The "Arsenal" in Vienna had its own power plant, steel mill, iron works and food supply. After World War I, in 1919, it was decided that the company had grown too big for Austria and should be closed. To prevent expected trouble with the labor unions, the Austrian government decided on October 1, 1919 to integrate the "Arsenal" into the "Österreichischen Industriewerke". Shortly afterward, the metal-working plants of the "Arsenal" were registered as a separate company named "Österreichische Werke, Gemeinwirtschaftliche Anstalt in Wien" (ÖWA) in the Austrian Trade Register.
Guns, as well as complete industrial plants, machinery and tools, bicycle-motors (Austro-Motorette) and a great number of other products were
manufactured.
About 30.000 Italian military carbines were converted to "ÖWA-Jagdstutzen Kaliber 6.7 mm". "Mauserlein-Karabiner" in 9mm and 6mm calibre, as well as barrel-blanks for the firearms industry, were also produced.
The "Weapon Commission", instituted by the Allies, allowed the production of 150.000 self-loading pistols, but only up to 6,5 mm calibre and 10cm barrel-length.
Due to the bad commercial situation as well as mismanagement of the company and last, but not least, because of the "Weapon-Commission", who strongly recommended the diserection of the steel plant inside the company´s-area, the company was closed.
In 1925 the "Verwertungsgesellschaft" was founded to sell the remaining contents of what the company had in storage. This took three years, and after that the "Verwertungsgesellschaft" itself was closed, on February 28, 1929.