I ran across this 1883 Gustav Fükert ad:

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If anyone is interested I'll put together some Fükert info, that is if it isn't a rehash.

I couldn't find a true Fükert/Fückert thread so those of you with examples please post again.

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

Raimey, I would love to see more. Here's a 16 bore double .

Raimey and Daryl,

I have a drilling in 16 ga and 25-35 Winchester, Fukert. I wish I had some time this evening to post pics, but I am leaving for opening day on sharptails and huns.
It was very nice to see the pictures of another Fukert drilling in SDH's article from SS recently. I wonder who is the owner of that one, must be somebody in MT, too.
Daryl, maybe when the hunting season is over it would be nice to get the Fukerts together.

Silver, that would be fine. I do know where the other drilling you speak of is. Interesting gun.

Silver: The BBS will be here upon your return but hunting just shouldn't wait.

I just knew someone would bite and take me up on the offer.

This is a 1st rough draft and I'm going to add more info as it surfaces or as time permits.

GGCA No. 37, Fall 2008, p. 22
“You might remember my concern that the angle at which firing pins hit the primer would cause misfires. Gustav Fükert must have had the same concern, because already in 1882 he patented a firing mechanism in which the firing pins move parallel with the bores of the barrel. His Kronen Drilling incorporated the same idea with a hidden third hammer under the top strap of the gun…. “

Kaiserliches Patentamt – Patentschrift No. 19675 Klass 72, Centralfeuer – Doppelgewher
Zusatz – Patent zu No. 11927 vom 5. Mai 1880
Patentirt im Deutschen Reichs vom 6. December 1881 ab.
Laugste Dauer: 4. Mai 1895


“Axel Pantermühl, our member in Germany, who got me in touch with his friend Heinz Bardella. From him I learned that Gustav Fükert founded the company in 1830 and died when he was 89 years old in 1900. His son Johann was born in 1844 and died in 1918. We also found the German Patent #164939 for an ejector mechanism issued to Ferdinand Fückert in 1904, but we don’t know how he was related to Gustav Fükert……”

Being 89 in 1900 would have would have made him too young to have achieved the status of master by 1830. So I'm not sure about this info.



So Johann Fükert’s father(Gustav E. Fükert’s Grandfather) was named Gustav or Jan or Johann’s name included Gustav. Circa 1872, after 1870 when Gustav E Fükert took the reins of the Company Gustav Fükert and prior to the 1873 Universal Exhibition in Vienna, Gustav E. Fükert had 19 craftsmen in his facility and was listed as Waffen-Erzeuger, Weipert, Böhmen offering scatterguns and a choice of rifles on the Remington, Martini, Snider and Polzenschläger(?) systems. Odd though at the same time and as an adjacent listing Johann Fückert is listed. The Company Gustav Fükert has it origins from 1830 and it was founded by Gustav Fükert’s father Jan or Johann Fükert. Two possibilities arise: one being that Jan or Johann as a weapons maker having been in business for 30 years which implies that the company of Johann Fückert had its origins circa 1844(?)or Jan or Johann also had the Gustav name or it was a family name. Johann is noted as a maker to folks in Austria as well as England and Russia. Circa 1872 Johann Fückert employed 50 craftsmen. So why would there be two variations of Fükert/ Fückert being adjacent listings?? Fükertovo looks to be the root/surname with variants such as Fükert, Fückert, Fikert and Fickert. All were either listed as gunmakers or associated with the gun trade in Weipert. Johann Fükert, or Joh. Fikert as it is sometimes seen is one of a few of the Fükertovo variant gunsmiths, along with Vaclav (Wenzel) Fükert(mid to late 19th century) in the 1861 Weipert listing and I’m sure there are other variants like Jan Fükert/ Fückert that are seen on percussion arms, as well as Lefaucheux/ Lefaucheux Werndl sporting arms from the founding of Gustav Fükert up until 1870 when Gustav E. was at the helm. But still the circa 1872 listing both of Gustav E. Fükert and Johann Fükert is puzzling. I’d entertain any thoughts on the subject.

Jan/Johann, like many of the Bohemian/Weipert craftsmen, didn’t cotton to mechanization and preferred to make their products totally by hand, a preference along with a few other things led to the demise of the Bohemian/Weipert craftsmen. But at the time in 1859 the Grand Duke of Tuscany was taken aback by the level of craftsmanship and held the examples as equals, or higher, to their London and Paris counterparts. The Tuscany cat may have been the largest purchaser, as far as nobility, of Jan/Johann Fükert.

Gustav E. Fükert was born on the 7th of August 1844 and departed this world on the 5th of December, 1918. Being born in 1844 and using the average age for a Journeyman to obtain his brief; therefore, in 1868 Gustav E. would have sprung for the cost of his master’s party. I would venture a guess here that either Jan/Johann, Gustav E., or both, worked in Antonín/Anton Vincent Lebeda’s shop in Prague. Antionin V. Lebeda was born in 1795, and some sources give 1797 which would make him a master in 1821/1822, which some sources give as the date of his master brief, but most info suggests he founded in business in 1820 which with 24 years as an average would pair well with the 1795 date of birth. Lebeda’s final exam in 1820/1821 was the completion of a very intricate and elaborately engraved set of locks. Lebeda’s name is synonymous with arms with percussion ignition systems. Lebeda on his Journeyman walkabout worked in Austria as well as Germany and although some hint that Bohemia was not influenced by the craftsmen in Suhl, I know there was a relationship there as many of Fükert Kronen have Suhl sourced tubes. Anyway upon return from his Journeyman walkabout, Lebeda became the head or purchased the shop of the late Prag gunmaker Matthew? Brandejsovi in 1820/1821 and soon thereafter married Ann Stumpfovou(?), the daughter of a fruit/vegetable merchant.

But getting back to Gustav E., he arrived on the scene at the end of the percussion era and was most active in the 1880 to 1910 period, by which time he had attended some 37 International Expos. The 1873 Vienna Exhibit was where he caught the eye of Emperor Franz Josef I with his crafts. By 1876 the King of Saxony and the King of Würremberg were delivering letters of praise. Then at the beginning of Gustav E.'s peak in 1883, the King of Serbia issued/gave the Knight’s Cross of Serbia of the Takovo Order to ole Gustav E, who is an exception to my theory that most of the master gunsmith received their Kaiserlichen und Königlichen appointment prior to 1900 seeing Gustav E. received that honor in 1908, along with a gold watch, which gave him the title “KammerLieferanten Ihrer Kaiserlichen und Königlichen Hoheiten der Durchlaucht. Herren Erzherzog Karl Franz Joseph und Erzherzog Ferdinand Karl” as found on Gustav. E.’s catalogues. It was a chance meeting and conversation in Liberec in 1906 at the Universal Expo that led to the appointment. Gustav E. Fükert was a keen designer had an interesting design( maybe his 1882 patented firing mechanism in which the firing pins move parallel with the bores of the barrel) at the 1882 Industrial & Agricultural Exhibit in Trieste, which I have yet to determine what it was. Then his greatest accomplishment was the Kronengewehr, which was patented in 1886. Gustav E. did acknowledge/embrace mechanization along with Gustav Bittner, Wenzel Morgenstern, Eduard Elias Schmidl and Schwab who in the late 1880s(1889?) formed a conglomerate to manufacture military arms which allowed them to heavily invest in machinery. Post 1900 there are 4 Fükert gunmakers in Weipert: Edmund Fükert, Ferdinand Fükert, Gustav Fükert and Johann/Johanna Fükert, which was probably a son or grandson of Jan Fükert. Ferdinand is listed in Weipert from 1903-1911 and then in Opava from 1925 to 1937. Gustav E. had a pre-WWI address of Bahnhofstrasse 578 and also had clients in the Balkan States, Sweden and even the U.S. of A.

For you folks interested in Lovena info, Wenzel Morgenstern and a few others experienced nationalization in 1948 and were folded into Lověna Prague.

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

Here is a couple of pics of my Fukert 16ga X 16ga over 25-35 Win.

Silver:

Which one is the set trigger? Is it the left one and are the triggers reversed? Very interesting piece.

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

The set trigger is the last one. Its shaft goes inbetween the R and the L triggers. The right barrel trigger is the first, followed by the LB trigger that is hinged to allow the operation of the third unhindered.

Here's a nice little Fukert design group



And here's the other Fukert drilling in Montana

What a most impressive lot and all are fitted with double triggers(have a forend similar to the G.L. Rasch double rifle in the for-sale seciton)with the exception of Silver's and the example in Montana, which looks to be a left handed sidelever. Thanks Silver for the 3rd trigger explaination.

Mr. Hallquist, if those are in your possession, you may very well have cornered the market on Gustav Fukert examples.

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

Raimey, if all of those were in my possession, I wouldn't be driving a ten year old car. I did buy the latter, but for a friend. The first group was auctioned at least twice in England and I do not know if they eventually sold. If I recall correctly, estimated prices were in the 20-30,000 pound range each.

Daryl,

What's the gauge/caliber on your friend's?

Silver, I can't remember the calibre, but it's a 16 bore.

I guess that is just a safety behind the toplever and not a hammer; therefore, they would only need 2 triggers. Interesting if his double realized about 20k pounds each.

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

I am pretty sure that Cabela's has Ferdinand Fükert's first and last name incorrect and this is a Fükert example: http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/conten...erarchyId=11653 . Interesting addressing of the forend with the big beaver and I'd guess that would give weight to some of the continental longarms having the big beaver. The frame sort of looks of German origin but I'd say it is Belgian as too were the tubes sourced from Belgium.

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

Typical "beetle style" safety button and I can't really see but it looks to have passed thru the Weipert proofhouse in 1911 or 1916. BUT, it has the mark of "Krupp Stahl" on the tubes but the Belgian intertwined "EL" mark.




So I more than likely will have to yell "calf rope" or "uncle" as there now looks to be a
Belgian-Krupp relationship purely from the sets of tube marks and Krupp steel was used by makers like LLH. More fuel for the big fire I guess or more questions than answers.

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

Some interesting Gustav F�kert stamps on a 1913 crown version.







I'd wager heavy odds, of course with my thumb on the scale, that a Schilling contingent all but finished this F�kert example with Casper Schilling, Sylvestr Schilling and the boys at the Schilling forge contributing effort.

In addition I have seen Kelber stamps as well as Sauer 3 Ringe Weapons Grade Steel tubesets fitted to the unique action. It may be that the craftsmen in Weipert sourced Sauer for those tubesets in the 1st decade of the 20th century.

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

Similar 1905 F�kert example with Louis Kelber stamps on the tubes:




Similar Arrow & Crown over "GF" stamps on water table.


Krupp tube steel



Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

Raimey, it's kind of fun to bring this stuff back. I had forgotten this post and the pics. It , too, adds a bit to the hammergun safety thread. Thanks for the new info.

Hum, guess I need to read the hammergun thread then. Yeah, I like to dredge a few up from time to time just to remember how poor an earlier assumption was.

I can't tell what the Oak leaf mark is above the forward Schilling forge mark on this 1913 example.



Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

Here's an image of the lock on a recent Russian publication on Gustav Bittner.




Publication credits.

There are some F�kerts, of course along with a few other Bohemian makers and Matska, that rival anything made by the craftsmen on the little isles.


Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

I'm quite disappointed to have sold my 16 gauge Fukert. It was a great 30" deeply etched barrel hammer gun with hammers very closely set. It was fully engraved with many gold figures and leaves. I miss the little Fukert.

t

Are you a custodian of a F�kert example?

Cheers,

Raimey
rse

Fukert Drilling



Fukert 16 bore with , what is it, 6 or 7 locking points



Fukert listed patents in many countries on the barrels

I'd heard the name, but never saw one before....Wow,What awesome looking guns,very interesting action & lock plate style...nice change from the usual sidelock, eh?
I'd love one
cheers
fronc

Ferdinand Fuckert 16 ga

Is this the spelling that you referred to?

That's one of the spellings for Ferdinand F�kert of Opava/Opawa/Troppau. Does it wear Belgian marks? Not sure if Ferdinand F�kert of Opava/Opawa/Troppau was a direct relative of Gustav F�ckert, who had some 3 cornered deal involving Franz Josef I and a gold watch in 1906(Czech-German Expo in Liberec) & by 1908 he had a royal appointment after Archduke Ferdinand ordered one of those lovely Crown sporting weapons circa 1907. Gustav F�ckert gained accolades circa 1873 from the King of Saxony (1876) and the King of W�rttemberg and in 1883 received the Knight's Cross of Serbia for his wares. So by this date he honed his skills to focus on upper rung offerings.

Cheers,

Raimey
rse

Belgian proofs

Some more of F�ckert
1. Peter Hambrusch of Ferlach can/does build a F�ckert-type gun
2. The Hungarian hunting magazine "Pannon VadaszvilaG" nov and dec 2009 features an article on F�ckert with a photo of what looks to me like a trio of F�ckerts.
I understand also that there is a F�ckert collector club in
Hungary.
(Dont be annoyed if you can not follow Hungarian , Edward Teller and some more of the developers of the A/H-bomb reputedly have been of Hungarian origin ...)
Felix Neuberger

Interesting & yes Hambrusch can cobble together about anything you can fancy. I did have the pleasure of making the acquaintance of Mr. Edward Teller as he gave a lecture/seminar/speech while I was @ university.

Cheers,

Raimey
rse

Herbert Streitmeier of St. Paul, Carinthia, hand made his share of F�ckert clones as well. He sold most via Frankonia Jagd. I visited his shop maybe a decade ago and saw a F�ckert in progress; a double rifle.

With kind regards,
Jani

Hello everyone,
I am thinking about buying Ferdinand Fückert's Troppau custom Mannlicher Schönauer 1908 in 7x57,barrel is 62cm long. I would Like to use it for hunting, roe, boar, Red deer.. Do you have any information about FF's mannlicher conversions, what is quality of such a gun,accuracy, reputation, what is worth it? Selling for 650e.Apparently this piece is in great condition, no faults. Iron is original, havent been messed, upgrade, tuned in any way.The stock is "new" repro. When was it made-Like 1925-1937 cause of the Troppau in signature? I would Like to hear your opinions.Thank you!
https://sport.bazos.sk/inzerat/132687444/exkluzivna-gulovnica-mannlicher-schonauer-1908.php

The basic Steyr made Mannlicher Schoenaur action is invariably of good quality, it is in an excellent and very versatile calibre, and the test target indicates it can deliver good stalking accuracy.

It looks to be a good choice at the price.

Thank you Parabola, I think model 1908 been made only in 8x56, so this could be custom build on m1908 action. Do you have any information abou Fuckert's custom build Bolt action rifles? Thank you very much. Martin

Yes, it must be a re-barrel.

Sorry, I have no information on Fukert himself.

Troppau(Herzogtum Troppau) is the German name for the Czech city Opava and I am not sure when Ferdinand Fückert and other makers in Böhmen used dual names for their cities in their advertising?? But images of the marks on the underside of the tube will tell the tale of the longarm. I do wonder how the current custodian has knowledge the stock is not original?

Serbus,

Raimey
rse

Hello Raimey,
You are right
My fault, the stock isnt new, it was just 'refurbished' in some way.

Thanks for this post, Raimey!

Fükert shotguns are beautiful and unique hammer shotguns. The first time I saw one I felt in love.

Fabulous gun! Thanks for sharing.

Gustav Fükert, k.u.k. Hoflieferant, Wiepert catalogue as shown by Mr. Neuberger:

https://www.doublegunshop.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=609572#Post609572

Serbus,

Raimey
rse