Family-run business since 1886

Family-run business since 1886

1886 the first Krieghoff was built. Throughout this journey, we have gained over 135 years of experience day by day which we have used to continually improve our products and develop new innovations. Today many hunters as well as clay target shooters trust in the quality and precision of our Hunting and Sporting Guns. The beginning of Krieghoff lies in Suhl, Thuringia in 1886, where Ludwig Krieghoff and his partner founded the arms factory Sempert & Krieghoff. Since the company’s founding the main focus lay on building fine hunting guns. Even today Ludwig Krieghoff’s principle “Die Läufe schießen, aber der Schaft trifft!”® (You shoot with the barrels, you hit with the stock) still stands. Therefore custom stock making became an integral part of the Krieghoff gun making process and guaranteed the excellent shooting results with Krieghoff guns – and still holds true today. In 1916 Ludwig’s son Heinrich founded his own company in Suhl which later incorporated his fathers business. An able engineer and business man, Heinrich developed amongst other things a semi-automatic rifle and a hookless shotgun. He also enhanced the legendary Krieghoff drillings, which are still part of todays production program.

1886

Ludwig Krieghoff, together with a partner, founds the "Sempert & Krieghoff rifle factory" in Suhl, Thuringia.

1900

"You shoot with the barrels you hit with the stock" this finding by Ludwig Krieghoff leads to the patented Krieghoff stock measurement principle.

1916

Heinrich Krieghoff, Ludwig Krieghoff's son founds the company "Heinrich Krieghoff", also in Suhl.

1919

The companies "Sempert & Krieghoff" and "Heinrich Krieghoff" are merged under Heinrich Krieghoff's direction.

1925

Krieghoff is the world's first manufacturer to introduce the lightweight Dural as a material in hunting weapon construction.

1926

The first Bockbüchsflinte with manual cocking slide is presented. Krieghoff manufactures the world's first hookless shotgun.

1950

After the end of World War II, Krieghoff starts again in Ulm with 13 employees.

1957

Krieghoff introduces its first competition shotgun: the K-32

1960

The company moves into its present-day production site in Ulm's Donautal.

1966

Kenneth A. Jones becomes Trap World Champion with his Krieghoff K-32.

1970

Heinz-Ulrich Krieghoff takes over the management of the company.

1976

Don Haldeman wins Olympic gold in Montreal with his K32

1980

The K-80, successor of the K-32 is introduced. Dieter Krieghoff begins the marketing of Krieghoff shotguns in the USA after his studies.

1986

Founding of Krieghoff International in the USA by Dieter Krieghoff.

1992

The Krieghoff combi cocking device and the Universal Trigger System (UAS) are patent-registered.

1993

The classic double rifle is presented at the IWA.

1995

The light and elegant Single Shot Rifle Krieghoff-Hubertus is beeing presented

2000

With the K-20, the "little sister" of the K-80 is introduced.

2002

The Optima-Drilling is presented.

2007

Krieghoff revolutionary in-line repeating system of the Semprio debuts at the IWA.

2009

Phil Krieghoff is appointed Managing Director of Krieghoff GmbH.

2010

Krieghoff becomes official partner of the 50th ISSF World Championship and since then has had many successes in the Olympic disciplines.

2018

The women's edition of the K-20 is introduced at the SCI Convention in the United States, with the name "Victoria".

  • 1886 - 1975
    1886

    Ludwig Krieghoff, together with a partner, founds the "Sempert & Krieghoff rifle factory" in Suhl, Thuringia.

    1900

    "You shoot with the barrels you hit with the stock" this finding by Ludwig Krieghoff leads to the patented Krieghoff stock measurement principle.

    1916

    Heinrich Krieghoff, Ludwig Krieghoff's son founds the company "Heinrich Krieghoff", also in Suhl.

    1919

    The companies "Sempert & Krieghoff" and "Heinrich Krieghoff" are merged under Heinrich Krieghoff's direction.

    1925

    Krieghoff is the world's first manufacturer to introduce the lightweight Dural as a material in hunting weapon construction.

    1926

    The first Bockbüchsflinte with manual cocking slide is presented. Krieghoff manufactures the world's first hookless shotgun.

    1950

    After the end of World War II, Krieghoff starts again in Ulm with 13 employees.

    1957

    Krieghoff introduces its first competition shotgun: the K-32

    1960

    The company moves into its present-day production site in Ulm's Donautal.

    1966

    Kenneth A. Jones becomes Trap World Champion with his Krieghoff K-32.

    1970

    Heinz-Ulrich Krieghoff takes over the management of the company.

  • 1976 - 2018
    1976

    Don Haldeman wins Olympic gold in Montreal with his K32

    1980

    The K-80, successor of the K-32 is introduced. Dieter Krieghoff begins the marketing of Krieghoff shotguns in the USA after his studies.

    1986

    Founding of Krieghoff International in the USA by Dieter Krieghoff.

    1992

    The Krieghoff combi cocking device and the Universal Trigger System (UAS) are patent-registered.

    1993

    The classic double rifle is presented at the IWA.

    1995

    The light and elegant Single Shot Rifle Krieghoff-Hubertus is beeing presented

    2000

    With the K-20, the "little sister" of the K-80 is introduced.

    2002

    The Optima-Drilling is presented.

    2007

    Krieghoff revolutionary in-line repeating system of the Semprio debuts at the IWA.

    2009

    Phil Krieghoff is appointed Managing Director of Krieghoff GmbH.

    2010

    Krieghoff becomes official partner of the 50th ISSF World Championship and since then has had many successes in the Olympic disciplines.

    2018

    The women's edition of the K-20 is introduced at the SCI Convention in the United States, with the name "Victoria".

A brief history of innovations designed for practical use

After the war Krieghoff relocated to Ulm

After the war Krieghoff relocated to Ulm

After the war Krieghoff relocated to Ulm, Baden-Wurttemberg, in 1950 and quickly gained ground again. The development of the K-32 shotgun bestowed international acclaim upon Krieghoff, especially when Kenneth A. Jones won the world championship in trap shooting in 1966. Dieter Krieghoff emigrated to the US at the end of the 70ies and claimed the American Clay shooting market for Krieghoff. In particular the K-80, the successor to the trendsetting K-32 is highly coveted amongst American shooters.