A rifle is a very personal item

A rifle is a very personal item to many hunters. That is why so many high-quality hunting rifles stay in hunting families for generations.

Sauer is the oldest active brand in German rifle manufacturing. The Sauer family of gunsmiths founded their first manufacturing company in Suhl – the epicenter of German gun-making – back in 1751. In other words, there are 270 years or at least ten generations of gun-making experience behind the Sauer brand.

Historically Sauer has produced a wide range of firearms for civilian and military use. For a little more than 100 years from the second half of the nineteenth century, Sauer was best known for a wide selection of break-open guns favored by the German-speaking hunters of the era. Side-by-side shotguns, "Kipplauf" single-shot rifles and combination guns for hunting like "Drillinge" (typically two smoothbore and one rifled barrel), "Büchsflinten" (one smoothbore and one rifled barrel in side-by-side configuration), and "Bockbüchsflinten" (one smoothbore and one rifled barrel in over-and-under configuration). Over the years, the production even included pistols and military service rifles. It is fair to say that Sauer has worked with more or less every type of small arm there is. Nowadays, the mainline of products is hunting rifles developed by engineers with hunting experience specifically for hunting. The Sauer rifles come in different price ranges fulfilling the needs of beginners as well as experienced hunters.

Other pieces of equipment arguably play a more significant role in the outcomes of hunting adventures than the firearm. Nevertheless, a rifle is probably the dearest possession of many hunters around the world.

A highly valued piece of equipment

Other pieces of equipment (like clothes and footwear) arguably play a more significant role in the outcomes of hunting adventures than the firearm. Nevertheless, a rifle is probably the dearest possession of many big game hunters around the world. Still, the rifle defines the big game hunter and sets her (or him) apart from everyone else. The rifle – or rather the entire package consisting of the rifle, the sights, and the ammunition – ideally becomes an extension of the hunter's body and will. Mastering the use of the rifle is an essential part of hunting big game, and the rifle's qualities make a huge difference.

You want your rifle to be highly accurate, pleasant to shoot, and instinctively easy to operate. Repeating swiftly on a driven hunt, changing the magazine without looking or de-cocking the mechanism after the last shot fired should fall natural to you. You want the operation of the rifle to become deeply ingrained in your muscle memory. You want your rifle to feel like a reliable, predictable, and loyal friend.

When you find your rifle, you will be reluctant to let it go. A rifle is a very personal item to many hunters. That is why so many high-quality hunting rifles stay in hunting families for generations. In Europe, many of those rifles are Sauer rifles.

Modern Sauer rifles honor the brand's legacy, combining generations of gun-making skills with state-of-the-art engineering and high-tech materials. Over the years, guns have continuously evolved to meet the demands of hunters of our time. Safety, reliability, versatility, durability, and overall rifle performance are constantly tweaked, tuned, and improved. During this process, hunting rifles have emerged as specialized weapons and not simply modified military service rifles as they used to be.

An admirable legacy

Like all brands that stood the test of time for centuries, Sauer lived through several wars, political and technical revolutions, depressions, ups and downs, and challenges of all sorts. However, the brand managed to survive it all and maintain a strong image based on both quality, functionality, and innovation.

In our view, those three factors – quality, functionality, and innovation - are essential in building a long-lasting brand. If the company behind a brand loses focus for a moment, it's all over. The people behind Sauer never blinked.

Compared to Sauer, Härkila is at the beginning of our journey. However, Sauer is living proof of the effectiveness of this recipe for success, and we cannot help but finding inspiration in the impressive history behind Sauers products. The hunters of Europe share our sentiments (as Sauer is as popular as ever)

We at Härkila strive to improve the conditions for the "ground connection" of the rifle – that's you, the hunter - just as Sauer optimize the rifle. By developing equipment that enables you to perform under adverse weather conditions, in rugged terrain, and under physical strain, we continuously try to improve your hunting experiences. Go further, endure more, pass the next ridge. We do so with an emphasis on quality and innovation, just like Sauer.