#Mannlicher schoenauer rifle history full#
Werndl’s long-standing and dogged negotiations with clients from foreign countries came to full fruition only after his death. Josef Werndl died unexpectedly from pneumonia on 29 April, 1889. By 1889 the number of workers employed at the factory exceeded 10,000. With its new repeater and the great reputation of the arms factory for the precision of its products, the interchangeability of parts, and its high production capacity, the company received a many large-scale-orders. This new rifle, the 11mm Mannlicher 1886, brought renewed prosperity to the company and once again it began to receive orders from around the world. In 1885, the company developed the „Mannlicher System“ repeating rifle which was notable for its straight pull-locking design and in-line 5 round magazine. However, during 1877 demand dropped and while the company continued to produce rifles for various contracts a sluggish period in the company’s history began. During this period the factory employed up to 6,000 workers and the weekly production reached 8,000 rifles. Werndl succeeded extremely well in establishing business connections abroad, and as a result received many orders from different countries. The following period was characterized by a rapid increase in arms production. In course of this project, the Österreichische Waffenfarbriksgesellschaft (Austrian Arms Manufacturing Company) a joint stock company was formed.
In order to be able to complete this large volume order it was necessary to expand the production plant and to increase the number of employees at the factory. By autumn of the same year, the order was increased by an additional 150,000 pieces. On 28 July, 1867 Werndl got the order to produce 100,000 rifles in caliber 11.15mm. Werndl and his technical director Karl Holub submitted their concept of a reliable, simple and at the same time inexpensive breechloader to the central military administrative authority who decided to procure the rifle. From this parent company eventually emerged the firms of „Österreichische Waffenfabriksgesellschaft“ (Austrian Arms Manufacturing Company), and subsequently the companies Steyr Werke AG, Steyr-Daimler Puch AG and the today’s group subsidiary Steyr Mannlicher. The company had its beginnings on 16 April, 1864 when Josef Werndl founded the company known as Josef und Franz Werndl & Company Waffenfabrik und Sägemühle in Oberletten (Josef and Franz Werndl & Partners, Weapons Factory and Sawmill in Oberletten). Research the history on your own weapon or simply browse to see how Steyr-Mannlicher has led the way in „highest quality and innovation“ for over 100 years. It includes facts and pictures of historical weapons located in the „Waffensaal“ or historic weapons museum located inside the factory. This book written and translated into English by the authors chronicles the history of Steyr-Mannlicher weapons over the years.
REISINGER Reinolf, AIGNER Friedrich: The history of Steyr Mannlicherġ36 pages, many figurs and photos (mostly col.), hardcover Kategorien: Austriaca, Erster Weltkrieg, Österreichische Militärgeschichte, Waffentechnik, Zweiter Weltkrieg Schlagwörter: Austria, Austro-Hungarian Army, carbines, Fruwirth, hunting rifles, Kropatschek, Mannlicher, military, ordnance weapons, pistols, Prewar, Roth, Schönauer, Weaponry, Werndl, World War 1, World War 2