The IWA Outdoor Classics trade show, aka “Euro SHOT Show”, opened yesterday, March 3rd, in Nuremberg, Germany. For four days (March 3-6, 2022), exhibitors from around the world will show their products at the Nuremberg Exhibition Centre. IWA Outdoor Classics is Europe’s biggest combined trade show for the hunting, shooting, and civilian/military security industries. CLICK HERE for MORE PHOTOS.
Three long years have passed since the last IWA Outdoor Classics in 2019. In years past this been a hugely popular event, attracting over 45,500 trade visitors from 115 countries. This year 918 exhibitors from a total of 54 countries will present their latest products and services in ten exhibit halls. We are pleased to see the IWA Outdoor Classics return in 2022 after the event was cancelled due to COVID in 2020 and 2021.
Anschutz straight-pull action Biathlon rifle with interesting skeletonized grips.
European Market for Civilian Firearms is Thriving
While IWA show attendance may be lower this year, Europe’s civilian firearms industries are thriving, based on data from the European Institute of Hunting and Sporting Arms (IEACS). “Global production of civilian firearms has increased in recent years, as has European production, which recorded 3.6 million firearms produced in 2020, of which 2.7 million were pistols and 900,000 were shotguns and rifles. Compared to the previous year, this represents a 34% increase in European firearms production,” said Nicola Perrotti, IEACS president.
About the IWA Outdoor Classics Trade Show
What is now the IWA Outdoor Classics trade show began 49 years ago as Germany’s national product show for gunsmiths and gun retailers. That product show started modestly in 1973 with less than 100 exhibitors. Over the past five decades IWA Outdoor Classics has grown into a massive event, drawing the major players in the hunting, security, and shooting sports industries. In the firearm universe, the IWA event is second only to America’s SHOT Show in importance.
IWA Live Talks – Long Range Shooting and Hunting
In this IWA-hosted video, Nic Kytlica, Shooting Sports Marketing Manager at Leupold, explains how modern optical and electronic technology has enhanced long-range shooting. Nic also explains key equipment used for long-range shooting and hunting. The video also covers the rise of long-range competition shooting in Europe. To view other IWA Live Talks, CLICK HERE.
Parting Shot — Cookies from Germany
Photos courtesy NürnbergMesse.
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Breaking News: The organizers of the IWA Outdoor Classics Trade Show — the Euro SHOT Show — have postponed the event. The event will NOT be held March 6-9, 2020 in Nuremberg, Germany, as planned, but will be re-scheduled for a later “date in 2020, which has yet to be determined”. NürnbergMesse, operator of the show facility, declared the event is being postponed due to health concerns related to the Coronavirus, COVID-19.
Petra Wolf, Member of the Management Board of NürnbergMesse stated:
“We hope that the industry will understand the decision to postpone. The aim of every exhibition has to be to create a special experience for exhibitors and visitors likewise and to enable networking and expansion of existing business relations. Unfortunately, this goal cannot be achieved under the current circumstances. We are aware of the great importance of the IWA for our exhibitors and visitors. All the more reason for us to put high pressure on the task to find the best possible alternative date for such an important event for our customers.”
NOTE: The Enforce Tac trade show, which normally runs before the IWA Outdoor Classics event, will also be postponed in 2020.
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Today is Super Sunday in Nuremberg. This is the third day of the annual IWA Outdoor Classics trade show, the biggest gun/hunting/outdoor trade show outside the USA. Over 1600 companies are displaying their products. The IWA event, held each spring in Nuremberg, Germany, opened Friday in the Nürnberg Exhibition Centre. The show runs four days, March 8-11, 2019. Here is our IWA Day 3 report, with more images from the show. Photo Credit for IWA images: NuernbergMesse / Frank Boxler and Thomas Geiger, All Rights Reserved.
Here a visitor checks out an impressive Minerva-series Tactical Rifle from Victrix Armaments, an Italian rifle-maker affiliated with Beretta. Along with modular tactical rigs, Victrix also makes quality F-Class rifles, prone guns, and hunting rifles. SEE VICTRIX RIFLES HERE.
Yes, there were many AR-platform rifles on display at the IWA Outdoor Classics show.
A recent test of the Swarovski dS (see video below) proved this state-of-the-art “smart optic” delivers on its promise — no more dialing knobs. Swarovski’s $4500+ 5-25×52 dS features a built-in laser rangefinder and internal microprocessor.
Working with a smartphone App, the Swaro’s sophisticated ballistics computer calculates your trajectory at any distance and then displays an aim point on your reticle. It even adjusts the aim point for the wind (with data entered wirelessly via mobile device).
Here is a line-up of new Aimpoint rifle scopes. Aimpoint is much more than Red Dots these days…
Pride of Pedersoli. This display showcased handsome Pedersoli side-hammer (Sharps) and falling-block rifles from Italy. Note also the collection of Vernier-type Tang Sights.
Bling is the thing. This eye-catching Magnum Research Desert Eagle was at the IWA New Product Center.
There were also many vintage pistols on display. This is an original Borchardt Model 1893 semi-auto handgun, father of the famous 9mm Luger pistol.
The IWA Outdoor Classics started decades ago as a hunting exhibition, and it still retains that focus. Here is an impressive display of horns and hunting-related items.
IWA Archery Range at Nürnberg Exhibition Centre
IWA Outdoor Classics visitors could test their archery skills with both conventional bows and with crossbows at the Show’s Archery Center. This offered an interesting “hands-on” experience for many show-goers.
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The IWA Outdoor Classics trade show is the biggest gun/hunting/outdoor trade show outside the USA. This year 1622 companies are displaying their products and IWA attendance should approach 50,000. The IWA event, held each spring in Nuremberg, Germany, opened yesterday in the Nürnberg Exhibition Centre. The show runs four days, March 8-11, 2019. Here is our IWA Day 2 report, with more images from the show. Photo Credit for IWA images: NuernbergMesse / Frank Boxler and Thomas Geiger, All Rights Reserved.
High-tech Steiner M7Xi IFS 4-28x56mm optic. That box on the end includes a digital display with level and windage/elevation read-outs.
Spectacular one-of-a-kind Walther Q5 pistol with full engraving and custom grips. Wow.
More Walthers — These are Olympic-grade competition Air Pistols.
What’s an outdoor show without a Land Rover and safari gear?
How do you make a beautiful gunstock? Start with a beautiful wood blank. Some stunning Turkish walnut blanks were on display at the IWA Show.
Beautiful Sauer rifle with engraved receiver and presentation grade wood.
There were plenty of handsome wheelguns on display at the Smith & Wesson booth. Accurate revolvers will never go out of style.
We liked this slide-out, mobile gun-locker for rifles and gear. Now that’s some serious storage!
Leading American shooting supplies vendor Brownells has a HUGE presence at IWA.
IWA New Products Center
Along with the main displays for 1600+ exhibitors, the IWA Show features a dedicated New Products Center. Here you’ll find a wide spectrum of new items — airguns, electronics, optics, hunting clothing, knives, cleaning products and more…
We have no idea what this woman is doing with that gadget, but it has something to do with Swarovski Optik. Maybe some kind of virtual reality? What’s your guess?
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Here is a “birds-eye view” from IWA. Yes that’s a mini-blimp at lower left.
After SHOT Show in the USA, the IWA Outdoor Classics is the biggest gun/hunting/outdoor trade show in the world. The IWA event, held each spring in Nuremberg, Germany, concludes Monday, March 12 after a 4-day run in the Nürnberg Exhibition Centre. This is a big event — 1562 exhibitors from around the globe are showcasing their products. IWA attendance, which has grown steadily, is expected to top 50,000 visitors this year.
Many beautiful custom hunting rifles are on display. Note the stunning wood and the elaborate metal-work on bolt and action. Don’t ask about the price…
Here are a pair of Olympic-grade Steyr air pistols. Designed for one-handed shooting, these feature very ergonomic wood grips.
Toggle action biathlon rifles like this Anschutz captured medals at the recent Winter Olympics in South Korea. Not the handy magazine storage on the fore-arm.
Along with displays of guns, optics, and hunting gear, the IWA show features workshop areas where skilled artisans practice their trades — you can see engraving, wood-carving, and other skills in action.
Along with match rifles and hunting rigs, there were some serious sniper rifles on display. Here a German lady gets behind a Steyr SSG M1, offered in 7.61×51 NATO and .338 Lapua Magnum.
Bling was the thing at some pistol booths. These colorful Strike One handguns are made by Arsenal Arms in Italy (more sedate colors are also offered). A Russian-Italian design collaboration, the Strike One uses a Bergmann barrel system which does not tilt (unlike the widely-used Browning system). This allows for an extremely low bore axis.
Multiple vendors had some beautifully-figured stock blanks on display. The most desirable Turkish Walnut blanks can cost thousands of dollars.
Here are some handsome Winchester Model 1866 (Yellowboy) rifles with highly-decorated receivers. This classic American design is now crafted in Italy by Uberti.
Major German rifle-makers Blaser, Mauser, and Sauer all had large, prominent displays at the IWA Show in the Nuremberg Exhibition Centre.
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The IWA Outdoor Classics trade show, aka “Euro SHOT Show”, opened today, March 3rd, in Nuremberg, Germany. For the next four days (March 3-6), 1455 exhibitors will show their products at the Nuremberg Exhibition Centre. This is a hugely popular event — last year’s IWA Outdoor Classics trade show attracted 45,530 trade visitors from 115 countries, and attendance should be even higher this year. IWA is Europe’s biggest combined trade show for the hunting, shooting, and civilian/military security industries. And this year, IWA Outdoor Classics was coordinated with EnforceTac, a two-day Law Enforcment/Security trade show held in Nuremberg March 1-2, 2017.
IWA even features an indoor Archery Range. For many years, the Archery Range has been a popular gathering place where exhibitors and visitors can practice their skills and learn about the latest archery products up close and personal.
About the IWA Outdoor Classics Trade Show
What is now the IWA Outdoor Classics trade show began 44 years ago as Germany’s national product show for gunsmiths and gun retailers. That product show started modestly in 1973 with less than 100 exhibitors. Over the past four decades IWA Outdoor Classics has grown into a massive event, drawing the major players in the hunting, security, and shooting sports industries. In the firearm universe, the IWA event is second only to America’s SHOT Show in importance.
2016 IWA Show Highlights:
Photos courtesy NürnbergMesse.
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Our friend Vince Bottomley and the Target Shooter Magazine team from the UK is in Germany this week for the IWA Outdoor Classics trade show, aka “Euro SHOT Show”. The big IWA outdoor Expo opened Friday in Nuremberg, Germany. Oh his first day at IWA, Vince already found some interesting products.
Here are a pair of German-engineered Turban reloading presses. Vince writes: “The [press] offered by Turban (Turban-cnc.de) is the ultimate. With this press you just wouldn’t want to stop reloading!” Turban makes presses for all sizes of cartridges. Look at the size of the die on the press on the right. Much like a Forster Co-Ax, the Turban’s priming system sends spent primers down a pipe to a cup.
Vince also discovered a very high-tech, ultra-light-weight F-TR bipod that is mostly carbon fiber. This looks like it belongs on a Formula 1 car. Vince says the Talon Mark 7 bipod is “super light and strong”. We like the arm design, but the feet need to be changed out. Those curved feet are like the Gen One SEB Joy-Pod feet. We’ve learned that flat, wide, ski-type feet work better — recoil is smoother with less hop. The longer, wider feet distribute rifle weight over a larger surface so you get less point-loading and less tendency to bounce with the energy pulse from each shot.
Here are other photos from the IWA Show, courtesy NürnbergMesse:
4944 Products in 2016 IWA Product Showcase
If you want to see all the guns and gear featured at the 2016 IWA show, visit the IWA Products Page on the web. There you’ll find descriptions of 4944 featured products, everything from ballistics software to safari rifles. Click on the “New Products” link to see 569 featured new items. You can browse all new products, or Choose Product by Category. For the main product categories (Such as Guns, Ammo, and Optics), you can further search by subcategory (e.g. Guns > Rifles, or Optics > Rangefinders).
Germany is the center of the gun world this week. Now through March 9, 2015 Nuremberg (Nürnberg) hosts the IWA Outdoor Classics trade show, Europe’s largest gun-related exposition. Nearly 1400 exhibitors will be displaying new guns, shooting accessories, and hunting gear. We know many of our readers would love to experience the IWA trade show first-hand, but traveling to Europe is impractical. Well for you guys, here are the keys to the castle. Just follow the tips below and you can preview thousands of products currently on display in Germany.
4707 Products in 2015 IWA Product Showcase
If you want to see all the guns and gear featured at the 2015 IWA show, visit the IWA Products Page on the web. There you’ll find descriptions of 4707 featured products, everything from ballistics software to safari rifles. Click on the “New Products” link to see 554 featured new items. You can browse all new products, or Choose Product by Category. For the main product categories (Such as Guns, Ammo, and Optics), you can further search by subcategory (e.g. Guns > Rifles, or Optics > Rangefinders).
Newcon Optik 12,000-meter LRB 12K Night GPS-Enabled Smart Rangefinder:
The LRB 12K and LRB 12KNIGHT from Newcon Optik are built to outperform any handheld laser rangefinder binocular available today. Features include: A 12,000m (NATO target) measuring range, built-in digital magnetic compass, built-in GPS receiver, and in the LRB 12KNIGHT a Gen 3 night-vision channel. Through USB and RS-232 interfaces, the LRB 12K and LRB 12KNIGHT can be operated remotely, and transmit data to external GPS systems and ballistic computers. Both units can communicate with Android™-based smartphones and tablets.
Alexander Arms Ulfberht .338 Lapua Rifle:
Here is the Ulfberht semi-automatic, .338 Lapua Magnum rifle from Alexander Arms. The rifle features a custom-designed gas piston operating system, steel receiver, 27.5-inch chrome moly barrel with 1:9.3″ twist, three-prong flash hider, folding Magpul PRS stock, and Geissele SSA® two-stage, match-type trigger. The rifle is 41.25 inches long with the stock folded and 50 inches long with the stock extended. Total rifle weight is 19.8 pounds.
Bluetooth-Enabled Ear Muffs with Retractable Microphone.
The Swedish-designed Hunter SMART Active Hearing protection system lets a hunter communicate with his guide or hunting companion. This works with reachargeable AA batteries and it can also play music. These electronic muffs boast bluetooth connectivity, with a retractable mic, and mini-USB port.
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The IWA Outdoor Classics trade show, aka “Euro SHOT Show”, opened today, March 6th, in Nuremberg, Germany. For the next four days (March 6-9), 1383 exhibitors will show their products at the Nuremberg Exhibition Centre. This is a hugely popular event — last year’s IWA Outdoor Classics trade show attracted 39,244 visitors from 117 countries, and attendance should be even higher this year. IWA is Europe’s biggest combined trade show for the hunting, shooting, and civilian/military security industries. And this year, IWA Outdoor Classics was coordinated with EnforceTac, a two-day Law Enforcment/Security trade show held in Nuremberg March 4-5, 2015.
IWA even features an indoor Archery Range. For many years, the Archery Range (located in Hall 5) has been a popular gathering place where exhibitors and visitors can practice their skills and learn about the latest archery products up close and personal.
About the IWA Outdoor Classics Trade Show
What is now the IWA Outdoor Classics trade show began 42 years ago as Germany’s national product show for gunsmiths and gun retailers. That product show started modestly in 1973 with less than 100 exhibitors. Over the past four decades IWA Outdoor Classics has grown into a massive event, drawing the major players in the hunting, security, and shooting sports industries. In the firearm universe, the IWA event is second only to America’s SHOT Show in importance. This video (produced in 2013) shows IWA highlights from the past four decades:
Photos by IWA NürnbergMesse
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The IWA & OutdoorClassics trade show is underway right now in Nuremberg, Germany. The show, which opened its doors on Friday, March 11, concludes Monday, March 14th in the Nuremberg Exhibition Center. After SHOT Show in America, this is the second largest gun/hunting/outdoor sports trade fair in the world. In 2010, 1,141 exhibitors from 55 nations presented their products and services to 32,214 trade visitors from more than 102 countries. Nearly 60% of visitors come from countries other than Germany, making IWA & OutdoorClassics a truly multinational industry gathering.
You can watch videos from the 2011 IWA show using this player. You can also access videos from previous years. To enlarge the videos to full screen, click the little icon with arrows at four corners.
You can read more about the IWA show in the IWA NEWS Daily. These digital journals, produced each show-day in PDF format, contain interesting articles and showcase many new products at the show. It’s worth scanning the IWA NEWS just to check out the latest advertisements from European manufacturers. You’ll find some cool products we otherwise never see on this side of the Atlantic.
The 36th Annual IWA & OutdoorClassics trade show, the European equivalent of our SHOT Show, came to a successful close yesterday, March 16th. The 3-day exhibition, largest in Europe, drew more exhibitors than ever before — 1,132 from 53 nations. The 2009 event also set a new high in the number of IWA visitors, estimated at 32,000. The largely confident mood at IWA (despite the economic crisis) was tempered by concerns over the school shooting in Winnenden.
Despite the world economic downturn, IWA exhibitors observed that sales and orders remain strong. “With an export share of 80 per cent in some cases, it was feared before the start of IWA that the economic crisis would bring the industry a drop in sales in 2009 after a number of good years. But this has not been confirmed [yet]; the exhibitors are very satisfied with the course of the exhibition,” says Olaf Sauer, President of the Verband der Hersteller von Jagd-, Sportwaffen und Munition (JSM). Klaus Gotzen, General Manager of JSM, adds: “The strength of the industry lies in the high quality and innovativeness of its products. The great response from the visitors and the record number of exhibitors show that the industry is closing ranks to face the global challenge”.
For more information about the IWA arms show, visit the IWA Web Site, or download this official Survey of IWA Exhibitors and Visitors from the 2008 exhibition. The Video below shows many of the exhibits at the 2009 IWA show. (Note: there is a soundtrack so turn down your speakers if you’re at work.)
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