Joh. Springer’s Erben

Joh. Springer’s Erben is a traditional Viennese gunsmith, arms dealer and hunting outfitter whose roots reach back to the 1830s. The business began with the gunsmith Mathias Nowotny, who settled in Vienna and received his trade licence in 1836. After his death the workshop was bought by Johann Springer, a native of Leutschach in Upper Hungary who had come to Vienna as an engraver and had learned gunsmithing while working for Nowotny. In 1857 Springer renamed the firm “Johann Springer, vorm. Mathias Nowotny” and specialised in luxury hunting weapons, earning exhibition medals and the personal custom of Emperor Franz Joseph I. In 1872 the emperor granted him the k.u.k. Kammer title, and in 1888 his sons Rudolf and Gustav renamed the company “Johann Springer’s Erben” — John Springer’s Heirs. The house became one of the best-known Austro-Hungarian gunmakers, supplying aristocrats such as the Liechtensteins, Esterházys, Coburgs and Orłowskis as well as the imperial court. It received the k.u.k. Hoflieferant title again in 1911 and in the 1930s was appointed purveyor to the princely court of Monaco. The First World War and the collapse of the monarchy brought hard times; during the Second World War the firm was forced to make parts for the V2 weapon. After 1945 it continued to produce shotguns, but weapons manufacturing ceased in December 1955 and the company concentrated on arms trading. Debts forced the sale of the family villa and factory in 1958. Margarethe Springer took over in 1963 and led the firm for 45 years. On 1 April 2008 Christian Johann Springer took over from his mother Margarethe Weixelbraun. The Kagranerplatz 9 branch was expanded to 370 m² for hunting and sporting weapons, militaria and handguns, while the former Graben 10 and Habsburggasse 8 branches moved to Weihburggasse 27, where new and used hunting weapons are offered on 700 m² over three floors. Beyond the traditional arms trade the company has expanded into hunting travel and weapons auctions since autumn 2008. Its services include a workshop for weapon care and repair, a shooting cellar, training for the Austrian weapons licence, shooting courses, and export and import of civilian weapons and ammunition with international partners such as Beretta and the British royal purveyor James Purdey & Sons. The luxury range covers accessories, antique weapons, edged weapons, handguns, shotguns, break-action rifles, combination guns, taxidermy, precision rifles and repeating rifles. In its roughly 180-year existence the house states it has produced more than 10,600 handmade weapons, and a museum in its Vienna flagship store documents the history of the k.u.k. gunsmith legend.

The history of Joh. Springer’s Erben reaches back to the 1830s, when the gunsmith Mathias Nowotny from Königgrätz settled in Vienna. In 1836 he received the licence to practise his trade. He quickly became successful and, besides his workshop in the Josefstadt district, was able to establish a branch at Stock-im-Eisen-Platz 5 in the first district. In 1856, however, he shot himself, and a year later his widow sold the business to Johann Springer. Johann Springer came from Leutschach in Upper Hungary and had arrived in Vienna as an engraver. He mastered the art of finely engraving the coats of arms of aristocratic customers into metal. He also learned gunsmithing and later married Katharina Nowotny, the sister of Mathias Nowotny. For 15 years Springer worked for Nowotny, whose trust he enjoyed. After Nowotny’s death and the takeover of the company, he changed the firm’s name in 1857 to “Johann Springer, vorm. Mathias Nowotny”. He specialised in the production of luxury hunting weapons and won several medals at exhibitions through the quality of his products. The emperor was among his regular customers, and in 1872 he conferred on him the k.u.k. Kammer title, a higher distinction than the Hoflieferant title. In 1875 Johann Springer died, and his widow had to run the business while caring for seven children. The sons Rudolf and Gustav Springer completed part of their training at the firm Brandlin in Birmingham, later took over the company and in 1888 changed its name to “Johann Springer’s Erben”. In the same year Springer had to leave the old house at Stock-im-Eisen-Platz, as it was to be demolished for the new Palais Equitable. The brothers Rudolf and Gustav Springer were able to establish the factory further. The products received the Golden Austrian State Prize and further awards at world exhibitions, such as the Grand Prix of Monte Carlo in 1908. In the 1930s Springer was appointed princely purveyor to the court of Monaco. The k.u.k. Hoflieferant title was conferred again in 1911. Besides the emperor and the imperial court, such as Archduke Franz Ferdinand and Archduchess Maria Theresa, the company counted numerous aristocratic families among its customers, including the Liechtensteins, Esterházys, Coburgs and Orłowskis. Business was good, and in 1912 the company had more than one million gold crowns in outstanding receivables. Springer had its own factory and shop at Josefgasse 10 in the eighth district as well as three sales outlets in Vienna, including Stock-im-Eisen-Platz 5 in the first district and one in Mariahilf. The branch in the first district later moved to Graben 10. The First World War and the collapse of the monarchy brought the company hard times. During the Second World War the firm had to manufacture, among other things, parts for the V2 weapon. After the Second World War shotguns continued to be produced. Customers included Soviet Marshal Konev, General Kaltschenko, Allied officers and the big-game hunter Ernst Zwilling. In 1949 Johann Springer’s daughter Margarethe entered the business. Weapons production finally had to be stopped in December 1955. The arms trade remained a business segment of the company, with industrialists among its customers. Debts grew, however, and in 1958 the family villa and the factory had to be sold to restore the finances. In 1963 Margarethe Springer took over the firm after the early death of her father and led it for 45 years. On 1 April 2008 Christian Johann Springer took over the company from his mother Margarethe Weixelbraun. The branch at Kagranerplatz 9 was expanded: it now carries hunting and sporting weapons, militaria and handguns on 370 m². The former branches at Graben 10 and Habsburggasse 8 were moved to Weihburggasse 27. On 700 m² over three floors, new and used hunting weapons are offered. Besides the traditional segment of the arms trade for hunting and sporting weapons, militaria, handguns and more, the company also expanded into other areas and has offered hunting travel and weapons auctions since autumn 2008. In addition to selling hunting weapons, the company also works with the executive. Products from, for example, Glock are sold to the police, judicial authorities and the federal army. For private security companies such as bodyguards, security services and particularly endangered persons, protective clothing from 5.11 Tactical Series is also offered. The service range of Joh. Springer’s Erben includes a workshop for the care and repair of weapons, a shooting cellar, training for obtaining the weapons licence, shooting courses and shooting training, as well as the export and import of civilian weapons and ammunition in cooperation with international partners such as Beretta or the British royal purveyor James Purdey & Sons. The luxury weapons range includes accessories, antique weapons, edged weapons, handguns, shotguns, break-action rifles, combination guns, taxidermy, precision rifles and repeating rifles. In its 180-year existence the house has produced more than 10,600 handmade weapons, and many prominent figures, including Emperor Franz Joseph I and Emperor Wilhelm II, owned a “JSE rifle”. A museum in the Vienna flagship store makes the history of the k.u.k. gunsmith legend tangible.

• 2008

  Christian Johann Springer takes over on 1 April; expansion into hunting travel and weapons auctions.

• 1963

  Margarethe Springer takes over the firm, leading it for 45 years.

• 1958

  Family villa and factory sold to restore finances.

• 1955

  Weapons production discontinued in December.

• 1949

  Margarethe Springer, daughter of Johann Springer, joins the business.

• 1930

  Appointed princely purveyor to the court of Monaco.

• 1912

  Company holds over one million gold crowns in outstanding receivables.

• 1911

  k.u.k. Hoflieferant title conferred again.

• 1908

  Grand Prix of Monte Carlo awarded at world exhibition.

• 1888

  Sons Rudolf and Gustav rename firm 'Johann Springer’s Erben'; move from Stock-im-Eisen-Platz.

• 1875

  Johann Springer dies; widow runs the business.

• 1872

  Emperor Franz Joseph I grants Johann Springer the k.u.k. Kammer title.

• 1857

  Firm renamed 'Johann Springer, vorm. Mathias Nowotny'.

• 1856

  Mathias Nowotny dies; business sold to Johann Springer the following year.

• 1836

  Mathias Nowotny receives gunsmith licence in Vienna.

Premium traditional Viennese gunsmith and luxury hunting-weapon house with imperial heritage.

• Luxury hunting weapons

• Shotguns

• Break-action rifles

• Combination guns

• Precision rifles

• Repeating rifles

• Handguns

• Antique weapons

• Edged weapons

• Militaria

• Taxidermy

• Protective clothing (5.11 Tactical Series)

1. 1Home | Premium Jagdwaffen I Joh. Springer's Erbenspringer-vienna.com
2. 2Geschichte - Premium Jagdwaffen I Joh. Springer's Erbenspringer-vienna.com
3. 3Über uns - Premium Jagdwaffen I Joh. Springer's Erbenspringer-vienna.com
4. 4Museum - Premium Jagdwaffen I Joh. Springer's Erbenspringer-vienna.com
5. 5Joh. Springer’s Erben - Wikidatawikidata.org
6. 6Joh. Springer’s Erben - Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org