The Atlas Holding Group - A deep dive into history #1

Hey there! 
I'm Misaka, and in today's issue I'm not going to talk about figures, but instead, we are taking a step back to look at the rich history the Atlas Holding Group has.

The first turbulent years

The year was 1865. Danielo Müller, a 35-year-old Civil War veteran and expert marksman, returned from the United States to Prussia with a mind full of ideas and a heart set on innovation. After witnessing the capabilities of the Gallager M1861 during the war, he envisioned a new kind of weapon that could give soldiers a technological advantage. Yet, when he presented his design to a local weapons manufacturer, he faced a setback: his rifle was deemed too complex for large-scale production.

Undeterred, Danielo decided to take matters into his own hands. In December 1865, he founded the "Müller & Sohn Waffenmanufaktur" with the vision of revolutionizing weaponry. He, his son and his small team set to work on an advanced bolt-action rifle, but Prussia was soon engulfed in the German-German War (also known as the Austro-Prussian War) in 1866. This conflict, pitting Prussia and its Northern Coalition allies against Austria, changed Müller’s plans.

The Prussian government, eager to strengthen its forces, commissioned Müller & Sohn to produce copies of the Dreyse Needle Gun—a revolutionary firearm with a bolt-action mechanism. Though Danielo’s original design was sidelined, his manufacturing skills and the employment of 10 workers allowed the company to produce approximately 200 Dreyse rifles within a month. This timely delivery contributed to the Prussian army’s advantage, as these rifles had longer ranges and faster reload times than many of their counterparts.

With the war’s end just a month later, peace settled in—but not for long. France, under Emperor Napoleon III, began a significant military buildup, causing unease among German politicians and stoking fears of another conflict. This led to an increased demand for military equipment, and Müller & Sohn continued to manufacture Dreyse copies to supply the growing Prussian army.

Yet, Danielo’s mind never strayed far from his own invention.

Well, that's all for today's issue! If you have any questions or topics you'd like us to address, feel free to reach out - we'd be happy to answer them in the next issue!
- Misaka, the founder of the Atlas Holding Group