Krupp Arthur, Solingen

Krupp Arthur, Solingen

The Arthur Krupp, Berndorfer Metaliwarenfabrik, was founded in 1843 in Berndorf, Austria, by Alexander Schoeller. Herman Krupp joined in 1844 and acquired half the shares by 1849. After his death in 1879, his son Arthur Krupp took over the business, becoming the sole owner in 1890 after Schoeller's death. The firm became a public company in 1913. During the Nazi era, Arthur Krupp expanded production to edged weapons, particularly political daggers. In 1935, it received the RZM code M7/113, assigned for the production of daggers for the NSDAP. The location in Berndorf made it one of the few manufacturers outside Germany to produce RZM-licensed weapons.

The firm produced SA service daggers (Sturmabteilung), featuring the motto "Alles für Deutschland". These daggers are considered rare and highly valued by collectors. Other products include silverware, nickel-silver items, hollow ware, and trays, as well as military helmets during the wars.

The logo of Arthur Krupp consisted of a bear profile (inspired by "Bärendorf" for Berndorf), often with inscriptions like "BERNDORF", "ART.KRUPP" or "KRUPP BERNDORF". These marks were used for silver-plated items and varied by quality and period, e.g., "standing bear" or "fat bear".

Today, the products of Arthur Krupp are coveted collectibles that embody the historical development of the Austrian metalware and edged weapons industry. The production under RZM makes them an important example of the Nazi era, ideal for an encyclopedia on blank weapons manufacturers. We are interested in purchasing products from this manufacturer.