Location: Oberndorf/Neckar, Germany

End of WWII, the French dismantled Mauser factory as part of their reparations; buildings remained idle until 1949, when firearms production was again allowed in Germany. Heckler & Koch was formed as a machine tool enterprise and occupied vacant Mauser plant. In early 1950s, Edmund Heckler and Theodor Koch began to produce G3 automatic rifle based on Spanish CETME design and progressed to machine guns and sub-machine guns, eventually to production of commercial civilian rifles and pistols. In 1990, company got into financial difficulties because of a failed contract bid. In December 1990, French state consortium GIAT announced the purchase of Heckler and Koch, but a little more than a year later contract was canceled. Later in 1991, company was purchased by Royal Ordnance of Britain. In 2002, company was sold to a combined group of European investors and long-time company managers. SEE POLITICAL PANIC PRICING.