MANOWAR'S AUSTRO-HUNGARIAN WEAPONS
DESIGNERS' & BUILDERS' BIOGRAPHIES

Names are in alphabetical order

Rudolf Frommer (1868-1936)

The most famous Hungarian weapon designer was born in 8/4/1868 in Budapest. His original trade was a banker. He was hired by the Fegyvergyar in 1896 to correct the factory's financial problems. He become interested in weapon design and started to work in that position in 1898. His 1st patent was registered in 1901 for a self loading pistol the M1901. He made several improvements to the pistol: the M1906 and the M1910 which was adopted by the Gendarmerie.
Frommer became Business Director in 1904. Frommer designed a long-recoil self-loading 8x57mm rifle in 1910. His 1912 Frommer Stop was adopted by the 'Honvedseg, the Hungarian segment of the Army. In 1914 he was elevated to a noble rank, 'Fegyverneki', by Franz Jozsef for his weapon designing achievemnts and he also became the Factory Director, remaining so until retirement in 1935.
The Frommer Baby and the Frommer Liliput followed the Frommer Stop later. The Army adopted his Frommer 29.M. He died in 1936. His last pistol design was adopted by the Army a year later as the Frommer 37.M . The 37.M was also manufactured for German contract as the P.37(u).
Frommer also designed hunting rifles, a shotgun in 1926 and the succesful Frommer Monte Carlo 1929 shotgun. Frommer owned over 100 patents. He was a first-class engineer with an original mind, and the pistols bearing his name were successful enough to see widespread use. Some were complicated, but their durability is implicit in their long employment by military and police in central Europe.
The Frommer designed pistols were manufactured by Fegyver es Gepgyar, called Femaru Fegyver es Gepgyar after 1919, Budapest, 1901-1945. After 1945 all his designs were abandoned by the communists for politilal reasons.

Leopold Gasser Leopold Gasser of Vienna and St. Polten operated two factories which reputedly turned out 100,000 revolvers annually in the 1880s and 1890s. These were adopted by the Austro-Hungarian Army and were widely distributed throughout central Europe and the Balkans, the most common form being the 'Montenegrin Gasser'. Relevant patents were also used in the later Rast & Gasser service revolver, though Leopold had died in 1871. His younger brother Johann continued the business for many years. It had passed to August Gasser by 1903, but soon became Rast & Gasser. The company closed around 1912.

Ferenc Gebauer (1888-1958)

Ferenc Gebauer weapon designer was born in 1888 in the Austrian town of Gross Herlitz. After finishing his schooling there, he went to work for a German car manufacturer. Later he went to work for the Puch factory in the Austrian city of Graz. During WW1 he served in the Austro-Hungarian Air Force (KuK Luftfahrtruppen) as a Waffen Meister from 1914-18 on the Fischamend Military Airport. During WW1 the Schwarzlose Machine Gun Model 07/12 was the standard aircraft weapon. The aircraft M07/12's were internally modified and aircooled to increase the gun's cyclic rate up to 700 rnd/min. Two machine guns were used synchronized. Although the Schwarzlose was an excellent infantry weapon on the ground, its aircraft use had problems. At 3-4 km, above the Alps the cartridge oiling system frequently froze-up, causing many Austro-Hungarian failures during the air battles with the British Royal Air Force. Gebauer came to a conclusion, that the common practice of converting infantry machine guns (including the Schwarzlose, Maxim, Vickers and Browning) converted to aircraft use are outdated. The most common problem with these converted infantry weapons was that the position of the propeller controlled the time of the firing only. The rest of the gun's operation depended on the force of gunpowder gases. A late firing cartridge could damage the propeller blades. Misfires stopped the operation.
Gebauer's idea for an aircraft machine gun firing through its propeller was to run the whole operation of the gun off the propeller's main shaft and independently of the gunpowder gases. This forced operation system simply ejected a mis-firing cartridge and loaded the next one. He called it direct driven motor machine gun.
In 1917 Gebauer submitted his first motor driven machine gun design to his Air Force Field Colonel. He received the approval to make his prototypes. The first two variant was not succesful, but the third improved design performed flawlessly on its trial in June, 1918, on the Aspern Airport.
The Gebauer 1918.M shot through a 4-blade propeller 25 rounds/sec. at 1500 motor rpm. or 1500 rounds/min., which was 4 times faster than the Schwarzlose. The first 100 guns were ordered by the military in September 1918, were completed in October, but the end of the war stopped actual battle-testing.
After the end of WW1, and the separation of Austria and Hungary, Gebauer lived in Budapest, Hungary. In 1920 he unofficially worked for the Technical Experimental Weapon Division of the Honvedseg. He received funding from the military to continue improving his motor driven machine gun design in secret from the Antant inspectors.
From 1924 Gebauer started to work together with Danuvia R.T. which cooperation lasted for the next 20 years. Danuvia RT took over funding and marketing. He developed the famous 26/31.M GKM (Gebauer Kenyszermeghajtasu Motorgeppuska). His various designs were used in airplanes (7.92x57), fighters (12.7mm .50cal), reconnaisance planes, tanks (8x56R), speedboats.
Gebauer became member of the Danuvia RT board of directors in 1926. He became the Technical Director in 1937. He escaped to Sweden when the Soviets invaded Hungary before the end of WW2. He worked for Bofors there and died in 1958.

Michail Kalashnikov


See full photo of Michail Kalashnikov in 1947

Jozsef Kameniczky (1923-1997)

Born 3/31/1923 in Nagyszollos, now called Vinogradov in Slovakia(?). After finishing a technikal high school he is hired by Femaru Fegyver es Gepgyar in 1941. For the nex 3 years he worked as fixture designer, pre-manufacturing setup provider. During this time the Fegyvergyar was manufacturing 35.M, 43.M rifles, 37.M and 43.M pistols, 50mm M.39 grenade launchers and 1907/31.M Schwarzlose amd M.36 20mm machine guns. In 1945, under the Soviet occupation, Kameniczky was the Fegyvergyar's translator, as he spoke Slovak.
In 1946 the first request to the Fegyvergyar for a new weapon came from the National Police. They wanted a Walther PP type 7.65mm service pistol. An older experienced weapon designer named Lajos Elody was called back, and Kameniczky became his apprentice. The police pistol was designated as 48.M [factory code: BR1], and the order was fulfilled by 1950. Next they were setting up manufacturing the 48.M Tokarev TT-33 7.62mm pistols, the 48.M [GL1] M1891/30 Mosin Nagant Infantry rifle, the 48.M [GL1M] M1891/30 Mosin Nagant Sniper rifle and the 48.M Mosin Nagant Carbine.
In 1953 Kameniczky went to study at the Technical University, and received his Engineering degree in 1960.
In 1957 the Fegyvergyar received two Egyptian contracts, one for 9mm Browning PP-type pistol called Walam, which became Kameniczky's 1st project, and a 9mm Parabellum Tokarev type pistol called Tokagypt. In 1959 the new (a href="FegRK59.htm">RK-59 Police pistols were manufactured, but experienced significant problems with the new aluminum frame. After a 2-year research, a new Titanium enhanced alloy was introduced succesfully for the (a href="FegR61.htm">R-61 Police Pistol and for the (a href="FegPA63.htm">PA-63 Army Pistol.
In 1957 the Fegyvergyar started to re-tool for the AK-55 Kalashnikov and in 1962 for the AKM. From 1967 copies of the PA-63 were developed by Kameniczky and offered under the name 'Attila Pistol' for export in .32acp AP7,65 and in .380acp AP9. Steel-framed versions also were offered as AP7,65S and AP9S.
Kameniczky started to develop Browning P35 style pistols, the P9 in 1971 and the FP9 in 1975. In 1978 he developed the R78, a new Police Pocket gun. In 1980 he introduced the P9 variants in several calibers and barrel lengths. He retired in 1983. In retirement he still designed a high powered pistol in 5.6x50-Magnum caliber, named 'NP'.
To Kameniczky's satisfaction, the new Hungarian Army selected his 9x19mm P9RC for their new service weapon, to replace the PA-63's in 1996. He died a year later, at 74. Kameniczky's pistol model code: P - Parabellum, B - Browning, M - Makarov, 9 - 9mm, R - Rovid Hatrasiklas [Short Recoil], A - Aluminum frame, K - Kurz [Short barrel], M - Medium Barrel, L - Long Barrel.

Pal Dedai Kiraly (1880-1965?)

Born in Budapest, Hungary, earned his degree in Machine Design at the Technical university of Budapest in 1902. He became a Professor's Assistant at the University. He also earned a Military Reservist degree with an Artillery Lieutenant rank. He served in the military 1914-18 and reached a rank of Artillery Captain. In 1915 he wrote his first publication about automatic weapons. After WW1 Hungary was prohibited from weapon development, so he moved to Switzerland and worked for SIG Neuhausen. One of his design was called the Kiraly-Waffen. In the 1920's he developed the SIG KE and the SIG Kf.7 Machine Guns, the SIG MKMO machine-carbine. The MKMO was succesfully sold to various countries in 7.63 & 9mm Mauser and 7.65 & 9mm Parabellum chamberings.
From 1928 weapon development was again allowed in Hungary, so Kiraly started to develop automatic weapons for Hungary. SIG refused to release some of Kiraly's research to Hungary as they originally agreed, so Kiraly moved back to Hungary. He still worked for SIG under contracts in the 1930's. During 1929-44 he was not an employee in Hungary either, he was paid from Danuvia's profit sharings.
In 1929 Kiraly designed an advanced 9x19 pistol, designated as 'KD Danuvia'. 20 guns were manufactured for trials. Among others, Germany was very interested in this pistol, but the 1929-33 market crash put a hold on new developments worldwide. Interestingly, Germany's Walther P.38 displays extreme 'similarities' with the KD Danuvia. The two guns Internally are the same, outside differences were the P.38's distinctive grips and a shorter barrel.
In 1932 Kiraly designed a self-loading (automatic rifle), which was the first automatic rifle in the world with a muzzle brake. (The more famous Simonov 1936 featured the first muzzle brake outside Hungary 3 years later). The rifle was very well balanced, it weighed less than 4kg [8.8 lbs]. It had a well sealed dustproof operating mechanism, came with a small 10-round box magazine.
In 1933 Kiraly introduced a larger version of his 1932 automatic rifle. This gun weight 6.5kg [14.3 lbs], had heavier, longer barrel, a large 80-round magazine and a muzzle brake.
On 7/11/34 the Italians reviewed Danuvia's available arsenal, showed interest, but eventually decided to stay with their own weapons. (Except for the 12.7mm Gebauer GKM's, to which they had no equal.
In 1939 the Honvedseg adopted his Machine-Carbine with the Danuvia 39.M designation. A modernized version was adopted in 1943 under Danuvia 43.M designation. His last Hungarian design, designated Danuvia 44.M was not adopted due to the Soviet invasion of Hungary. His 44.M design was the basis of the Hungarian Kucher K1 Machine Pistol in 1951.
In 1945 Kiraly escaped to Switzerland before the Soviets came. In 1947 he moved to the Dominican Republic, where he was employed by the Armeria of San Cristobal, ran by a fellow Hungarian, Sandor Kovacs. Kiraly developed several weapons here, the most succesful was his Cristobal Carbine, of which a 1/4 million was sold. His last design was adopted in 1962, when he was 82.

Karel Krnka

Alfred Ritter von Kropatschek

Born Mar 30, 1838. Austrian Feldzeugmeister.

Jozsef Kucher (1909-?)

Born 11/12/09 in Szony, Hungary. In 1928 he studied at the Viennese University. He earned his Mechanical Engineering diploma in 1935, at the Technical University, Budapest, with a minor in Electronics. He worked for the Brown-Bovery Co. in Warsaw in 1935. Between 1931-38 he participated in several military pilot trainig schools. He earned a 1st. Lieutenant rank. He served as a Surveillance Pilot on the Russian Front in 1942. He was pulled back into the reserves from the front, to serve as a Military Engineer to run airplane repair facilities. He was officially employed by Danuvia Fegyver es Loszergyar 1936-46.
Due to his military engineering background, in 1948 Kucher was drafted into the new Communist Hungarian Army, with a Captain rank. He was working in the Military Research Institute of the Ministry of Defense. The department, just like whole Hungarian industry was run by unqualified communist party members, and they desperately needed a few knowledgable non-communist engineers for guidance.
Kucher spoke several languages and based on his experience, he quickly proved himself to be an excellent weapons engineer, and even though he had many political enemies, he was promoted to a Major's rank and Department Manager. From 1950 he was also teaching Military Technology at the Technical University, Budapest.
In 1951 his Kucher K1 light machine pistol was adopted by the Military. In 1952 his Kucher 1952 machine gun was adopted by the Military. From 1952 he developed a semi-automatic Panzer Destroyer infantry weapon in 45mm caliber with an offical designation of 'K5'. It was supported by a low profile 2-wheeled mount, which provided a 350mm center of firing elevation.

Ferdinand Ritter von Mannlicher (1848-1914)

He was born in Meinz, Germany. He received his engineering degree in Vienna. He worked for the Austrian Railroad, where he quickly become a chief engineer due to his outstanding work. He maintained a strong interest in firearms. What had begun as a hobby eventually became a profession. In 1877 he went to Josef Werndl who hired him, recognizing his talent. He worked there 27 years, becoming Chief of R&D. He received 150+ patents. Many of his ideas and designs were ahead of his time, and still in use today. His talent was the basis on which Osterreichische Waffenfabriks-Gesellschaft (OEWG) of Steyr built a lasting reputation.

Georg Roth

Georg Roth was primarily an ammunition engineer, eventually operating two factories in Vienna and Pressburg (originally Pozsony, now Bratislava), but he was also interested in firearms. In 1898 he employed Karel Krnka to manage one of his factories. Since Krnka was already an experienced gun designer, the two men soon began to collaborate. Most of the work was apparently done by Krnka, Roth merely contributing ideas and most importantly suitable ammunition. Roth's name attaches to several pistol designs by virtue of his status as Krnka's employer. The designs were invariably due to Roth and Krnka and possibly Rudolf Frommer, but they were licensed to gunmakers as Roth had no manufacturing capability.

Josef Werndl (1831-1889)

Leopold Werndl started his gunsmithing business in Steyr, Austria in 1821. The factory was manufacturing the Lorenz muskets for the Austrian Army. After Leopold's death his sons took over the business. Josef Werndl formed 'Josef und Franz Werndl & Comp. Waffenfabrik und Sagermuhle in Oberletten' in 1864. The factory was converting muzzleloading rifle/muskets into breech-loaders. In 1867 the Austro-Hungarian Breech-loading Commission demanded that muzzle velocity of the adopted rifle should exceed 340m/sec - eliminating the Spencer and the Winchester M1866, but more than a hundred designs were considered before the commission selected the Wurzinger and Remington as the most desirable. A Remington Rolling Block was recommended for adoption on November 29, 1866 and guns were readied for trials. However, rumors that this breech was unsafe allowed a rifle designed by Josef Werndl and Karl Holub to enter. The Werndl-Holub breech system was officially adopted on July 28, 1867. Werndl received a 100,000 rifle order, which was incresed to 250,000 a few months later. Werndl formed a Joint stock company to increase the size and productivity of the factory. The name become Osterreichische Waffenfabriks-Gesellschaft, Steyr. The factory with up to 6000 workers had an 8000 rifle per week output.
In 1889 the number of Steyr factory workers reached 10,000. Josef Werndl died in the same year at the age of 59.

The company became 'Steyr-Werke AG' after the end of WW1 an diversified into vehicles and general engineering. Absorbing the Austro-Daimler and Puch companies in 1934, Steyr-Werke became Steyr-Daimler-Puch. Steyr-Daimler-Puch became part of the Rheimetall-Solothurn axis, making weapons designed by Rheinmetall and engineered by Solothurn (a sales organization, Steyr-Solothurn AG was set up in Zurich to market military arms produced by the consortium. Rheinmetall reportedly owned a substantial part of Steyr-Daimler-Puch and, when Austria was occupied in 1938, the company became part of Reichswerke Hermann Goring. Farm machinery and bicycles were made in the altermath of WW2, manufacture of firearms being resumed in the early 1950s. Steyr's involvement with handguns appears to have begun with experimental weapons made for Krnka, Roth and others in 1885-95 period. These were followed by Schonberger, Mannlicher and Roth-Steyr pistols before production of an improved gun began under the Steyr name.

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