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Forums10
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Apr 29th, 2024
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 5,090 Likes: 36
Sidelock
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OP
Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 5,090 Likes: 36 |
Was GECO the conglomerate the East Germans formed after the war for sporting guns?
My problem lies in reconciling my gross habits with my net income.
- Errol Flynn
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,096
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,096 |
I know Gustov Genshow and Co. was around in 29 and 31 as I have the catalogs from those two years. The catalog shows dozens of buildings that look as though the occupy two city blocks, so I suspect Genschow (the company) was around long before that, and maybe Genschow (the cartridge manufacturer) may have started first, before manufacturing guns.
If you no one knows the history of GECO off hand, I will dig up the catalogs and post the info...but it's probably in German
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 5,257
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 5,257 |
Robert:
Please accept this in the spirit it is intended.
Gustav Genschow, as a 25 year old man, commenced business as a wholesaler in Berlin in 1887. He was a seller of primers, shot, shot shells and rifle ammunition.His reputation was excellent and his business grew well. He commenced to buy up competitors in the early 1890s. Expanding rapidly, he opened a branch in Vienna in 1912 and renamed his business Gustav Genschow and Co.
In 1924 be bought out Deutsche Werke AG in Berlin-Spandau and started to build 22 cal. target rifles.
His business grew to several German cities and is still known as a brand of ammunition manufactured by a subsidiary of Dynamit Nobel AG.
I hope this little info is helpful.
Best,
John
Humble member of the League of Extraodinary Gentlemen (LEG). Joined 14 March, 2006. Member #1.
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,625 Likes: 13
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,625 Likes: 13 |
Wasn't "GECO" just a name put on Sauers and Simsons to extend their respective trade areas--like Pontiac, Buick and Chevy? I have had a few of these and they are great, if basic no frills, workhorses. I think they are all in 12 gauge. If this topic went totally over my head, I apologize.
[IMG]
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 5,257
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 5,257 |
Gil et al:
I seem to remember that GECO's name was on shotguns. But, I have no real knowledge of any shotgun production by the company.
The Nazis did take over the German gun companies and we all know what they did to Simson.
It was the USSR that stole and moved most of the machinery from Germany, leaving very little when compared to what was there before their rape of the industrial equipment.
Hopefully others with more knowledge will post more/better info.
But, I do not think that the original GECO built any shotguns. But as Russ would say-----
Best,
John
Humble member of the League of Extraodinary Gentlemen (LEG). Joined 14 March, 2006. Member #1.
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 10,790 Likes: 185
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 10,790 Likes: 185 |
GECO was stamped on the barrels and butt plate. I have one and it is a pre-WWII Sauer. They may have finished some from Sauer & Simpson, but I think that they just peddled hunting and sporting guns in Hamburg, Frankfort, Nurnberg & Konigsberg.
Kind Regards,
Raimey
rse
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,096
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,096 |
John,
The only thing I'm sure of is that they were around in 29...and the only reason I know that is because of the catalog...
Thats not the first time I've heard about their association with the cartridge industry...
The Geco's Ive owned (2) had cocking indicators on top where Sauers never (or rarely) had them..
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,576 Likes: 87
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,576 Likes: 87 |
I own a nice 8mm rifle by GECO. Paid almost nothing for it. I think it's quite nice and more than adequate rifle.    I have no idea why it has two safties.
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Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,763 Likes: 8
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,763 Likes: 8 |
Today, Geco is known in Germany (and Europe in general, including Slovenia) mostly as a brand of ammunition. A fresh Geco .308W ammo box I have is marked Dynamit Nobel, Fürth, Germany.
Regards,
Jani
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 931
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 931 |
Geco was mostly a trading company? that mostly had the guns built for them by other German manufacturers. They sold by mail-order catalogues and had great turnover. They went out of business either with Hitler's coming over or with the start of the WW2, can't remember exactly, but they didn't revive after 1945
There were numerous East German unions of sporting arms manufacturors, following several organisations, including the Autovelo Trust, Ernst Telman cooperation, and something else I can't remember at the moment.
John Mann - I strongly recommend you to be less free with words like "rape" and "stole" when talking about what happened with the gun manufacturing facilities in postwar Germany. To note, there wasn't really that much equipment taken - which can be proved by the numbers of post-war East German gun manufacture, if nothing else. But the fact that you seem to overlook is - what you describe as a theft, was actually done under a legal reparation agreement, ratified by all the Allies, including the United States.
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