Gun of the Year

Gun of the Year 2023

In the early days of the Wild West, the Native American people drove bison across the prairie and up steep cliffs. Unable to stop the momentum built up from being pursued, the bison continued over the edge of the cliff, landing on the ground below. The cliffs, vital for bison hunting, were known as “Buffalo Jump”.
Krieghoff’s Gun of the Year 2023 is dedicated to this dramatic Wild West hunting technique.

Gun of the Year 2022

The Gun of the Year 2022 takes the observer into the rich history of Thailand (formerly Kingdom of Ayutthaya). Creative Art's engravers meticulously capture famous events during the reign of 16th-century King Naresuan, nicknamed "the Great" for his success and popularity.

Gun of the Year 2021

Heroodotus reported 300 Spartans fought to protect their King Leonidas knowing they were outnumbered by the far superior army of the Persian Empire – and thus chose certain death. Together with the engravers from Creative Art, Krieghoff immortalizes the Spartans' sacrifice for the freedom and the future of Europe in the Gun of the Year 2021.

Gun of the Year 2020

The engraver Chantal Schaschl captures the raw beauty of the Galapagos Islands and part of the vast prehistoric fauna that has roamed nature in impressive details.

Gun of the Year 2019

lvi imposing figure in height and history, Abraham Lincoln bestowed upon America a legacy that conlinues to inspire over 150 years after his death. Drawing on this inspiration, Master Engraver Hendrik Frühauf created the 2019 Krieghoff Gun of the Year.

Gun of the Year 2018

With the „Da Vinci“ gun of the year Krieghoff has managed another highlight, distinguis-hed through custom engraving. The ingenious mind of Leonardo da Vinci created legendary works of art that have been immortalized on this K-80. The fi ne Bulino engraving shows the details of da Vinci‘s work, while being framed by fi ne Renaissance scroll with gold accents.

Gun of the Year 2017

The Krieghoff Gun of the Year 2017 celebrates the life of William Frederick "Buffalo Bill" Cody (1846 – 1917), on the 100th Anniversary of his passing. Capturing the true spirit of the Wild West he shared with the world, The K-80 Sporter in 12 gauge illustrates the hunter, soldier and showman sides of this American Legend.

Gun of the Year 2016

Gun of the Year 2015

Creative Art engravers conducted extensive research for this particular engraving that depicts the historic battle that occurred from February 23rd until March 6th in 1836 between Texas and Mexico. William Travis and James Bowie are remembered on a monument that was erected near the Alamo, while the top latch features the honored Texas Flag in red, white and blue enamel on each side and the seal of Texas above the haunting words of the battle cry “Remember The Alamo”.

Gun of the Year 2014

The very special charm of stalking in the mountains is dedicated to this year’s “Gun of the Year” – a KRIEGHOFF HUBERTUS Single Shot Rifle, engraved by master engraver Gregor Stögner.

Gun of the Year 2013

This year’s “Gun of the Year” is a Krieghoff Hubertus Single Shot Rifle, engraved by Armin Bundschuh in .270 Win. This unique Single Shot Rifle impresses with a stunning engraving on sideplates, featuring an African game scene and accents in two different gold tones – yellow and green. A leopard leaps out of a gold framed oval, bulino-style medallion, into the surrounding acacias, following fleeing Impala. On the right side of the receiver, the fastest hunter in the world, the cheetah, is about to take his wanted prey. The exquisite style continues in the carving on the exhibition grade stock and completes the elegant appearance of this Krieghoff Hubertus Single Shot Rifle. This rifle also comes with a hunting knife made out of the finest, layered stainless damascus steel, with a length of 188 mm (4.6"). The knife handle is made of Impala horn and the sheath of Ostrich leather.

Gun of the Year 2012

Gun of the Year 2011

In it‘s 125th Anniversary Year, the 2011 Gun of the Year is a Krieghoff Neptun, the crown jewel in Krieghoff’s hunting gun repertoire.
The soldered drilling, caliber .30-06, .30-06, 20/76 with exclusive façon, burl wood, ebony forearm tip and “Kaiser“-grip with hand polished stock finish. Intricate checkering in a customized English Arabesque pattern perfects the stock. Like the Neptun Type “M“, the sidelocks are hand-detachable and completely gold plated.
The action features a unique “Exclusivfaçon” engraving, with embossed accents. The engraving motif honors the classic style of traditional Krieghoff guns, and was custom engraved by Krieghoff Master Engraver Gerhard Reich. Realistic relief engraved hunting scenes with bears and wild boar adorn this one of a kind drilling. On the bottom a mighty moufflon is shown. Gold accents in ornament and a gold monogram underline this classic engraving. At the bottom of the barrels Acanthusleaf-Ornaments in relief are inlaid. The top of the barrel is also covered with arabesques.

Gun of the Year 2010

For 2010, The K-80 Pro Sporter in 12 gauge with 3” chamber and 32” O/U Floating Rib barrels with Titanium Choke Tubes has been chosen as the “Gun of the Year”.
Dieter Krieghoff inspired the “Horses” engraving theme, which Creative Art exquisitely interpreted on the K-80 using various techniques and the skill of the engraver for this masterpiece.
Four different golds – yellow, white, green and red – create the background for the Bulino style horses to be brought to life on the receiver sides. Some horses are steel inlaid in steel to create a dynamic 3-Dimensional effect. Very special accents of flora and foliage applied in enamel and artistically glazed into the finish border the bold horses. The skeletonized top lever intricately complements the floral accents in gold.

Gun of the Year 2009

The “Gun of the Year“ 2009 is a K-80 O&U Competition Sporting Gun in 12 gauge/3” with 32“ barrels, Titanium choke tubes and a sporting stock with adjustable comb.
The “Grand Old Lady“ from Krieghoff sets new standards in regards to grace and individuality by Master Engraver Jana Schilling.
Featured in a combination of deep relief and Bulino style engraving are various upland game bird scenes with dogs. The game scenes are displayed in an oval medallion and are deeply engraved into the steel of the receiver.
The background of these medallions is engraved in Bulino style. This work of art is elegantly framed by English arabesques with wine leaves and grapes in red and yellow gold. The style of this elegant scrollwork continues in carvings in the exhibition grade Turkish walnut stock.
The trigger guard and top lever are elegantly pierced and together with the nitride finish and the gold plated trigger give the final touch to the overall composition of this gun.

Gun of the Year 2008

Gun of the Year 2007

Gun of the Year 2006

The single shot rifle in an exclusive design with "Exclusiv-Façon", burled walnut wood, ebony finishes, elegant hand crafted stock, hand-polished stock finish and truly masterful engraving by Gerhard Reich, which, in addition to the perfectionistically elaborated animal depictions, impresses with the uniquely harmonious combination of leaf arabesques with fine gold accents and relief.

Gun of the Year 2005

100 years of Neptune Drilling.
The thermo stable Drilling in an exclusive design with an exclusive façon, grained root wood, ebony finishes, elegant hand stock, hand-polished stock finish and truly masterful engraving by Uwe Spindler, which, in addition to the perfectionistically elaborated animal motifs, impresses with the uniquely harmonious combination of "deeply engraved English arabesques" with fine gold accents and relief .

Gun of the Year 2004

Krieghoffís highly anticipated Gun of the Yearì for 2004 is an OPTIMA-20 drilling in 8x57JRS featuring "Exclusive Façon" contouring and shaping with lengthened sideplates. This exquisite gun was engraved by Krieghoffís master engraver Uwe Spindler. The work shows lively European game scenes in deep relief framed by classic English Arabesques. Fine gold line work complete this outstanding piece and enhance the elegance of this impressive one-of-a-kind drilling.

Gun of the Year 2003

Gun of the Year 2002

Gun of the Year 2001

Gun of the Year 2000