A Ferlach made combination over and under with three barrels set made by Jakob Koschat
The rifle presented here is an Over-Under combination gun (Bock-Kombination) made by Jakob Koschat in Ferlach, Austria. It was built and proofed in 1958 and 1959 (the double rifle barrel). The inscription on the rails of the three barrel bundles shows that Ferlach did not only manufacture and sell under its own name: Walter Paul, Hameln was a gunsmith with a store in the Pied Piper town of Hamelin on the Weser River.
In the Federal Republic of Germany, private individuals had only been allowed to own firearms for private use again since 1956. Time therefore for the grandfather of the present owner to acquire a suitable hunting weapon. Presumably, he commissioned the combination from his house gunsmith Walter Paul, who in turn purchased it from Ferlach.
Initially, a 7x65R – 12/70 caliber O/U cape gun (Bockbüchsflinte) was supplied, which was ideally suited to the hunting requirements of the forest district at that time. For field hunting, an O/U double barrel set (Bockdoppelflinten-Wechsellauf), also in caliber 12/70, was added for the then still sufficiently available hares and other small game.
A year later, in 1959, an O/U double rifle set (Bockdoppelbüchs-Wechsellauf) was added. The caliber was 9.3 x 74R, ideally suited for all European big game. The owner also used the double rifle very successfully in Alaska for moose and black bear.
The double gun was also used abroad and proved itself on driven pheasants in Czechoslovakia.
The gun has an Anson lock with upper sears, a reinforced bascule, and locks with Kersten breech and double barrel hooks. The barrels are all made of Böhler Antinit steel, the trigger guard is made of horn and the buttplate is covered with leather. All barrels have a three piece forend.
There are two scopes: for the combination gun a variable 1.5 – 6 x 36 Hensoldt and for the double rifle a 2.5 x 70 Ajack , both mounted with Suhler claw mount.
After more than 60 years of use – the gun passed to the son after the death of the first owner, who in turn now passes it on to his son – the Ferlach gun needed a general overhaul. In addition, it was newly stocked to measure, as the new owner measures almost 2 meters. The work was done by the traditional gunsmith Waffen-Klett in Borken. The Klett employee Werner Kappenhagen, Gunsmith and stocker, first built a dummy based on the old stock. Very well you can see the necessary changes.
The engravings are exceptionally well done. In game scenes, it’s the “facial expression” that matters most. This is where the wheat is separated from the chaff. On the Koschat combi, the depictions are very balanced and natural.
Some more close ups
On the opener is inlaid the family coat of arms in gold.
The gun now shines in new splendor and is ready for another 60 years and more. Ready for the next generations, if they are willing to stalk with this classic hunting weapon like their forefathers.
The History of Koschat Jagdwaffen
“Ein Gewehr ist wie eine Frau, es muss gepflegt werden”
lautete der Wahlspruch der Büchsenmacher Koschat.
“A gun is like a woman, it must be cared for”.
was the motto of the gunsmiths Koschat.
The company “Jakob Koschat. Josef Winklers Nachfahre Inh. Josef Koschat, Jagdwaffenerzeugung” has been run by Josef Koschat for over 45 years. The Ferlach business bears the “house number” 26 and is a gunmaker business in the sixth generation. The origin goes back to the year 1846, when Josef Winkler founded the business. Through the marriage of his daughter Anna with the gunsmith Jakob Koschat, the business passed to the latter after Winkler’s death. Jakob Koschat ran the business until his death in 1955.
After that, his son Max took over the management. At the end of the 1950s, more than 40 people worked for the company, including home workers.
In 1974, son Josef succeeded his father.
So the present gun was built under the aegis of Max Koschat.
Source for Koschat History:
Die Geschichte der Ferlacher Büchsenmacher
Autor/en: Renate Jernej
ISBN: 3708406125
EAN: 9783708406121
