The Schneider Gunmakers of Zella-Mehlis.
By Larry B. Schuknecht
Eugène Heer in his Book Der Neue Støckel lists 48 gunmakers by that name found all over the civilized World. This story will concentrate on the makers who lived and worked in Zella and Mehlis and later after the unification of the two towns into Zella-Mehlis. Der Neue Støckel cites the following.
Emil Schneider, Zella St. Blasii, circa 1843
Gottfried Schneider, Zella St. Blasii, circa 1732
Nicholas Schneider, Zella, circa 1770
Pape & Kellner in their Landmark Archive lists 48 Schneider gunmakers in Germany. Their archival information will be augmented with additional information from other sources as it becomes available.
They are-
Alfred Schneider at Sommerauweg 3, Zella-Mehlis, Gun Maker documented in 1924. Also listed at Merkt. 4 in 1924
A. Hugo Schneider in Zella-Mehlis in 1913 engaged in Wholesale Shipping of Firearms and Ammunition.
Bruno Schneider at Oberzella 2 in Zella-Mehlis, a gunmaker documented in 1913 and 1924
Christian Schneider in Zella or Mehlis around 1900 as a Master Gun Maker.
Daniel Schneider at Kleintiegel 9 in Zella-Mehlis, operated a Gun Factoty and documented in 1913 and 1925.
Edmund Schneider-at Zellaer Strasse 475, Mehlis, a Gun Maker circa 1897/1898.
Edmund Schneider at Gothaer Strasse 29 and Hauptstrasse 29 (1924) in Zella-Mehlis where he had a Gun Factory in 1912-1926. Perhaps this is the same Edmund as listed above in 1897/1898.
Eduard Schneider, a Master Gun Maker in Zella-Mehlis in 1900.
Emil Schneider at Denkmalsplatz 7 in Zella-Mehlis, a Gun Maker in documented in 1913. He had a son Wilhelm who followed in the trade.
Emil Schnieder at Bierbachstrasse 3 in Zella-Mehlis operating a Gun Factory in 1925. (possibly the same Emil as listed above)
Ernst Schneider, a Gun Maker locted at Eisenberg 283 in Mehlis in 1897/1898.
Ernst Schneider owned a factory producing revolvers at Kaffenberg 57 in Mehlis in 1897/1898.
Ernst August Schneider at Große Bahnhofstrasse 20, Zrlla-Mehli documented in 1925 as a Gun Maker.
Ernst Carl Schneider in Zella- Mehlis documented in 1911 and 1912.
Ernst Hugo Schneider at Gross Bahnhofstrasse 20, Zella-Mehlis. Master Gun Maker documented in 1918 to 1926 and noted for manufacturing Zimmerstutzens and Over-Under Shotguns.
Georg Schneider at Märzenberg 49, Zella-Mehlis, born in 1887 and died in 1958, he was a Master Gun Maker with the Walther firm.
Gustav Schneider at Mittelgasse 4, Zella-Mehlis. a Gun Maker documented in 1924
Gustav A. Schneider at Wiesenstrasse 16 in Zella Mehlis. Operated a Gun Factory and Mechanics Workshop, Handled and sold Hunting Guns, Target Guns, sold Schneiders shotgun sight (DRP 134,471 of 1902) Appears in the DWJ in 1890. 1899 and the DWL 1917, the DWZ in 1904 and documented in 1924. In 1936 it was under the management of Rudolf Schneider who was possibly a son.
Hermann Otto Friedrich Schneider located at Markt 4 in Zella-Mehlis was one of the more prolific Schneider Gun Makers in Zella-Mehlis. The firm was founded by Edmond Schneider and in 1930 owned by Alfred Schneider, from 1913 as owner of the Company Eduard Schneider. (from Pape & Kellner) From Ancestry.com comes the following information about Hermann – He was born in Altenburg on May 6, 1895 to Hugo Victor and Marie Margareta Schneider and passed away in Weimer on March 30, 1945. The Dictionary of Guns and Gun Makers by Jon Waltera states that “This gunmaker was listed between 1914 and 1939, but ceased trading at the end of the second World War”.
The folowing image is courtesy of Mr. Kerry Knapp and shows the name and Trade Mark from his Herm Schneider mod. 98 Mauser rifle.
The following images were found on Guns International.com. They are of a pair of Herm Schneider Drillings proofed in 1943
Hugo Schneider at Märzenberg 32, a Gun Maker documented in 1913.
Julius Schneider at Hügel 47 in Mehlisas as Gun Maker in 1897/1898.
Karl August Schneider a Master Gun Maker in Zella-Mehlis in 1900.
Ludwig Schneider was a Master Gun Maker in Zella-Mehlis in 1900.
Otto Schneider at Hochwald 7 in Zella-Mehlis, a Gun maker who was issued a DRGM no. 418627 for a gun sight, documented in 1913 and 1924
Note: Pape & Kellner list 3 Max Schneiders and it is unknown at this time if they were one and the same, or three differant indiviuals. All being documented in 1924.
