🎯 From Ilion to Ulm
by Joshua Buchiere | Trapshooting USA
📖 The Story of a Legendary Sporting Arm
Ask any competitive shotgun shooter to name the top five competition guns of all time — chances are, the Krieghoff K-80 will be on that list. With its sliding latch top action, distinctive barrel design, and engraving-ready receiver, the K-80 stands as one of the most recognizable and respected shotguns in the sport.
But its story begins not in Germany, but in Ilion, New York, with the Remington Model 32.
🔧 Remington Model 32
Introduced in 1931 by designer C.C. Loomis, the Remington 32 was America’s first widely available over/under shotgun.
➤ Offered custom stock dimensions, barrel lengths, and choke options
➤ Primarily built for trap and skeet shooters
➤ Production halted during World War II and ended completely by the late 1940s
Though short-lived, the Model 32 laid the foundation for something much greater.
🇩🇪 Rebirth in Ulm, Germany
After WWII, Heinrich Krieghoff fled East Germany and reestablished his company in Ulm. In the 1950s, with support from live bird shooter Bascom Lotspeich and businessman Hal duPont, Krieghoff revived the Model 32 design.
At first, the German-made Model 32 was nearly identical to the Remington original — even using leftover Remington parts. By 1959, Krieghoff began full-scale production, offering multiple gauges, barrel configurations, and factory engraving patterns that elevated the gun’s prestige.
🔄 From Model 32 to K-80
By 1980, it was time for an upgrade. With input from ATA Hall of Famer Kay Ohye, Krieghoff rebranded the gun as the K-80:
➤ Hardened receivers for durability
➤ Adjustable trigger for comfort
➤ Revolutionary adjustable rib Unsingle barrel
The K-80 quickly gained dominance across clay target disciplines — a position it still holds today.
🏆 A Lasting Legacy
For over 40 years, Krieghoff has refined the K-80 with new configurations, engravings, and internal upgrades. Yet at its core, the K-80 still carries the DNA of its humble ancestor, the Remington 32 of Ilion, New York.
A story that began in the Adirondacks now continues on the world stage — a true legend in competitive shotgunning.
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