Leithner, Wolfgang- Ischl

By Larry B. Schuknecht

The Leithner family in Ischl, Austria has a long history of fine gunmaking. Thanks to Josef Ahammer and his book Verzeichnis Österreichischer Büchsenmacher we have a good summery of the many generations of that family.

Benedikt Leithner- The first of the Leithner family to be recorded as a gun maker, he was born in 1712 and in 1738 married Rosina Aberger. In 1763 at the age of 51 Benedikt became a Büchsenmacher (gun maker). They had a son- Franz Wolfgang Leithner who followed in the trade.

Franz Wolfgang Leithner- Born in 1738 he followed in his fathers trade. In 1766 he married Elisabeth Klachl. They had a son-Wolfgang Leithner.

Wolfgang Leithner Sr.- Born in 1778, in 1810 he married the gunsmith’s widow Konstanze Schickeneder.

Wolfgang Leithner Jr.- Born in 1811 he is recorded as being a gunmaker between 1850 and 1880 but may have been active in the trade much earlier. It appears that he worked with a merchant- Eleonore Ramsauer (who was a supplier to his Majesty Emperor Franz Josef I) to develop the famous “Ischlerstutzen” which was a favorite rifle of the Emeror. The well known “Ischlerstutzen” was a short, large caliber percussion muzzle loading rifle designed for hunting in the Mountains. His trademark became a Gemsbok (male Chamois) of Silver or Gold inlayed into the cheek piece (see one of the following pictures).

A typical “Ischlerstutzen” made by Wolfgang Leithner with the sliding cover patch box, short barrel and harp trigger guard.

The young Emperor Franz Joseph I and his son posing with a “Ischlerstutzen”.

Franz Leithner- Born around 1850 the son of Wolfgang Leithner Jr. he followed the gun makers trade until 1905 when he became the Bürgermeister of Ischl. Johann Von Lidl took over his business. He served as Bürgermeister until 1919.

The following images are courtesy-

Following is another Ischlerstutzen recently sold by Springer’s Erben and courtesy of them.

Wolfgang Leitner Ischlerstutzen

Barrel length 57 cm (22.5″), stock length 33 cm (13″), overall length 96 cm (97.5″), weight 2.9 kg, year of manufacture circa 1860, condition apart from defects 3-4. Barrel bore condition good. Defects: Apart from the historical patina, there are some defects in the stock (crack at the front right, glued crack on the left near the trigger). Octagonal barrel, inscribed with the maker’s name “W. Leithner in Ischl”, front and rear sight dovetailed, additional rear sight protector, barrel root engraved with a chamois, behind it on the disc a small folding diopter, hammer lock with over-the-top spring, hammer with safety lever, large trigger guard with finger grooves, German set trigger, fully stocked as a Stutzen, with muzzle made of stag rose, ramrod, the holders made of antler, straight buttstock, monogram plate, plaster box (with bullets symbolically inside), fine checkering, oval cheekpiece, arabesque carving, inlaid chamois and metal butt plate. Sling swivel with modern fabric sling. Historical hunting weapon from the time of Emperor Franz Joseph I from the original maker of the Ischler Stutzen, which was a purveyor to the court in its time. A format that has survived over the centuries and continues to inspire elite gunsmiths to create new Hahnstutzen rifles to this day.