1856
With 1,000 gold talers, an unwavering entrepreneurial spirit and professional skill, Julius Gottfried Anschütz began the success story of J. G. ANSCHÜTZ GmbH & Co. KG in Zella-Mehlis, Tühringen.
Company founder Julius Gottfried Anschütz, ca. 1890
Marie Luise Anschütz, ca. 1890
The founder overcame the difficult first few years thanks to his wife Marie Luise Anschütz. Fortunately, she had a considerable fortune, which she invested in her husband's company without hesitation. She became his most loyal companion in the realization of his ideas.
The first trademark of the newly founded company had a rounded character. This was probably only due to the fact that Julius Gottfried Anschütz strongly stylised the "G" of his middle name, almost making a "C" out of it, and then interwove it with the two other initials "J" a again stylised "I" and an oversized "A". This signet soon led to the Germaniawaffenwerk in Zella-Mehlis usually being called "IGA" in short and concise terms. And Dieter Anschütz often says that his schoolmates and childhood friends in Zella-Mehlis only called him "IG".
The first company logo lasted until 1901.
The choice of a round company logo certainly also had a practical background. Since every weapon received a manufacturer's stamp, this clear shape was a natural choice, which could even be easily applied to a small embossing stamp. This stamp is still clearly recognizable on many old weapons today.
One of the few photographs of company founder J.G. Anschütz (on the staircase at the top) shows him in 1897 in front of his home, where one room was also rented out as a post office. The house was built in 1896 and it also housed the first offices of the ANSCHÜTZ company. Fritz August Anschütz (center), great-grandfather of today's managing director Jochen Anschütz, stands in front of his father. To the left is his wife Adele and to the right in front (in a black dress) Marie Luise Anschütz.
The illustration below shows what is probably the oldest model. Lefaucheux developed the pin-fire cartridge in 1836. The gun had a very old bolt model (bolt). Production of this pistol began in 1870 and continued until the First World War .
The range of products offered by the master gunsmith and his Germaniawaffenwerk grew rapidly and soon also included Flobert, target pistols and Tezerolen (small muzzle-loading pocket pistols), revolvers, air rifles, Teschings, boys' sockets, hunting and target rifles, single-barrel shotguns, double hunting shotguns, Mauser and Martini rifles, triplets, double teschings and accessories.
Flobert pistols
The saloon pistols with different barrel lengths were manufactured from 1890 to 1939.
Centerfire revolver
The model no. 603 M.R. in caliber 320 and 380 as well as the model no. 601 8/4 were manufactured between 1890 and 1920.
Germania Warnant-Tesching
Old Barreled action, production from 1880 until the beginning of the Second World War.
Flobert target pistol
Manufactured around 1890 to the mid-1920s, occasionally even later.
Bulldog revolver
A very popular weapon at the time, manufactured and supplied from 1890 until the end of the Second World War.
Pocket revolver
A very popular pocket revolver manufactured and supplied from about 1890 until the end of World War II.
ANSCHÜTZ manufactured thousands of these weapons and found buyers for them all over the world. The fact that revolvers promised good business around 1900 was shown by the large number of manufacturers in Mehlis at the time. Richard Anschütz, brother of Julius Gottfried, also founded a gun factory in Mehlis. This existed until about 1928 and employed over 120 people in the last few years.
Richard Anschütz (far left) with his son Robert (2nd from left) and the workforce in front of his factory building in the period after the transition to the 20th century.
