Kettner International GmbH

Kettner is one of the oldest known firearms trading companies in Germany, founded in 1884 by Eduard Kettner in Cologne. The company built a reputation as a leading retailer of hunting and sporting weapons, accessories, and functional clothing, operating through catalog sales, physical stores, and a network of subsidiaries and distribution partners across Western and Eastern Europe. At its peak, Kettner maintained flagship stores in Berlin, Cologne, and Oldenburg, and owned manufacturing facilities in Suhl and Porz where thousands of hunting rifles were produced for export. The company's history has been turbulent. After decades of family ownership under the Bühring family, Kettner faced economic decline and was sold in 2001 to Deutsche Investors Capital. A first insolvency followed in 2003. The business was then acquired by investors Michael Lüke and Thomas Ortmeier, but profitability remained elusive. In 2006, Kettner International GmbH, backed by French financier Arnaud van Robais, took over operations. A second insolvency occurred in 2008, after which Schmid Industrie Holding acquired the remaining group and reunited it with Kettner Austria. In 2010, Kettner closed its German mail-order business, serving catalog customers from Austria instead. By mid-2012, all German retail locations were closed due to insufficient sales. The Cologne store and shooting range were taken over by Micromec Gruppe and renamed Kölner Jagdhütte. From September 2012, Grube KG in Bispingen operated a mail-order and online business under the Kettner brand, though without selling firearms. In September 2022, Grube KG returned the trademark rights to Kettner Austria. Today, Eduard Kettner GmbH, headquartered in Pöttelsdorf, Austria, continues to operate as a hunting and outdoor equipment retailer, with a strong online presence and physical stores in Austria.

The company was entered into the Cologne commercial register on 23 January 1884 as Eduard Kettner, and the first Kettner hunting specialty store opened in the heart of the cathedral city. By the early 20th century, Kettner was among the first mail-order companies in Germany. It acquired factories in Suhl (Thuringia) and Porz (Cologne), where thousands of hunting rifles were produced and subsequently exported. In 1925, the Bühring family purchased Kettner and expanded the Cologne headquarters. The company was initially led by Friedrich Bühring's father-in-law, the well-known "Patronen-Dornheim," who owned G.C. Dornheim AG of Lippstadt, a wholesale arms and ammunition dealer with seven branches domestically and abroad. The Franz Kettner shop at Hohe Straße 109 in Cologne remained in operation until it finally closed at the end of September 2009. In 1943, Kettner faced near ruin due to the war. Shortly after the war ended, Helmut Bühring began rebuilding the company, initially setting up a repair workshop in the ruins. The business traded in whatever could be sold, for example clothes hangers made from iron air-gun cleaning rods. From the first offer sheets, extensive price lists and soon an illustrated product catalog followed. In 1969, the company headquarters, including administration and warehouse, moved from downtown Cologne to Cologne-Ossendorf. After years of economic decline, the Bühring family sold the company in 2001 for a symbolic price to the investment firm Deutsche Investors Capital (DIC) of consultant Droege. Droege also failed to save the company. Despite significant investments, Kettner had to file for insolvency in 2003 due to continued declining business. Droege had initially acquired Kettner's bank liabilities in the double-digit millions at half their nominal value. From Bühring, Droege then acquired the limited partner share, which had previously been formed by converting his capital account as general partner into a limited partner share. Insolvency administrator Hans-Gerd Jauch objected that the limited partner capital entered in the millions had not actually been paid into the company but had only been worth the one euro actually paid by Droege the day after registration. In a settlement, Droege surrendered all claims and security rights in the company's assets acquired from the banks and paid a seven-figure sum to the insolvency administrator. Jauch continued the business operations and sold them with the majority of subsidiaries (e.g., in July 2004 the Eduard Kettner AG in Switzerland) to a company controlled by Michael Lüke and Thomas Ortmeier – the owners of L & O Holding – Kettner Deutschland GmbH. The investors were no more able than Droege to reach profitability. Kettner Austria was divested. Other companies and branches were sold to other investors. In 2006, Kettner International GmbH, backed by the French Financière A.V.R. of Arnaud van Robais, took over the operation of the Kettner company from Kettner Deutschland GmbH, including the headquarters in Cologne-Ossendorf and the branches in Berlin and Oldenburg, later also the stores in Münster and Hemer. As a second pillar, distribution through sales partners domestically and abroad was built up. Van Robais lost his fortune with the investment. In 2008, insolvency proceedings were also initiated against Kettner International, and Hans-Gerd Jauch was again appointed administrator. Jauch again decided to continue business operations. He printed the already-prepared catalog and arranged with suppliers to deliver on commission, as the debtor lacked the funds to finance its merchandise purchases. In 2008, Schmid Industrie Holding acquired the remaining part of the Kettner Group from Jauch. The investor also acquired Kettner Austria and merged the two companies again. In 2010, Kettner closed its mail-order business in Germany and has since supplied mail-order customers from Austria. On 16 May 2012, the company announced that due to insufficient sales, all German branches would be closed from mid-June. Sales in the stores ended definitively on 30 June 2012. The Cologne store at Mathias-Brüggen-Straße 80, along with the 100-meter shooting range and the central gunsmith workshop, was taken over by the Micromec Group as of 1 October 2012 and operates there under the name Kölner Jagdhütte. In September 2012, Grube KG of Bispingen started an additional mail-order business via catalog and online shop under the brand name "Kettner – Kompetenz in Jagd." The range of products offered largely corresponds to that of the former Kettner company. However, hunting and sporting firearms are not offered. As of September 2022, Grube KG returned its trademark rights to Kettner Austria. The Eduard Kettner GmbH, still existing in Austria with its registered office in Pöttelsdorf, continues to operate.

• 2022

  Grube KG returned trademark rights to Kettner Austria (Eduard Kettner GmbH).

• 2012

  All German branches closed by mid-June; sales ended 30 June. Grube KG started mail-order under Kettner brand in September.

• 2010

  Kettner closed German mail-order business; serves catalog customers from Austria.

• 2008

  Second insolvency; Schmid Industrie Holding acquired remaining Kettner Group and reunited with Kettner Austria.

• 2006

  Kettner International GmbH, backed by Financière A.V.R., took over operations.

• 2004

  Eduard Kettner AG in Switzerland sold to L & O Holding-controlled Kettner Deutschland GmbH.

• 2003

  First insolvency filed due to continued declining business.

• 2001

  Bühring family sold Kettner to Deutsche Investors Capital (DIC).

• 1969

  Company headquarters moved from downtown Cologne to Cologne-Ossendorf.

• 1943

  Kettner faced near ruin due to World War II.

• 1925

  Bühring family purchased Kettner and expanded the Cologne headquarters.

• 1884

  Eduard Kettner entered into the Cologne commercial register; first Kettner hunting store opened in Cologne.

Traditional specialist retailer for hunting and sporting firearms, ammunition, optics, and outdoor equipment, with a heritage dating back to 1884.

• Hunting rifles

• Sporting firearms

• Ammunition

• Optics

• Hunting clothing

• Outdoor equipment

1. 1Jagdausrüstung & Outdoor-Shop Österreich | Kettner – Neuheiten, Marken & Aktionenkettner.com
2. 2Kundenloginkettner.com
3. 3Kettner International GmBHwikidata.org
4. 4Kettner Internationalde.wikipedia.org