Gun Makers Mauser & 'H&K' in Oberndorf:

GERMAN GENIUS:

In 1806 the Augustinian Roman Catholic Monastery (built 1264 C.E.) in Oberndorf (Kingdom of Wurttemberg) was taken-over by the local 'Royals' .. a political deal stemming from the Napoleonic wars.

Augustine Monastery Becomes Arms Factory. 1824.

What's this got to do with anything? - Well - Hard times followed the monks leaving - & these buildings on the River Neckar became used as barracks and then State owned iron works machinery was moved in and used to make weaponry. The monastery church was used as a coal and raw materials store .. The river was used to drive a water wheel and they made barrels for flintlock rifles and pistols, bayonets, spear heads, spurs, battle axes, sabers, & rifles.

By 1815 they were really on a roll and 100 workers produced 3,600 rifles, carbines & cavalry sabers that year. - In 1838 a certain (Peter) Paul Mauser was born in Oberndorf .. born to be a gunsmith like his father (Master Gunsmith Andreas Mauser) before him and his four older brothers - so in 1852 aged 14 he started work. (Mother Merira Agatha had thirteen children there).

Twenty years later in 1872 the Mauser Brothers opened their own factory .. and a mere two years later took-over ownership of the struggling Royal Wurttenburg Factory and it's old monastery buildings - giving them three factories in Oberndorf.

(The "German Empire" was unified and formed the year before in 1871 under Otto von Bismark.)

Paul Mauser was the leading engineer and Wilhelm ran the business side.

Their Gewehr 98 was patented by Paul Mauser in 1898.

.. Cocked On Opening:

I've never owned a German Mauser - but had a couple of excellent Swedish 6.5 x 55 mm Mausers.

6.5 x 55 mm Swedish Mauser.

All "Swedes" - whether Swedish built or German - used high-grade Swedish nickel-copper-vanadium steel and - cocked on closing like the British Lee-Enfields. That 6.5 x 55 mm round is a 'good'un'.

Beautiful quality and fine shooting Mausers.

There are well known variations of the classic M 98 Action: - Short Mauser actions .. Long & even Intermediate - small ring and large ring .. these actions and rifles are widely appreciated and have been made around the world in various calibers.

21st Century OBERNDORF

 - Now Home To Heckler & Koch.

H & K Factory - Up The Hill A Bit.

- Where they make (alongside other good stuff) the HK416 rifle - an upgraded M4 type with a short stroke piston & rotating bolt that is replacing M4s with US Marines and multiple Infantry Units.

.. Piston Action H&K doesn't "crap on it's own dinner plate" like the original Stoner 'Direct Impingement' system!

Superior Performance From German Engineers.

H&K MR556A1 Civilian Version NOW AVAILABLE.

Marty K.