Andrzej Kownacki - rusznikarz Stanisława Augusta Poniatowskiego
Andrzej Kownacki - King Stanisław August Poniatowski's Gunsmith

Summary/Abstract: Andrzej Kownacki undoubtedly enriched gunsmithery and the development of the industrial production of guns in Poland. His life could be divided into several periods. The first was learning the trade in leading centres abroad, next was independent gunsmithery practice in Paris working for French governing elites, then working as a custodian of Stanisław August Poniatowski’s weapons collection and at the same time as his court gunsmith. The last stage was his work on setting up the gun manufactory in Kozienice, a short spell of running the repair company during the Kościuszko Uprising and a newly discovered phase in his life, which was working for the gun manufactory in Kremenchuk in Russia. years-long study of the trade in Western Europe (Leondium, St. Etienne and perhaps Suhl) and finally working in Paris for Prince of Condé confirm that he reached a high professional status already when abroad. He then reached the highest level back in Poland, when he became the last king of Poland Stanisław August Poniatowski’s court gunsmith. Guns created by him were of the highest quality in terms of ease of use and artistry, which is attested by his choice of high quality barrels, metal fittings and high level of workmanship of wooden stocks. The following stage in his life was organising the manufactory production of guns. Experience earned abroad, most likely in St Etienne, was beneficial also in this case. Kownacki’s professional comments on the quality of iron contained in notes to the King, as well as his involvement in organising the Kozienice manufatory, the repair company at the time of the Kościuszko Uprising and building machines to make cannonballs at the same time – they all prove his extensive knowledge not only in the area of gunsmithery, but also in early industrial organisation of labour, as well as constructing production machinery.

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