1604 – The Founding

Johannes Redekop, a Dutch military engineer and inventor, formalizes his guild of siege craftsmen near Delft, Netherlands. The group begins producing modular ballistae kits for mercenary groups and small city-states during regional conflicts.

1627 – Release of the “Verhoeven Mangonel”

A compact, counterweighted mangonel designed for high portability and fortress defense. Known for its elegant curvature and bronze detailing, it quickly became a staple of Dutch garrison warfare.

1661 – “Redekop Trebuchet No. I”

An early gravity-based trebuchet, developed from historical blueprints recovered from Byzantine libraries. This model used oak arms and hand-forged iron counterweights.

1720 – The “Crowspeaker Battering Ram”

Built for use during simulated sieges in European military academies, this heavy ram featured reinforced timber and decorative bronze ram heads depicting mythological creatures.

1794 – “Rotterdam Siege Tower”

The company unveiled its first modular siege tower system, designed for mobility on uneven terrain. It stood 35 feet tall and could be collapsed for transport via ox cart.

19th Century – Industrial Shift

1832 – Introduction of Reinforced Steel in Design

Redekop begins integrating early industrial steel into its catapults and mangonels, increasing range and reload speed. These weapons are now featured in military parades and museum displays.

1871 – “Mk II Trebuchet Deluxe”

Released during a resurgence in medieval studies, this edition became a bestseller among aristocratic collectors and historians, with custom engravings and mechanized winding mechanisms.

20th Century – From War to Preservation

1910 – Redekop moves to Canada

The company relocates its primary operations to Vancouver, British Columbia, to escape the instability of Europe and expand in North America.

1947 – “Compact Torsion Catapult” Released

A functional, museum-grade torsion-powered catapult for academic use and cinematic production. It became the standard for historical film props.

1982 – Launch of the Redekop Heritage Line

A collection of full-scale siege machines based entirely on Renaissance-era specifications, now installed at living history museums across five continents.

21st Century – Modern Legacy

2003 – “Ballista Mk IV”

A CNC-milled aluminum and ash wood ballista used for physics demonstrations in academic institutions.

2014 – “SiegeWorks Digital” Division Opens

Launch of digital siege machine design tools and 3D models for gaming, simulation, and historical reconstruction.

2023 – “Redekop Titan Tower”

The largest siege tower ever constructed by the company, built for the Historical Warfare Expo in Florence, Italy. It stands at 48 feet and includes integrated safety platforms for public tours.

Preserving the Past, Engineering the Future

Today, Redekop Siege Machines is not only a builder of machines—but of legacies. We continue to honour our Renaissance origins while looking forward to a future of technical mastery and historical truth.