Hugo Borchardt
Encyclopedia
Hugo Borchardt was a firearms inventor and engineer, born in Magdeburg
, Germany
. He is known for his inventions of the Borchardt C-93
pistol and the Sharps-Borchardt Model 1878
rifle.
In 1860 he emigrated to the United States
, and by 1872 he was Superintendent of Works for Pioneer Breech-Loading Arms Co. (Trenton, Mass.). In 1874 he became a foreman for Singer Sewing Machine Co.
, then was employed by Colt's Patent Firearms Manufacturing Co.
, later went to Winchester Repeating Arms Co.
, and then was Superintendent and Treasurer for the Sharps Rifle Co. on June 1, 1876..
After the dissolution of the Sharps Rifle Co. in 1881, Borchardt returned to Budapest where he was employed by Fegyver és Gépgyár Részvénytársaság and by 1890 gained the position of works director. While here, he married Aranka Herczog. His return in Europe was interrupted by a short stay (1890-92) in the United States as a consultant to Remington Arms
in relation to the development of the Lee rifle for the U.S Army trials.
By 1893 Borchardt had an association with Ludwig Loewe & Company of Berlin
, Germany, a manufacturer of machine tools, to produce the C-93, a semi-automatic pistol that he had invented based upon the Maxim
toggle-lock principle. He also developed the 7.65x25mm Borchardt cartridge around which the C-93 was built. Hugo Borchardt had many non-firearms patents: a rock drill, a shirt-neck shaper, gas burners, ball-bearings, a wire-straightener, and various electrical apparatus.
Borchardt died of pneumonia in Berlin-Charlottenburg in 1924.
Germany
British
Magdeburg
Magdeburg , is the largest city and the capital city of the Bundesland of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Magdeburg is situated on the Elbe River and was one of the most important medieval cities of Europe....
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. He is known for his inventions of the Borchardt C-93
Borchardt C-93
The Borchardt C-93 pistol was designed by Hugo Borchardt in 1893. Ludwig Loewe & Company of Berlin, Germany, a manufacturer of machine tools, produced the C-93, a semi-automatic pistol that he had invented based upon the Maxim toggle-lock principle. He also developed the 7.65×25mm Borchardt...
pistol and the Sharps-Borchardt Model 1878
Sharps-Borchardt Model 1878
The Sharps-Borchardt Model 1878 is a single shot hammerless falling block action rifle designed by Hugo Borchardt and made by the Sharps Rifle Manufacturing Company. It closely resembles older Sharps Rifles but has a firing mechanism that uses a hammerless striker rather than a hammer and firing...
rifle.
In 1860 he emigrated to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and by 1872 he was Superintendent of Works for Pioneer Breech-Loading Arms Co. (Trenton, Mass.). In 1874 he became a foreman for Singer Sewing Machine Co.
Singer Corporation
Singer Corporation is a manufacturer of sewing machines, first established as I.M. Singer & Co. in 1851 by Isaac Merritt Singer with New York lawyer Edward Clark. Best known for its sewing machines, it was renamed Singer Manufacturing Company in 1865, then The Singer Company in 1963. It is...
, then was employed by Colt's Patent Firearms Manufacturing Co.
Colt's Manufacturing Company
Colt's Manufacturing Company is a United States firearms manufacturer, whose first predecessor corporation was founded in 1836 by Sam Colt. Colt is best known for the engineering, production, and marketing of firearms over the later half of the 19th and the 20th century...
, later went to Winchester Repeating Arms Co.
Winchester Repeating Arms Company
The Winchester Repeating Arms Company was a prominent American maker of repeating firearms, located in New Haven, Connecticut. The Winchester brand is today used under license by two subsidiaries of the Herstal Group, Fabrique Nationale of Belgium and the Browning Arms Company of Morgan, Utah.-...
, and then was Superintendent and Treasurer for the Sharps Rifle Co. on June 1, 1876..
After the dissolution of the Sharps Rifle Co. in 1881, Borchardt returned to Budapest where he was employed by Fegyver és Gépgyár Részvénytársaság and by 1890 gained the position of works director. While here, he married Aranka Herczog. His return in Europe was interrupted by a short stay (1890-92) in the United States as a consultant to Remington Arms
Remington Arms
Remington Arms Company, Inc. was founded in 1816 by Eliphalet Remington in Ilion, New York, as E. Remington and Sons. It is the oldest company in the United States which still makes its original product, and is the oldest continuously operating manufacturer in North America. It is the only U.S....
in relation to the development of the Lee rifle for the U.S Army trials.
By 1893 Borchardt had an association with Ludwig Loewe & Company of Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, Germany, a manufacturer of machine tools, to produce the C-93, a semi-automatic pistol that he had invented based upon the Maxim
Maxim gun
The Maxim gun was the first self-powered machine gun, invented by the American-born British inventor Sir Hiram Maxim in 1884. It has been called "the weapon most associated with [British] imperial conquest".-Functionality:...
toggle-lock principle. He also developed the 7.65x25mm Borchardt cartridge around which the C-93 was built. Hugo Borchardt had many non-firearms patents: a rock drill, a shirt-neck shaper, gas burners, ball-bearings, a wire-straightener, and various electrical apparatus.
Borchardt died of pneumonia in Berlin-Charlottenburg in 1924.
Firearms Patents
U.S.- #185,721 26 September, 1876
- #206,217 23 July, 1878
- #273,448 6 March, 1883
- #571,260 1896
- #987,543 21 March, 1911
Germany
- #75,837 9 September, 1893
- #77,748 18 March, 1894
- #91998 10 October, 1896
- #227,078 27 February, 1909
British
- #18,774 1 November, 1893
- #29,622 20 February, 1909