav Springer passed away and his daughter Margarethe Springer took over the company. She managed it for the next 45 years and oversaw the re-establishment of the company in the post-war period.