Weihrauch
Weihrauch is an arms brand that has made quite a name with its exceptional high-quality airguns. These accurate air rifles and air pistols are durable too, often being passed down from one generation to the other. Read more
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Where's Weihrauch from?
Weihrauch is a German airgun manufacturer with a history that goes back to 1899, when Hermann Weihrauch (hence the HW-prefixes on the airgun model names) started his own business making hunting rifles. He did that in Zella Mehlis, a town in Thüringen where Walther and Anschütz also have their origins. There must have been something really good in the water over there…
In 1928 Weihrauch diversified with bicycle parts and metal parts for doors. However, after the Second World War, they were evicted from their house and factory in 1948 by the communistic regime, effectively ending the business. Son Hermann Weihrauch Jr. left to the Bavarian (Bayern) town of Mellrichstadt, just a couple of kilometres from the Iron Curtain, the border between East and West. There he restarted the company with his son Hans. Again in bicycle parts, as German companies weren’t allowed to produce weapons right after the war.
When they finally were allowed to produce airguns, albeit unrifled, they developed the Weihrauch HW50 V smooth bore air rifle. Eventually, the rifling-ban was lifted and accurate, high-quality airguns could be made. The fact it was still forbidden for Germans to produce firearms, might be one of the reasons why German air rifles are as good as they are and have made a rock-solid name regarding quality, durability and accuracy.
What makes Weihrauch so good?
Weihrauch is well-known for producing exceptionally good airguns. And right so, as their air rifles and air pistols have the deserved reputation of being durable and accurate. These facts can be shown as proof that Weihrauch’s got it right with their production process and company philosophy. The accomplished family company focuses on quality before quantity, cementing them solidly amongst their top tiers more than a century after the business start-up.
Weihrauch has left its wooden sheds for some time now, producing airguns in very modern facilities with computerised technology such as CNC-milling machines, et cetera. However, they still highly value traditional craftsmanship as part of the production process. That’s why they don’t settle for just batch testing the parts that are produced with the precision machinery. Every single component is examined by skilful workers on precision, dimensional accuracy and, when a part is metal, the prober hardening. Hardening, by the way, is done in-house. As is grinding and surface treatments like bluing, anodising and nickel plating. The polishing of the parts is also an in-house process.
In Weihrauch’s philosophy, you can only have total control of the production process if you actually examine each and every part that is made. This will definitely take more time, but is the only guarantee for top quality. For this, Weihrauch is adamant to use the skills of craftspeople over robotic eyes and feelers. Where improvements can be made with modern production methods, they will, but Weihrauch still values micrometers, the human eye and the human touch in certain areas. The sight and feel of skilfully trained craftspeople cannot be beaten, which is the reason why you still see a lot of traditional production methods, where workers are operating lathes, pressing machines and so on.
Having read the above, it won’t surprise you to learn that all Weihrauch airguns are completely hand-assembled. And every air rifle and air pistol is tested on the firing range for speed, accuracy and consistency. Only if it passes these last scrupulous teste, a Weihrauch airgun is send to our store for you to buy.
That’s why a Weihrauch is accurate
The accuracy of an air rifle or air pistol depends on many different variables, but the most important thing is that parts are well-fitting with the bare minimum of tolerance. Every bit of play or deviation in dimension will affect accuracy. But as you’ve been reading above, Weihrauch checks and measures every single part. No worries there then.
Lots of airgun manufacturers opt for quality barrels of others, but Weihrauch takes complete control of their own barrel making. The metal is machined in-house and every barrel is meticulously checked with expert eyes. Barrels that don’t precisely meet the expert’s criteria, are cancelled or are being recalibrated in an ancient manually operated straightening device. It perfectly fits the Weihrauch-philosophy: when traditional craftsmanship beats modern technology, technology can wait. It’s this way of thinking that has made Weihrauch one of the best.
What certainly has a big influence on the accuracy of an airgun too, is its trigger. The smoother the trigger, the less movement you bring into your airgun. When it comes to triggers, Weihrauch has built-up quite the reputation over the years. Did you know that Weihrauch’s famous 2-stage Rekord trigger, that can be found on lots of Weihrauchs, was developed halfway the 50’s for the HW35. The fact an ancient (but perfect) design like that is still used, has been copied by others and still is considered one of the best airgun triggers around, says a lot. Just like the fact that the HW35 is still being produced too.
Want to buy a Weihrauch?
We’ve got a wide range of Weihrauch air rifles and air pistols in our store and webshop. As well as a great diversity of Weihrauch accessories, such as moderators, magazines, et cetera. In our store, you can see and hold the products and any questions you have will be answered by our experts. If you already know what you want and you want it as soon as possible, you can also order in our webshop. One click on the button and a Weihrauch is delivered at your address in no-time.