The first Husqvarna m/1940

Page 2

Different slides of pistol m/1940

Different series and foreign pistols.

Pistols of Swedish Military Secrete Service.

Wooden shoulder stocks and holsters for m/1940 and Lahti

 There are different types of serial numbers found on these pistols.

1. Number without prefix is regular army production.
2. H + number were produced for the civilian market HVA m/40 No 600 model.
3. F+ number were produced for the Air force (Flygvapnet).
4. A + number was military contract for the Non commissioned officer school.
5. D + number were exported to Denmark (13 500 pistols) with black holsters. The pistol was called m/40S in Denmark
6. Pistols without any numbers delivered to Carl Gustafs GF. CG stamped these guns with numbers like 29a and 30a or 3/1950. These pistols were tested by CG and later sold to collectors.

Assembled spare part pistols put together by gun dealers outside Sweden  with their own numbers:

Numbers starting with VP: A Danish company Victor Pabst & Co which were put together of spare parts in Denmark by the stamped their pistols with VP1-19 and VP 100-101. They also stamped the pistols with MADE IN SWEDEN or only Sweden or m/40S. These stamps are not made in Sweden.

Numbers starting with PS: Another company in Switzerland Paul Schafrodt did the same and tose pistols are stamped with PS 1-20.

Due to demand of pistols some of H-marked went to the army.
However there is no rule without exceptions:
There was a small number (200 pcs.) of military pistols which were sold to the private sector (Railway Company)
 

Inspector marks

The most common inspector marks which are found a the rear end of the frame are

• SS

• SAS

• NS

• HV on the Danish pistols =  “Haerens Vapenarsenal” (Army Armory)

These regular inspection marks were stamped on the pistols in Sweden.

Sometimes you will find one to three triangular marks underneath the barrel.
These will show the condition of the barrel. 1 triangle shows minor wear and rust while 3 triangles is the worst.
This system occurred on all military used guns in Sweden.

 Altogether 13 500 pistols were sold to Denmark. 10 000 of these were intended for the Danish police normally with prefix D. These pistols are often found with black holsters. The pistol was called m/40S in Denmark

The serial numbers range from 31501-32000. There are Swedish military m/40 pistols with the same numbers as these “Neutral”. There are however reported specimens outside this range of 500 pistols and it is known that these pistols and submachine guns were made in batches of 500 each.

1943 the Swedish government started to give military training to selected refugees from Norway and Denmark. It went faster to establish something called “Police units” from Norway due to the connections with the Norwegian exile government in London. These units were equipped with handguns like Submachine gun m/37-39 and pistols m/40 without any marks.

The Danish Brigade was trained in secrete from 1944 until spring 1945 and it was equipped with pistol m/40 which were taken directly from Swedish Military stores. The Danish brigade was equipped in Sweden with 1 000 of ordinary Swedish military pistols m/40 with SS inspector stamp.
These guns followed with the brigade when it was transferred to Denmark on the night between 4th and 5th of May 1945. The pistols were later used by the Danish police.

1944 Danish exile authorities had ordered 2000 pistols. These pistols were delivered and marked by inspection officer Cpt Sten Stenmo (SS). These pistol serial numbers range from 67 000 – 69 202 but there are some also in 64 000 – 74 000 range. Another 2 500 pieces are known to be sold to the Danish inspected by Swedish inspectors.

The Danish General Lund who was Commanding Quartermaster officer for the Danish Brigade 1944 has confirmed that all together some 13 000 pistols came to Denmark. 10 000 pistols m/40 were ordered for the police force. All marked with “D” like Denmark in front of the serial number. They range from D 5001 – D 16000 all with inspection mark Crown over “HV” which means “Haerens Vapenarsenal” (Army Armory). Responsible inspection officer at the factory was a Danish called Captain-Lieutenant J. Gundelach. Pistol m/40 was designated Pistol m/40S in Denmark.

Some of these pistols are extra marked on the side with “Rigspoliti” or "Rplt. S" with serial number,  which is marking of the Danish Police. All Danish pistols were later sold as surplus in a single batch.

Note: Swedish military SS inspector stamp from Cpt. Sten Stenmo

The first Husqvarna m/1940

Page 2

Different slides of pistol m/1940

Different series and foreign pistols.

Pistols of Swedish Military Secrete Service.

Wooden shoulder stocks and holsters for m/1940 and Lahti

References:

Jimmy Johansson
Bengt Johansson
Axel Ekfeldt
Thomas Broborn
Arne Tell, Magazine Vapen
Lars Junberger, Magazine NP
Different Swedish army manuals 1933-1977
Smith & Smith / Small arms of the world.  A&W Visual library 1960