Phil_in_the_UK
.275 member
Reged: 30/04/03
Posts: 60
Loc: United Kingdom
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I was wondering if anyone has any information on the maker Krupp. I believe it is the makers of the barrels of my A Hollis double.
There is a word I can’t make out as follows CU---TAHI, or something similar followed by the word Krupp on the underside of both barrels. I am assuming the barrels were bought in from Krupps by H Leonard’s, the rifle built and then onto A Hollis.
I believe many of the “English” rifles were built by outsourced labour and bought in, not necessarily English materials, including some of the “better” names.
Any opinions would be very interesting as I am trying to piece the history of the rifle together.
Regards
Phil
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NE450No2
.375 member
Reged: 10/01/03
Posts: 942
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The bbls on my 450 No2 say "GUSSSTAHL KRUPP ESSEN".
Yes, with 3 "S".
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500grains
.416 member
Reged: 16/02/04
Posts: 4732
Loc: Salt Lake City, Utah USA
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Krupp was a steel maker in Essen, Germany. Krupp also got into the armaments business, making artillery and other weapons from the late 1800's through WWII. During WWII, the Krupp facilities were bombed mercilessly, but still only about 1/3 of the equipment was destroyed. As part of Germany's reconciliation with the eastern European countries at the end of WWII, about half of the undamaged equipment at Krupp was sent by train to the eastern block. Krupp continued in business after the war as a commercial steel maker.
The word "Krupp" on barrels does not indicate any particular grade of steel, just that the steel came from the Krupp factory in Essen, Germany.
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470Rigby
.333 member
Reged: 23/02/04
Posts: 328
Loc: Melbourne, Australia
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Phil
The firm "Fried Krupp" was founded way back in 1810 as steelmaker and manufacturer of heavy ordnance. Some of the early "milestones" of the company are;
1811 - First smelting furnace
1843 - First cast steel cannon barrels
1843 - First artillery oiece - 3 pounder
1854 - Their first 12 pounder
1886 - Biggest gun in the world - 42 foot barrel/16.5" bore/2,300 pound shell that could penetrate a 3 foot steel plate at a range of a mile (the breech closure alone weighed 120 tons!
1890 - 5000 ton hydraulic press for the manufacture of armour plate.
In 1896 Krupp's had an English agent, Mr. Aug. Reichwald who resided at Dashwood House, 9 Broad Street, London and claimed that Krupp barrels were stronger than their oppositions' (Webley) by virtue of having some residual tension, but cautioned that brazing would remove it. (Amatuer Gunsmiths take note)
Up until WW1, Krupp and Webleys between them supplied most of the gun and rifle tubes to the English gun trade, but following the war, Krupps lost their English trade, with the Vickers Company stepping in to take their place.
In addition to the "GUSSSTAHL" marking, a trademark made up of three interlinked circles was often used. Some "makers", notably W.J.Jeffery's and Alexander Hollis(read Leonard) left these markings on, but is almost certain that others removed them.
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