The Krupp C64 (sometimes C/64) steel, breech loaded field gun was one of the main artillery pieces of the Prussians in the 1870–1871 war with France.

Although no agreement was reached on the design of the cannon, two test barrels were ordered from the Krupp company in Essen.

The tests began in July 1862, and by 1863 it was decided to produce the rifled 4-pounder cannon for inspection by the King on 1 April 1864.

[6][5] Regardless, it was decided to replace the smoothbore 12-pounders of the horse artillery sections with the C64 steel guns as well, and by 1867, the conversion was completed.

[8] During the Franco-Prussian War, there were 11 Prussian artillery regiments, each with one horse, one reserve and three foot units.

Similarly to the Prussian guns, they were fitted with the Kreiner type double wedge breech mechanism with copper obturation, however, as the steel construction did not show much confidence, these first cannons were ordered to be made out of bronze.