SPRINGER DOUBLE RIFLE

Double rifle Franz Windischgrätz

Today I would like to present another hunting rifle from the manufactory of Johann Springer’s Erben. Since I went into detail about the history of this maker in the previous article (Springer Sidelock Ejector), I will report a bit about the owner of this wonderful double rifle here. As Springer confirmed in writing, the first owner of this rifle was a member of the Austrian aristocracy, namely Prince Franz Joseph Windischgrätz. (also Windisch-Graetz, Windisch-Grätz).

“We hereby confirm that the double rifle caliber 9.3x74R with weapon number 10560 was delivered to Prince Franz Joseph Windischgrätz on 31.12. 1940.”

Double Rifle Cal. 9,3 x 74R, Joh. Springer’s Erben, Gewehrfabrikanten Wien, former owned by Prinz Franz Joseph Windisch-Grätz @Hunting-Heritage.com

 

Who was this prince who ordered such a fine double rifle from one of the first addresses of European gunsmiths in the middle of the Second World War?

Double Rifle Cal. 9,3 x 74R, Joh. Springer’s Erben, Gewehrfabrikanten Wien, former owned by Prinz Franz Joseph Windisch-Grätz @Hunting-Heritage.com

 

His full name was Franz Joseph Marie Otto Antonius Ignatius Oktavianus Prinz zu Windisch-Grätz, born on March 22, 1904. He was the grandson of Crown Prince Rudolf, and grew up in Schönau Castle in Lower Austria. There he was also influenced by hunting as a child and showed himself to be a passionate hunter, a gifted horseman and a talented marksman in his early youth. Due to his origins, he was never dependent on learning and practicing a profession. He never had any other training than to become a cavalry officer. Rather, hunting became his main occupation. He himself once said to a contemporary: “You know, apart from shooting, I have learned nothing.”

Double Rifle Cal. 9,3 x 74R, Joh. Springer’s Erben, Gewehrfabrikanten Wien, former owned by Prinz Franz Joseph Windisch-Grätz @Hunting-Heritage.com
Double Rifle Cal. 9,3 x 74R, Joh. Springer’s Erben, Gewehrfabrikanten Wien, former owned by Prinz Franz Joseph Windisch-Grätz @Hunting-Heritage.com

But he did indeed know something about hunting. His passion knew no bounds and his shooting skills were outstanding, especially with the shotgun. In addition to Europe, he also hunted extensively in Africa, where he had his second residence in Nairobi. Here, the prince attracted attention mainly because of his excessive hunting. In pigeon hunts, he made record bags, which contributed significantly to the lifetime bag of 500,000 game birds attributed to him. His passion for guinea fowl hunting, also in Africa, had profound consequences. Due to the high number of birds he shot, shooting was soon limited. Each shooter was now only allowed to shoot as many birds as he himself needed for food. This regulation went down in history as the so-called “Lex Windischgraetz”.

Double Rifle Cal. 9,3 x 74R, Joh. Springer’s Erben, Gewehrfabrikanten Wien, former owned by Prinz Franz Joseph Windisch-Grätz @Hunting-Heritage.com
Double Rifle Cal. 9,3 x 74R, Joh. Springer’s Erben, Gewehrfabrikanten Wien, former owned by Prinz Franz Joseph Windisch-Grätz @Hunting-Heritage.com

The prince was an imposing figure and with his height of 2.04 m could not be overlooked. All the more surprising are the measurements for an Anson Cal. 16 shotgun he carried, which were recorded by the well-known Viennese stocker and gunsmith Hans Jirizek as follows:

Stock measurements for 16 Gauge Anson gun by Prinz Franz Joseph Windisch-Grätz @Hunting-Heritage.com
Double Rifle Cal. 9,3 x 74R, Joh. Springer’s Erben, Gewehrfabrikanten Wien, former owned by Prinz Franz Joseph Windisch-Grätz @Hunting-Heritage.com
Double Rifle Cal. 9,3 x 74R, Joh. Springer’s Erben, Gewehrfabrikanten Wien, former owned by Prinz Franz Joseph Windisch-Grätz @Hunting-Heritage.com
Double Rifle Cal. 9,3 x 74R, Joh. Springer’s Erben, Gewehrfabrikanten Wien, former owned by Prinz Franz Joseph Windisch-Grätz @Hunting-Heritage.com
Double Rifle Cal. 9,3 x 74R, Joh. Springer’s Erben, Gewehrfabrikanten Wien, former owned by Prinz Franz Joseph Windisch-Grätz @Hunting-Heritage.com
Double Rifle Cal. 9,3 x 74R, Joh. Springer’s Erben, Gewehrfabrikanten Wien, former owned by Prinz Franz Joseph Windisch-Grätz @Hunting-Heritage.com

Franz Windischgrätz owned numerous guns, including shotguns by Kalezky, Springer , Holland & Holland, Boss and Francotte. After his death, they were divided among his heirs and scattered to the four winds over the decades. From time to time, some of them reappear at international auctions, such as the double rifle presented here, which is now in the possession of a proud collector.

Double Rifle Cal. 9,3 x 74R, Joh. Springer’s Erben, Gewehrfabrikanten Wien, former owned by Prinz Franz Joseph Windisch-Grätz @Hunting-Heritage.com

 

Leave a Comment