The Anschütz 141 has maintained a strong reputation and a dedication to exceptional precision.
Some things are timeless classics. One such example is the Parker 61 fountain pen with which I am drafting this article. There are timeless classics in shooting sports as a result of their excellence of design and construction. For many shooters, that includes the Winchester Model 12 pump shotgun, the Colt 1911 .45 Auto and the Ruger 10/22 rimfire autoloader.
All of these are fine firearms, but, to many, the classic firearm is an elegant bolt action made of metal and wood. Hence, the Winchester Model 70, Remington 700 or Ruger 77 features on some people’s lists.
Rimfire enthusiasts also have classic examples. I remember well the beautiful Winchester Model 75 that a cousin had when we were young. At that time, the Winchester 52 was the elegant rimfire sporter for the connoisseur rimfire shooter. There are some current candidates for classic status, among which are the Ruger 77/22, some of the CZ models and a few others.
Classics Of A Different Design
The Anschütz name may not be familiar to some shooters, but the company was founded in 1856 by Julius Gottfried Anschütz in Zella-Mehlis, Thurnigia, Germany. After Julius died in 1901, sons Fritz and Otto continued to direct the company. Otto died in 1923, and Fritz and his sons perpetuated the Anschütz name on firearms. Post-World War II, the company moved to Ulm, and, in 1968, Dieter Anschütz became the fourth generation of the family to lead the company until his retirement in 2008.
J. G. Anschütz GmbH & Co. is now led by Jochen Anschütz and his son, Maximilian. It’s interesting to note that although Anschütz firearms have been available in the U.S. through collaborations, the company has now developed its own importation and distribution facility in Trussville, Alabama.
In the years from 1963 to 1981, Savage had a reciprocity agreement with Anschütz, whereby each marketed the other’s products. As a result, Anschütz models imported here were marked Savage-Anschütz, but the models were identical to those sold elsewhere by Anschütz. In the early 1960s, the big catalog companies sold firearms, but they couldn’t be delivered directly to the buyer.
Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared in the November 2023 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
