Kalthoff gunsmiths

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The Kalthoffs were a prominent Danish-German family of gunsmiths during the 17th century, best known for the Kalthoff repeater — a rapid fire flintlock repeating rifle that could reach a rate of fire of 20–30 rounds/minute. Signed specimens of their guns can be found kept in the Windsor Castle, the Danish War Museum, the Swedish Royal Armoury and the Kremlin Armoury collections.

The family was founded by Herman Kolthoff from Kultenhof Estate in the Danish Duchy of Schleswig (now Kaltenhof, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany), who had several sons that went on to fame across Europe.

• Peder Hermansen Kalthoff — Served Frederik III of Denmark as Head of Armory, 1600–1672
• Matthias Hermansen Kalthoff — Gunsmith Denmark, 1608–1681
• Caspar Hermansen Kalthoff Elder — Served Charles I of England, 1606–1664
  • Caspar Kalthoff Younger — Served Tsar Alexis of Russia and Charles II of England
• Henrick Hermansen Kolthoff — Founded Foundries in Sweden and Norway, 1610–1661
• William Hermansen Kalthoff — Patented repeating gun in France

Their guns have been described as advance clockworks centuries ahead of their time as seen in this disassembly of one shown here Kalthoff 30-Shot Flintlock: The First Repeating Firearm Used in War (1659) - Forgotten Weapons