Göta Vapenhistoriska Sällskap

Göta Association for Weapon History

 

Here are some notes and pictures of 
the Swedish Military pistols and revolvers 
intended for cartridges.

Click on the pictures and you can see larger pictures.

Revised 2012-08-05

Written by O. Janson

 

Swedish Revolver m/1863

  Revolver m/1863 

11 mm pin-fire cartridge

Casimir Lefaucheux in Paris invented the pin fire cartridge 1828. Around 1850 he had designed the first pin fire cartridge for revolvers and pistols with a case of brass.

 

1863 the Swedish Artillery bought 1065 revolvers from Eugene Gabriel Lefaucheux in Paris. They were of the same model - Mle. 58 - as the French revolvers. The Swedish Navy bought some 890 revolvers also. Most of these revolvers for the Artillery were never issued.

Marking: LEFAUCHEUX BRte S.D.G.D.A. PARIS
Cartridge: 11 mm pin–fire 12,8 gram lead bullet and 0,8gram gunpowder.

The frame was made out of two parts which came together by the drum axle and a screw in front of the trigger. A rod for ejection of spent brass was placed on the right side of the barrel and is supported by a spring. The mechanism works with single action.

On the right side of the barrel nut are three crowns.

On the left side of the frame below the drum is written:

INVENTION E.LEFAUCHEUX BRVETÉ S C O a / PARIS/

 From those 1065 revolvers for the Artillery only a small number had been issued to the Artillery officers. 1872 a General Order regulated that shooting with revolver was part of the annual exercise for the officers of the Artillery. 30 revolvers “of Lefaucheaux model should be issued to each Artillery regiment and sharp ammunition with an amount of 20 cartridges per man” should be issued. At an General inventory inspection 1876 only three revolvers were found at Svea Artillery Regiment. It is evident that the major part of the m/1863 revolvers remained in supply depot 1863-1880 according to Josef Alm (Swedish Army Museum 1953).

 

Revolver m/63, Rev m/63
Calibre 11 mm pin-fire  (Lefaucheux)
Ammunition 11 mm m/1863
Feed Six-shot drum
Design Lefaucheux
Action Single-action revolver
Manufacturer Lefaucheux, Paris
Year of delivery 1863
Quantity 1065
Barrel 158 mm, 4 grooves
Length 305 mm
Weight 1,05 kg
Sights Fixed post, rear sight notch on top of hammer
Miscellaneous Also used with 113 mm barrel and stronger frame.
Status Later converted to Revolver m/63-79

 


 

1850 Bernimolin in Belgium constructed the first central-fire cartridge.

Around 1865 different countries in Europe started to use revolvers with central-fire cartridges.

 

The Cavalry in Sweden was still equipped with single barrelled pistols. 24th of April 1866 there came a decree from the King for a test at all Cavalry Regiments of together 100 Pin-fire revolvers of Lefaucheaux model and 100 cartridges for each revolver. 1867 a new order was given to test another revolver made by Auguste Francotte in Liège.

 

Swedish Revolver m/1871

  

11 mm Revolver m/1871

(centre-fire cartridge)

 

 The Swedish cavalry accepted 19th of April 1871 a revolver with system what is commonly known as Lefaucheux – Francotte. These test resulted in acceptance of a new revolver for the Cavalry model 1871. The revolver was a development of the Lefaucheaux design.

 The cartridge with cases of brass and central-fire.

  • Calibre                       11 mm

  • Powder weight            0.85 gram

  • Bullet weight              13.2 gram

This revolver is a Swedish invention and it has in this form only been produced for Sweden. According to Arne Thell, who has made research on this subject, the revolver m/71 was invented by August Hagstrom (1817-1901). 25th of April 1871 4.000 revolvers were ordered from August Francotte, Liége in Belgium. Another 2.000 were ordered 1872. Altogether 7.000 pcs of revolver m/71 were produced by Francotte.

 The majority of these revolvers were produced by August Francotte in Liége but 520 pieces were also produced by Husqvarna 500 for the Navy and the rest for civilian market. The lowest number known is No 4. The number is normally displayed on the rear of the drum.

 The name of the producer is written on top of the barrel.

Husqvarna produced revolver for the civilian market.
One out of 20. Made 1874.

11 mm Revolver m/71 
Serial No 4!

 

 

Revolver m/71, Rev m/71
Calibre 11×17 mm centerfire
Ammunition 11 mm m/71
V25 160 m/s
Feed Six-shot drum
Design Lefaucheux-Francottes
Action Single-action revolver, side-gate opening
Manufacturer A. Francotte, Liége
HVA
Year of delivery  
Quantity 6684 (HVA made 1874 about 400 )
Barrel 150 mm, 4 grooves
Length 307 mm
Weight 1,17 kg
Sights Fixed
Miscellaneous Also used by the Royal Post Office
Status Obsolete

 


 

Swedish Revolver m/1863-79

Revolver m/1863-79 

11 mm centre-fire cartridge
The same as above but converted to 11 mm center-fire cartridges. Note the diffrent hammer.

In 1879 the revolver of 1863 was changed to centre - fire cartridge. The same cartridge used in the revolver m/1871.
Revolver m/63-79, Rev m/63-79
Calibre 11×17 mm centerfire
Ammunition 11 mm m/71
Feed Six-shot drum
Design Lefaucheux
Action Single-action revolver
Manufacturer Lefaucheux
Year of delivery 1879
Quantity 1100
Barrel 158 mm, 4 grooves
Length 305 mm
Weight 1,05 kg
Sights Fixed post, rear sight on hammer
Miscellaneous Converted Revolver m/63
Also used with 113 mm barrel and stronger frame
Status Obsolete

 

 


Revolver m / 1884 for the Navy

11 mm centre-fire cartridge

 

1884 the Swedish navy accepted this revolver. Produced by S:t Etienne or Henry.

Cartridge: 11 mm centre – fire 13,2 gram lead bullet and 0,85 gram gunpowder.

 

Revolver m/84, Rev m/84
Calibre 11,4 mm centerfire
Ammunition 11,4 mm m/?
V0  ≈200 m/s
Feed Six-shot drum
Design Chamelot-Delvigne
Action Double-action revolver
Manufacturer St Etienne
Year of delivery 1884
Quantity  
Barrel 115 mm, 4 grooves
Length 240 mm
Weight 1,04 kg
Sights Fixed
Miscellaneous Same as French Navy Mle'1873
Status Obsolete

 


 

Revolver m / 1887


7,5 mm Swedish Nagant

 

Pictures from the Swedish Army manual for Revolver m/1887.
Revolver m / 1887


In box - 7,5 mm Swedish Nagant

To open the box - click on the lid.

In 1887 a new revolver in 7,5 mm, system Nagant, was accepted for officers of the armed forces. The locking mechanism was a variation of the Galand construction from 1870 which raise the hammer to a safe position from the cartridge. These revolvers were produced by Nagant in Liége and by Husqvarna.

1893 a modification was accepted which prevented the drum from moving, when the revolver was not cocked

This revolver was used until 1945 by the home guard units. The revolver was also used by special units for dog training with blank shots as late as 1989.

In the 1950s some revolvers were converted by Svenska Metallverken to fire the .32 ACP.
This model was used by the Swedish National Shooting Organization.

Some revolvers were renewed in the 1950s and were then used by a military organization called Verkskyddet. These para-military units were put up by the State Railways, the Royal Telegraph, the Department of Transportation (responsible for bridges and ferries), all power plants and power distribution companies, as well as some strategically important industries. Most of these revolvers were sold on the civilian market in the early 1980s.                             

The Army, as well as the Police, has used the m/87 for firing blanks while training dogs until now.

Calibre 7,5×22
Ammunition 7,5 mm m/87 (black powder)
7,5 mm m/98 (smokeless powder)
V0 223 m/s (ammo m/87)
Feed Six-shot drum
Design Léon Nagant
Action Double-action revolver, side-gate opening
Manufacturer Nagant
HVA
Year of delivery Nagant 1887-1888 (Army)
Nagant 1891-1893 (Navy)
HVA 189?-1905
Quantity Nagant 2600(Army) + 480(Navy)
HVA  ≈14000
Barrel 114 mm, 4 grooves
Length 237 mm
Weight 0,8 kg
Sights Fixed
Miscellaneous Also used by the Royal Post Office
Some were modified in 1954-1957
Status Obsolete

 


Read the special article about the Swedish pistol m/1907>>>

Pistol m/07  (FN)
(this pistol is from the early contract produced 1910)

9 mm Browning long (9x20 Semi Rim)

Pistol m/07  (Husqvarna)
(this pistol from early produced 1917)

9 mm Browning long (9x20Semi Rim)

 

 

Pistol m/39 
(Walther HP)
Marked with Swedish Regiment ID.

9x19 mm Parabellum

 

Pistol m/39 is normally a Walther HP bought from Germany 1939 via the dealer Widforss in Stockholm.
There are reports of later produce Walther P38 which were used by the Swedish army also but these were confiscated from German military during the war.

 

 

Read the special article about the Swedish pistol m/1940>>>

Pistol m/40  (Husqvarna)
(this pistol is one of the first 140 made at Hqv)

9x19 mm Parabellum

Pistol m/40 was only produced from 1943 -1945.

The Secrete Pistol m/40.

These pistols were made for Swedish Secrete Service.

9x19 mm Parabellum

Here is a very rare pistol m/40 completely without markings of the manufacturer (Husqvarna).                           Read more here >>>

 

Revolver m/58 

.38 Special.

Revolver m/58  with a holster
for the Air force.

If you right-click on the instuction it can be downloaded as a pdf-file.

 

Produced by Smith & Wesson.

Revolver m/58 was used by the air force (pilots) with 2 inch barrel
The army used it for guarding personal with 5 inch barrel

Type Rev m/58 Rev m/58 B Rev m/58 C
Calibre 9,1×29 mm (.38 spl)
Ammunition 9 mm m/58
Feed Six-shot drum
Design S&W Model 12 M P S&W Model 10 M P S&W Model 10 M P
Action Double-action revolver, swing-out cylinder
Manufacturer Smith & Wesson
Year of delivery      
Quantity      
Barrel 50 mm 150 mm 100 mm
Length     235 mm
Weight     0,86 kg
Sights Fixed
Miscellaneous Aluminum frame Steel frame Steel frame
Ring for lanyard
Status Obsolete, sold

 

 

The unique Carl Gustafs GF Pistol 1968   

This Swedish pistol has a unique gas operated system.

The gas system used to operate the pistol is similar to that of the German MKb42 Walther. Read about it in the article about MKb42(W).

  • Gas is ventilated from holes near the rear end of the barrel.

  • A gas cylinder piston unit surrounds the barrel at the holes.

  • This unit is forced rearward by the gas and impinges upon the front of the slide, driving it to the rear.

  • The pistol has no hammer because it is striker fired.

  • It has a separate bolt within the slide.

 

Specifikations:  
Manufacturer: Carl Gustaf Stads Gun Factory, Eskilstuna; Sweden.
Calibre 9 mm Luger  (9x19 mm)
Weight: 0,9 kg
Length over all: 207 mm

 Savage arms later copied this Swedish design!

 

 

The current Swedish pistols:

 

The Glock pistols in the Swedish Defence Foces.

1. Pistol88
2. Pistol88B
3. Pistol88C
4. Pistol88D
5. Pistol88C2

 Pistol 88.

 At the end of 1980-ies the Swedish Army bought Glock 17. It was designated simply Pistol 88.

 For some years Swedish Army had almost no pistol at all. At this time the Army believed that there was no need for one-hand weapons like pistols. The submachine gun or the assault rifle could replace the pistol. All officers in the reserve should have such two-hand weapons instead at home to be used in case of a sudden attack on Sweden.
 The WW2 Pistol m/40 (Lathi-concept) had been banned because it was used with heavy submachine gun ammunition which caused the pistols to break.
 During these years some officers used the obsolete WW1 Pistol m/07 (Browning 1903). Some Neuhausen SIG210 pistols were also used, but they were to my
knowledge never designated. At last the demand for a pistol became obvious and the Army choose Glock 17.

 

Pistol88B

The Air force bought the smaller version Glock 19. It replaced Revolver m/58. Designated Pistol88B.

 

Pistol 88C and 88D

 The demand for more pistols came by the increasing number of International operations outside Sweden like in Bosnia. More pistols were bought from Glock.  However Glock had now made modifications on Glock 17.
 A rail had been added in front of the trigger guard together with slightly better grip and tritium sights. These pistols were designated Pistol 88C.
 At the same time more Glock 19 were bought for the Air force. These pistols had also tritium sights but with the same frame like the previous. These pistols were called Pistol 88D.

 

Pistol 88C2

 Later on more pistols were bought, basically for the home-guard. These pistols have the improved frame with an extra pin like Glock 22 (calibre 40 S&W).
 These are designated Glock88C2.

 

 Two types of holster are used Bianchi International # UM 84/92 and Safariland 6004.

 

 

 

Pistol 88C2 

9x19 mm Parabellum

 

Produced by Glock GmbH. Accepted 1988.

Normally with fixed sights but this item has Bomar sights and was carried by an officer in the Swedish army.

This pistol is used normally for international 

Length over all: 205 mm
Weight unloaded: 0,63 kg
Weight loaded: 0,87 kg
Barrel: 114 mm, 6 grooves, right hand twist
Magazine: 17 (19)  rounds
System: Recoiloperated semi-automatic.
Vo 360 m/s
Holster: BIANCHI International # UM 84/92
(same as US Army for Beretta 92).

and

Safariland 6004.

      

     

Pistol 88B

9x19 mm Parabellum

 

Produced by Glock GmbH. Accepted 1990.

Used by the Swedish Air force

 

Length over all: 177 mm
Weight unloaded: 0,59 kg
Weight loaded: 0,87 kg
Barrel: 102 mm, 6 grooves, right hand twist
Magazine: 15 rounds 
System: Recoiloperated semi-automatic.
Vo 360 m/s

 

 

 

Swedish army holster 
for pistol 88

BIANCHI International # UM 84/92

This is a very versetile holster.
It can be carried right or left,  high or low,  with or without extension loop. 
Here it is shown with legstrap which can be removed.

It fits  on a belt or 
direct on battlewest 2000. 

kosovo_m88.JPG (198329 byte) Here we can see holsters carried by Swedish army personal abroad in the Balkans. 
Note the holsters carried one by the two officers in the middle. Note also that the holster is carried on either right or left side.
Klick on the picture to make it larger.
                                               
Safariland 6004 with Glock.

 


This page is dedicated to our late friend and member Kent Olsson, who sold us so many nice and marvellous items. 
He had perhaps the largest collections of small arms in Sweden.

Kent is seen here 1971 firing Ak4 (G3) full auto in a Championship in Kristinehamn.


References:

Vapenmuseet in Eskilstuna
Kent Olsson
Arméns handeldvapen förr och nu av Josef Alm
Thomas Broborn
Arne Thell
Husqvarna vapenfabrik


 

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