Rifleman Q & A: Fred Adolph Rifle– “If I Rest, I Rust”

by
posted on May 3, 2019
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
rrust.jpg

Q: I have an engraved single-shot .25-35 Win. rifle with set triggers, an octagonal barrel and a flip-up sight. The rifle was my grandfather’s, who was long gone by the time I came into this world. I don’t care about the value; I would be happy to know what this gun is.


A:
 
Your rifle was imported from the Suhl area of Germany by Fred Adolph of Genoa, N.Y., probably sometime before World War I. A near-exact copy of your example is shown on p. 45 of Adolph’s 1916 catalog.

Adolph emigrated from the Silesia area of Germany in 1908, where he had started as an apprentice gunsmith. Before emigrating, he was a gunsmith with Weber in Switzerland, Steyr in Austria, and three firms in Suhl, Germany: Haenel, Sauer and Schilling. These are very famous early gunmakers.

Adolph’s business flourished up until he could no longer import from Germany during World War I. He could still make custom guns, but the bulk of his business was severely curtailed. He was very well known and respected; among his customers were Teddy Roosevelt, Henry Ford, Charles Newton, Roy Chapman Andrews, et al.

On a side note: The cover of his 1916 catalog features a coat of arms and his motto: “Rast ich so rost ich” (If I rest, I rust).

--Michael F. Carrick

Latest

SW 1854 30 30 01
SW 1854 30 30 01

Smith & Wesson Model 1854 Now Available In .30-30 Win.

Smith & Wesson expanded its Model 1854 series of lever-action rifles with several .30-30 Win.-chambered variants, just in time for deer season.

Preview: Making The Enfield Pattern 1853 Rifle-Musket

In Making The Enfield Pattern 1853 Rifle-Musket, author Peter Smithurst details the tools and processes used to produce this historically significant firearm.

Gun Of The Week: Charter Arms Double Dog

For this Gun Of The Week episode, we’re on the range with a convertible wheelgun from Charter Arms, and it’s one that goes from .357 Mag to 9 mm Luger quickly and easily. Welcome to the Double Dog.

The Armed Citizen® Oct. 17, 2025

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

The Robbins & Lawrence Story: Pioneers Of Mass Production

The Robbins & Lawrence company of Windsor, Vt., was an early pioneer in the field of mass production, using machine tools and interchangeable parts to produce firearms for both the U.S. and British governments.

CMP Auctions Move To GunBroker.com

The Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) has moved its popular auctions to GunBroker.com, an online firearm marketplace that launched in 1999, to further support the future of the shooting sports and firearm ownership.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.