Dieter Anschütz Retires. Son Jochen Takes Helm.
Dieter Anschütz, president of the J.G. ANSCHÜTZ GmbH & Co. KG retired on March 31, 2008. Dieter Anschütz has lead the company since 1968. For the past 16 years, Dieter has been aided by his son Jochen. As of April 1, Jochen Anschütz takes over as sole president of the German rifle manufacturer.
Jochen will become the fifth generation of the Anschütz family to lead the company. The company was founded by Julius Gottfried Anschütz in 1856 and located in the Thuringian city of Zella-Mehlis until 1945. The innovative spirit of the founder and the following generations helped the small gunsmith shop grow to become one of Europe’s leading rifle and pistol manufacturers. World War II put a sudden end to this story of success. But, after the war, brothers Max and Rudolf Anschütz re-established the company in Ulm, West Germany. These brothers proved able successors to their grandfather who founded the ANSCHÜTZ company. Today, as in the 19th Century, the management of the company remains a family affair.
New Rimfire Benchrest Anschütz Rifle
Among the new products for 2008 are a new rimfire benchrest rifle, the Model 64 S BR, based on the model 64 action. Chambered in either 22LR and 17 HMR, the gun weighs 9.5 lbs with a 20″ barrel (on the 22LR). The gun features a wide flat fore-end, and a 2-stage match trigger, set by the factory at 7.4 ounces. An extended adjustable buttplate is optional, though we question why one would want that on a benchrest gun. Still, the rifle looks like an interesting design that should find a market in the USA, at least in informal club competition. For more information, visit Anschutz-Sporters.com, or download the 2008 brochure:
ANSCHÜTZ 2008 Brochure (English 1.5 mb PDF file).
