The Weapons of Heinrich von Wimmersperg

This first biographical and historical account of Heinrich von Wimmersperg provides a detailed introduction to the designer—previously known only to a few experts and his numerous weapons development projects.

Contents

55 patents—41 of which pertain solely to inventions in the field of weaponry—bear witness to his diligence and ingenuity. In addition, the book contains all surviving business documents as well as all preserved design drawings: ranging from various self-loading rifles and machine guns to the development of the Spz assault rifles. 

Weapons are symbolic witnesses to history. They not only reflect the history of technology but also tell the stories of the extraordinary people who developed them. Of the numerous weapon designs by the freelance Austrian designer Heinrich von Wimmersperg, only a few prototypes were ever produced. Some of his weapon designs remained only on paper. Nevertheless, it is noteworthy that Heinrich von Wimmersperg was commissioned by the Army and Navy armaments offices to develop weapons until the end of World War II and was in contact with—or collaborated with—nearly all the major arms manufacturers of the 1930s and 1940s. These included companies such as C. G. Haenel, Krieghoff, Mauser, Nordeuma, Simson & Co., and many others. 

The wealth of material makes the book an important source. It provides readers with historical context and serves as a foundation for further study of the Austrian’s work.

Expert Opinion

With this work, Alexander Geckeler has made an important contribution to the study of firearms. It is the first-ever overview of the life and work of the Austrian firearms designer Heinrich von Wimmersperg. Through meticulous research, the author has analyzed primarily written sources—including archival materials previously inaccessible to the public, patent specifications and unpublished documents—and, by embedding the narrative within its historical context, has created a work that is accessible to a broad readership. With this in mind, I hope the book will find a wide audience among all those who need reliable information about a figure in firearms engineering—and his designs—who has been largely overlooked until now.

Hans-Dieter Handrich (Author of »Sturmgewehr 44«, »Sturmgewehr«, »Vom Gewehr 98 zum Sturmgewehr«, »Brückenkopf Tunis« u.v.a.)

Where to buy

The book is available in bookstores and directly from the publisher.