2 Millita style rifles and a Haenel XV

[Swissairgun]

Just come my way: a couple of unbranded Millita style rifles, one with a push-button barrel release and one with a Tell-style flip up lever barrel release. Neither with any markings except the serial numbers. If anyone can help ID the makers I'd be grateful.

Larger rifle is 105cm/41.3" long, 46.3cm/18.2" barrel
Shorter rifle is 92cm/36.2" long, 39.8cm/15.7" barrel

In the middle a Haenel model XV dated 1934 that has lost its trigger guard.

All three are mechanically in order but needing some care and attention.

[oldair]

You may have already perused Danny Garvin's VintageAirgunsGallery, but there are a couple references with side-button Millita-style rifles.  Here is a catalog page with a gun quite similar to yours and referred to as "Original" which at the time was a moniker used by Oscar Will:
https://forum.vintageairgunsgallery.com/burgo-burgsmuller/burgo-miscellaneous/#post-7669

But here's a John Milewski article (see Part 2) showing a similar gun that he attributes to Langenhan:
https://forum.vintageairgunsgallery.com/milewski-john-airgun-world-articles/john-milewski-agw-article-millita-air-rifle/

Seems to be unclear as to what manufacturer(s?) built the side-button guns although Hiller claims this latch was patented in 1901 without saying by whom.

Don R.

[1900colt]

This is on the barrel of a push button model. Looks similar to your gun, except straight uncheckered stock

J. JENTZSCH

[Pneumatic-Addict]

I initially thought it might be a Greener, but have ruled that out.  Look it over again carefully for a small logo like this:

[Garvin]

Seems to be unclear as to what manufacturer(s?) built the side-button guns although Hiller claims this latch was patented in 1901 without saying by whom.

Don R.

The consensus seems to be that they probably were made by Fritz Langenhan of Zella Mehlis.

[oldair]

Thanks for that, Danny.  When I acquired my example in 1993, I recorded it as FLZ based on Hiller's discussion - good to know others have agreed.  A small note though: at the time these were made, the town was likely still known as Zella St. Blazii.

Don R.

[Swissairgun]

Thanks everyone for your thoughts, the input is much appreciated. Danny Garvin's site is my go-to place, so special thanks to him for his great work on that.

I also have an FLZ Original V (pic), which is pre-WW1 with the octagonal to round barrel and round cylinder end block. That has no FLZ stamp on it either, like the new little guy. The fact that Langenhan seems to have patented the side-button release mechanism seems to pin this one on also being a Langenhan-made gun. The checkering on the pistol grip is also exactly the same pattern on both rifles.

[Garvin]

Thanks for that, Danny.  When I acquired my example in 1993, I recorded it as FLZ based on Hiller's discussion - good to know others have agreed.  A small note though: at the time these were made, the town was likely still known as Zella St. Blazii.

Don R.

You're right of course, Don!

Lots of discussion of Millita-type origins here:

https://forum.vintageairgunsgallery.com/miscellaneous-miscellaneous/discussion-of-the-origins-of-some-millita-type-rifles/#post-7288