Diana (weapons manufacturer)

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DIANA Mayer & Grammelspacher GmbH & Co.KG

logo
legal form GmbH & Co. KG
founding 1890
Seat Ense , Germany
management Michael Swoboda (Managing Director)
Branch Weapons manufacturing
Website www.diana-airguns.de

The former Diana factory in Rastatt. Production at this location was discontinued in 2015.

The company DIANA Mayer & Grammelspacher GmbH & Co.KG is a German manufacturer of compressed air and small-caliber weapons based in Ense , North Rhine-Westphalia .

history

The Diana company was founded in 1890 by Jakob Mayer and Josef Grammelspacher, the factory was built in Rastatt . Inspired by Diana , the goddess of hunting , her name was chosen as the company name. In 1908 the first patent certificate of the Imperial Patent Office was issued to Jakob Mayer .

The early Diana air rifles did not yet have a forearm. The shooters still grabbed the bare metal of the barrel . In 1930, so-called "Eureka rifles and pistols", which only fired rubber arrows, were developed for younger customers. In 1947 the plant was completely dismantled , and in 1950 the plant was rebuilt.

In 1960 the Model 60 air rifle was developed. In its time it was the only air rifle that was free of vibration and rebound blows . The bounce was eliminated by the double piston principle patented by Diana. The later side clamp model 75 also worked with the double piston system. The models 48–52 were manufactured from 1987 onwards. They were a new development with a rigid barrel and a side cocking lever for an even greater range than conventional compressed air weapons at the time. With the Model 54 Airking Diana has launched another fixed barrel rifle with a side cocking lever and a recoil system. It is the only long-range air rifle with spring pressure that does not bounce back.

The marksman Silvia Sperber won a gold medal with a Diana small caliber system at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul. In 2000 the "350 Magnum" model was introduced. At that time it was the world's most powerful long-range air rifle with a muzzle velocity of 380 m / s. In the meantime, other manufacturers also offer powerful long-range air rifles.

With the LP 5 Magnum air pistol, Diana offers one of the most powerful spring-pressure pistols that can reach a muzzle velocity of 175 m / s. With over 10 million customers in 60 countries around the world, Diana is still one of the leading providers of spring-loaded air weapons. In addition to the manufacture of compressed air weapons, Diana works in surface technology . Surface refinements, primarily bluing , are carried out for various companies .

In 2014 the company was taken over by German Sport Guns GmbH (GSG). This in turn belongs to 51% of L & O Holding from Emsdetten. Diana stopped producing weapons at her Rastatt location in 2015. From 2018 onwards, the conversion into a residential area was discussed for a subsequent use of the factory premises. After the takeover by GSG, the company's headquarters were relocated from Rastatt to Ense in North Rhine-Westphalia, where the GSG is also based. According to the company, production of the so-called “Performance Line” will be continued at the Ense site, while the cheaper models will be manufactured in Asia, as they were before the takeover.

Historical models:
LP 6, LP 6G, both with a double piston system to avoid bouncing, micrometer sighting height and side adjustable, exchangeable front sight, rifled barrel, muzzle velocity 125 m / s

Current product range

Break-barrel rifles

- up to 175 m / s: models Panther 21, 240 Classic - up to 300 m / s: models 28, Panther 31 (also in compact and professional versions), 34 (different versions), 45 - up to 380 m / s: models 350 Magnum (also in Classic, Compact, Professional, Superior, Laminated versions), Panther 350 Magnum

Rigid rifles

- Lever clamps : Models 46 Stutzen, 460 Magnum - Side clamps : Models 48, 52 (different versions), 54 Airking (free from bounce)

LG 52 with ZF Montage and ZF DIANA 3–9 × 40

Pistols - Model 5 G, Model LP 5 Magnum, Model LP 8 Magnum

Targethunter series

Under the label TH-Targethunter, lever and side tensioner models are offered in high-end design with perforated shafts. The side clamps Mod. 56 TH and the lever clamps Mod. 470 TH and Mod. 440 TH are currently available. The models are designed for hunting shooting and for use in the field target discipline.

The weapon accessories include: rifle scopes, mounts, bipods, various bullets, silencers and barrel weights as well as accessories.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Diana News from SHOT Show 2015. In: hardairmagazine.com. Retrieved April 29, 2019.
  2. ↑ Impact analysis for the expansion of a grocery store in Rastatt, Badener Strasse. In: rastatt.de . City of Rastatt, accessed on April 29, 2019 (PDF).


Coordinates: 48 ° 51 '14.5 "  N , 8 ° 12' 36.4"  E