Ferkinghoff International

What Ferkinghoff International does

Ferkinghoff International GmbH & Co. KG is a family-owned German retailer and exclusive general importer of American firearms, optics, and shooting accessories, founded in 1989/1990 and based in Bergtheim/Opferbaum, Bavaria. The company holds exclusive import and distribution rights for more than a dozen premium US brands in Germany and Europe, including Magnum Research (Desert Eagle, BFR), Mossberg, Springfield Armory, Trijicon, Kahr Arms, Auto-Ordnance, Lyman, Timney Triggers, CMC Triggers, and Primary Arms, alongside a broader catalog of 40+ manufacturers and 8,000+ SKUs.

The business operates a multi-channel model: a direct-to-consumer e-commerce shop at waffen-ferkinghoff.com (available in German, English, and French), a dedicated B2B dealer portal for authorized German and European trade (Fachhandel), and a physical showroom in Opferbaum serving walk-in customers by appointment. Revenue is generated almost entirely through one-time transactional sales of firearms, ammunition, reloading equipment, optics, parts, and accessories, supplemented by installment payment options via easyCredit-Ratenkauf; there is no recurring subscription component. The catalog spans handguns, long guns, used weapons, Swedish Mauser rifles, ammunition, reloading supplies, shooting accessories, target optics, gunsmithing tools, and weapon care products.

The company serves four primary end-customer segments — sports shooters, hunters, collectors, and law enforcement/authorities — and a B2B trade channel of authorized dealers. It maintains an active multi-channel marketing presence through Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Xing, YouTube, an email newsletter, an educational Ratgeber blog, SEO-optimized product pages, and annual participation in the Enforce Tac and IWA trade shows in Nuremberg. In 2025 the company co-developed and launched a private-label AR-15 rifle line (STT-AR15 series) with US-based SanTan Tactical, engineered for European compliance, and initiated expansion into France (with a localized B2B platform) and Austria (Mossberg representation).

Name

Ferkinghoff International

Legal name

Ferkinghoff International GmbH & Co. KG

Website

https://waffen-ferkinghoff.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Ferkinghoff International is a family-owned German retailer and exclusive general importer of American firearms, optics, and shooting accessories, serving sports shooters, hunters, collectors, law enforcement, and B2B dealers across Germany, France, and Austria via e-commerce, B2B portal, and showroom.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Firearms Retail and Distribution

NAICS

Sporting Goods, Hobby, Musical Instrument, Book, and Miscellaneous Retailers (459)

SIC

Sporting & Athletic Goods, Nec (3949)

akta.pro primary industry

Firearms & Ammunition Retail (CRAMAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Reloading & Gunsmithing Supplies Retail (CRAMAKAF), Shooting Sports Equipment Retail (Targets, Clay, Range Gear, Hearing/Eye Protection) (CRAMAKAG), Firearm Storage & Safety Retail (Safes, Cases, Locks) (CRAMAKAI)

Keywords

• Firearms retail
• Hunting equipment
• Shooting accessories
• Weapon optics
• Ammunition distribution

Headquarters

HQ city

Bergtheim

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Firearms and Weapons Sales: One-time sale of firearms including pistols, revolvers, rifles, shotguns, and used weapons. Revenue generated per transaction with no recurring component.
2. Accessories and Parts Sales: Sale of weapon parts, optics, ammunition, reloading equipment, shooting accessories, weapon care products, and tools. Complementary one-time purchases supporting the primary weapons business.
3. B2B Trade Sales: Sales to authorized dealers (Fachhandel) through dedicated B2B portal, supporting wholesale distribution to end customers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Ferkinghoff International is a specialized retailer and exclusive general importer of American firearms, ammunition, optics, and shooting accessories for the German and European market. The company operates a direct-to-consumer e-commerce shop, a B2B dealer portal for authorized trade customers, and a physical showroom, distributing over 8,000 articles from 40+ premium US manufacturers including Magnum Research, Mossberg, Springfield Armory, and Trijicon. The portfolio spans handguns, long guns, used weapons, weapon parts, reloading equipment, target optics, and weapon care products, with a co-developed AR-15 rifle line tailored to European compliance standards.

Product overview

Ferkinghoff International operates an e-commerce platform specializing in firearms and shooting sports equipment. The product portfolio consists of multiple product categories: handguns (pistols and revolvers), long guns (rifles and shotguns), used weapons, weapon parts, ammunition, reloading supplies, shooting accessories, target optics, weapon tools, weapon care products, and Swedish rifles. The company is a specialized importer and dealer of American brands including Magnum Research/Desert Eagle, Mossberg, Springfield Armory, Trijicon, Auto-Ordnance, SanTan Tactical, and Remington, serving sports shooters, hunters, collectors, and authorities across Germany and Europe.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Kurzwaffen (Handguns) Handguns including pistols and revolvers for sport shooting, hunting, and collecting purposes. Features American brands such as Magnum Research Desert Eagle, Springfield Armory Echelon and XDM Elite, and Kahr Arms.
• Langwaffen (Long Guns) Long guns including repeating rifles (Repetierbüchsen), single-shot rifles, semi-automatic rifles, shotguns, and silencers for hunting, sport shooting, and tactical use. Brands include Mossberg, Springfield Armory, SanTan Tactical, and Just Right Carbines.
• Gebrauchtwaffen (Used Weapons) Pre-owned firearms including pistols, revolvers, rifles, and shotguns, all inspected, verified, and tested by in-house experts before sale. Pricing varies by condition and rarity.
• Waffenteile (Weapon Parts)
• Munition (Ammunition) Ammunition for long guns, handguns, rimfire, shotguns, and air rifles. Brands include CCI, Fiocchi, Hornady, and Magtech.
• Wiederladen (Reloading) Reloading equipment including die sets, cases, loading presses, projectiles, and reloading books from Lyman and other brands.
• Schießzubehör (Shooting Accessories) Shooting accessories including gun bags, holsters, targets, gun storage, bipods, hearing protection, and shooting glasses.
• Zieloptiken (Target Optics) Optical sights including riflescopes, red dot sights, military and police optics, mountings, and binoculars. Exclusive distribution of Trijicon (RMR, ACOG, MRO, VCOG) and Primary Arms optics in Germany.
• Waffen Werkzeuge (Weapon Tools) Gunsmithing tools including gunsmith tools, testing equipment, metalworking, and woodworking tools.
• Waffenpflege (Weapon Care) Weapon maintenance products including cleaning sets, cleaning rods, brushes, oils, greases, and bore cleaners.
• Schweden Gewehre (Swedish Rifles) Swedish military rifles including m/94, m/96, and m/38 models (Swedish Mausers), along with parts and accessories. Represents a specialty collector category where the company holds unique market expertise.
• B2B Dealer Portal (Fachhandel) Dedicated B2B login portal for authorized German and European dealers (Fachhandel) to place wholesale orders with special pricing and terms. Provides access to exclusive US brand products not available through general distributors.

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Magnum ResearchcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExclusive general importer for Magnum Research (including Desert Eagle brand) in Germany and Europe. Ferkinghoff is the primary distribution partner for Magnum Research firearms.
• MossbergcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExclusive German distributor for Mossberg firearms. Also holds official representation for Mossberg in Austria.
• Springfield ArmorycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExclusive German distributor for Springfield Armory firearms and related products.
• TrijiconcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExclusive German distributor for Trijicon optics including RMR, ACOG, MRO, and other products.
• SanTan TacticalflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint development partner for AR-15 rifles specifically designed for the European/German market. Ferkinghoff contributed to product specification including bilateral operating controls and European compliance. Products carry both SanTan Tactical and Ferkinghoff branding for European distribution.
• Kahr ArmscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExclusive general importer for Kahr Arms products in Germany and Europe.
• Auto-OrdnancecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExclusive general importer for Auto-Ordnance (Thompson brand) firearms in Germany and Europe.
• Lyman ProductscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExclusive German distributor for Lyman reloading equipment, accessories, and related products.
• Timney TriggerscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExclusive German distributor for Timney Triggers precision trigger systems.
• CMC TriggerscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistribution partner for CMC Triggers drop-in trigger systems, notably featured in SanTan Tactical co-developed rifles.
• Primary Arms OpticscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExclusive general importer for Primary Arms Optics products in Germany and Europe.
• Magpul IndustriesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProducts included in Ferkinghoff inventory including Magpul stocks, grips, and accessories (MOE and PMAG products).

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• J.P. Sauer & Sohn: German hunting and sporting rifle manufacturer (part of the J.G. Anschütz group). Comparable as a European firearms brand addressing the same hunter and sports shooter base, although Sauer sells through dealers rather than operating its own retail platform.
• Aimsport (Aimpoint AB): Swedish manufacturer of premium red dot optics widely used by European sport shooters and authorities. Comparable as a premium optics brand that competes for the same end customer as Trijicon (which Ferkinghoff distributes exclusively).
• Heckler & Koch: German firearms manufacturer of pistols, rifles, and submachine guns. Comparable as a major German firearms brand whose products appear on Ferkinghoff-adjacent dealer shelves, though H&K is a manufacturer, not a retailer.
• Carl Walther GmbH: German firearms manufacturer (pistols, rifles) with strong European brand presence. Comparable as a German-speaking firearms brand competing for the same end consumer (sports shooters, hunters) though operating on the manufacturing rather than retail side.

Broad incumbents

• RUAG Ammotec: Swiss-headquartered defense and sporting ammunition/small arms group with broad European distribution. Comparable as a large European player operating across firearms, ammunition, and law enforcement with overlapping distribution capability.
• Beretta: Italian global firearms manufacturer and retailer with broad European presence. Comparable as a firearms brand with its own European retail strategy and a portfolio overlapping with Ferkinghoff's hunting and sport-shooting categories.

Regional players

• Verney-Carron: Historic French hunting and sporting firearms manufacturer. Comparable as a European firearms specialist; relevant as Ferkinghoff expands into France, where Verney-Carron has strong incumbent retail relationships.

Direct peers

• Waffen Frank: German specialist firearms retailer (Würzburg region) selling new and used firearms, optics, and accessories to sports shooters and hunters. Comparable as a regional German Fachhandel competitor with overlapping product categories and customer segments.
• Frankonia: Germany's largest hunting and firearms retailer, with multi-channel retail and an exclusive distributor of major European and US brands. Directly comparable as a Germany-based specialist firearms and hunting equipment retailer serving sports shooters, hunters, and collectors.
• Helmut Hofmann GmbH: German firearms distributor and retailer with deep US-brand portfolio (Springfield Armory, Glock, etc.) serving the Fachhandel and end consumers. Closely comparable as a German exclusive importer of US firearms brands with both B2B and D2C channels.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@FerkinghoffInternational
• Facebookfacebook.com/Ferkinghoff
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ferkinghoff-international-gmbh-co-kg
• Instagraminstagram.com/ferkinghoff_insta

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ferkinghoff International