This article reports on the opening of the special exhibition “ Suhl Biathlon Rifles - From Masters for Champions ... with Suhl Quality to Olympic Victory ” at the Suhl Weapons Museum [1] on November 9, 2024.
KK (.22lr) rifles have been used in international biathlon since 1978. Initially, the large-caliber rifles used until then were simply made smaller. Later, attempts were made to shorten the shooting times by redesigning special biathlon rifles. The Suhl biathlon rifles models 626/626-1 and 628 were developed and manufactured in the former GDR from 1978 onwards. Until 2007, many international titles at World Championships and Olympic Games as well as victories and podium finishes in the World Cup were achieved with rifles of these models.
A special exhibition has been running at the Suhl Weapons Museum since November 10, 2024, in which the development of Suhl biathlon rifles, their technology and the successes achieved with them can be impressively traced. Under the motto
“Suhl biathlon rifles - from masters for winners ... with Suhl quality to Olympic victory”
the visitors can trace not only the history of the rifles, but also the associated successful development of biathlon in Thuringia on the basis of unique original examples of the rifles, original documents and other exhibits of athletes who were successful with the rifles.
The exhibits include the rifles of Andrea Henkel, Frank Luck, Sven Fischer, Mark Kirchner and Kati Wilhlem. Rare items such as the first starting number of a biathlete at the Olympic Games can also be seen.
The exhibits and their presentation are complemented by an accompanying booklet with further information about the sport of biathlon in Thuringia and the rifles.
The honorary patron of the special exhibition is one of the most successful Thuringian biathletes of all time, former national coach and current sports politician Frank Ullrich.
The exhibition was opened with a small, dignified ceremony on November 9, 2024 and will run until the fall of 2025, so there is plenty of time to see it.
The pictures give a first impression and should of course motivate you to visit.
[1] Waffenmuseum Suhl Suhler Biathlongewehre von Meistern für Sieger; Abruf: 17.11.2024