Kalthoff gunsmiths

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, 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 Kalthoff — 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

Descendants

The Kalthoff name is a single family name, and spelling name was recorded as Kaldtoft, Kalthof, Kaltof, Kaltoft, Koldtoft according to local pronunciation and spelling habits. All of the families with these names in Scandinavia are descendants. The original seed Kalthoff in each country shared the "Hermansen" name indicating a common father, was famous for advanced metallurgic skills, and were born within a decade of each other.