Swedish Military knives.

 1956 there was another model brought out for testing called fm/56. It was also produced by E. A. Berg.

Swedish fighting knife - Field knife FM56
(Picture Private collection)

 (Pictures Private collection)

Here is the flat recessed pommel nut,
which holds the handle and the tang together.

 (Picture Private collection)

 1956 togs det fram en ny modell för utvärdering och den kallades fm/56. Den tillverkades av E. A. Berg.

Fältkniv fm/56

The Field knife FM64.

The last knife in these series of test was called fm/64. 
In some respects they reminds about the early Colt M7 bayonets.

It looks exactly the same from the side as fm/56.
 

Above Top - FM/56
Above Bottom - FM/64

The only differences between fm/56 (left) and fm/64 (right) are the markings and the pommel nut, which locks on to the tang.

The integral pommel of the fm/64 is a better design. 

1964 the Swedish made scabbards were introduced. They were brown made of plastic but  looked like wood.

Note the three crowns for Sweden.

Picture Private collection

The end result was the Swedish fighting knife test model 1964 which you can see here.

Picture Private collection

The Shark - the logotype of the Swedish company -  E A Berg AB in Eskilstuna. E.A.B. was bought by Bacho in 1959.

64 for the model and the three crowns for Sweden.

Picture Private collection

Length over all

Length of the blade

Thickness of the blade

Wheight

I

Top Swedish FM 64 scabbard wood imitation, Middle Swedish FM65 scabbard, Bottom U.S. M8 scabbard

First Sweden bought the M8 scabbard from USA for the Field knives. The marking M8A1 was normally just covered by heavy green paint! When the FM64 was introduced it appeared with the same type of scabbard but now it was brown made of wood imitation.

This significant type of scabbard still remains in the army with the bayonet 1965 scabbard.

In some respects the Swedish Field knives reminds about the early Colt M7 bayonets.

You can see one of these below.   (Picture from Per Holmback)

Picture Private collection

From left to right:

1. Swedish bayonet model 1965
2. US M4 bayonet
3. Swedish fighting knife model1964
4. US M3 fighting knife.

It is clear that the influence came for the Swedish knives came from USA.

The M3 and the Swedish field knives are very much looking alike.

These fighting knives and bayonets are all using the same type of blade.

1965 Sweden started to produce a new assault rifle H&K G3 called Ak4. It was equipped with a bayonet made by the Swedish company Bacho. Even this bayonet has a blade and scabbard which resembles the M3 and all other US modern bayonets up to US M7.

The specifications for the blade are identical with the field knife 64

The bayonet for Ak4 is nowadays used by all special forces in Sweden as fighting knife. It can be seen here used by KFOR military in Kosovo. The soldiers on the picture were trained as commandos in Sweden.

Note the obvious similarity of this scabbard compared to the U.S. M8 scabbard shown before  in this article..

(Private collection)

Please note
The Swedish acceptance mark - three crowns.

Length over all

Length of the blade

Thickness of the blade

[Top of the page]

Sweden has a long tradition of making knives. The most commonly used knives used in the Swedish forces are the ordinary Mora knives.

The story behind the Swedish well known knives of Mora.

The life was very poor for the farmers in the area of Mora during the 18th century. You will find the town Mora in the centre of Sweden in the middle of vast forests. The farmers during the 18th century had to find themselves complementary ways of living. It was during those circumstances that Erik Frost Eriksson started to produce knives. Later on he started in his factory 1891 to produce what we today know as the knife from Mora or Mora knife. The factory is still remaining in a small village called Ostnor. His company made a lot of different utilities from steel in the beginning, like tools for the forest like an ordinary blacksmith.

 Around 1900 the knife had been so popular that the production of it became the main article. The steel in the old “original” knives came from Vikmanshyttan and some other Swedish steel producers. The grip was made out of birch which came from Småland some 400 km south by Mora. The scabbard was made of millboard which was decorated in different patterns. The scabbard were made in Tidaholm, which you will find some 360 km south by Mora.

 Once upon a time there were lots of producers who copied the knife of Erik Frost. Some of these where companies were Krang Johan Eriksson (KJ Eriksson), the brothers Jonsson, F.M. Matsson (FMM) and Bud Carl Andersson. (CA Mora). These companies, although they were making competition to each others, also supported and helped each others. They were all situated within a small area close to the town Mora. They disappeared one by one and now Mora of Sweden is the only remaining company.

 Today Mora of Sweden produces some 250 different models in Ostnor. Today the steel is stamped out of the steel from Sandvik 12C27, which is the same steel like KaBar used in their “Next Generation Fighting Knife”. The grip is normally made from plastic like the scabbard, but still you can buy from them the old style carbon steel knives with red wooden handles.

You will find them here: http://www.moraofsweden.com/index.php?id=18

The Mora knife is a traditional knife normally made from laminated carbon steel with a single edge.
It is still used by the armed forces and it is used as Utility knife for all types of purposes.

These are some ordinary knives from Mora used by the Military. Note the acceptance mark - three crowns.
 

• Long Military Mora

• Two Medium Mora for Medics

• The three knives to the right are the same length 215 mm with different colours and scabbards.

• In the bottom you can see the old military Pilot rescue knife from Mora (read more below)

 Private collection

Above:

1. Long Military Mora knife with 3 crowns both on the knife & scabbard length over all with scabbard 245 mm Made by Mora knivfabrik

2. Medium Mora for Medics length over all 215 mm Producer Unknown.

Same medium as above but new in plastic wrapping with military marked:
M6310-001000-2 / slidkniv 215 mm  and a And a separate label with 84 which was the year of checking made in the depot by the military personal.

Carl Andersson (CA) which was sold 1961 to KJ Eriksson

KJ Eriksson, founded 1912

Frosts AB, founded 1891

Nowadays MORA OF SWEDEN.

Since 2005 KJ Eriksson bought the shares of Frosts AB and became one single company called Mora of Sweden AB although the logotype “Frosts” will still appear in the future on some knives.

The Swedish troops are often equipped with ordinary knives like the “Mora” or at the beginning of this article. Some models are preferred and have acceptance marks. Since 1970s this is a Model-number like M6310-xxxxxx. M6310 tells us that it is a knife.

BACHO made another knife around 1970 which was accepted and used by the military. It became popular with artillery and some other units during this period because it was more versatile because of its wide blade, which made it suitable for using it for cutting and chopping.

The Bacho survival / hunting knife

The Bacho survival / hunting knife is made from stainless steel and a grip made from welded plastic. The scabbard is made from the same material. On the backside of the scabbard there is a honing stone. The scabbard has a steel wire clip for attachment to i.e. a boot. The scabbard is open in both ends to let all snow and humidity pass through.

(Private collection)

Above A1

It is free for the Swedish soldier to use any type of knife as long as it is not "too offensive".

Length over all

Length of the blade

Thickness of the blade

Wheight

Military EKA folding knife

Some of the mechanical army brigades has this folding knife from EKA in Eskilstuna.
 

The folded EKA knife

(Private collection)

The folding EKA knife

A later made EKA 60  (picture Jesper.L)

EKA38 mib with manual (picture Jesper.L)

Small and big. The big green knife with blade lock and the smaller blue folding knife without blade lock.
Note ID-No starting with M6310-

Follow this link to see and read about the knives used by the Airforce.

Multipurpose Leatherman Crunch

This multipurpose Leatherman Crunch has been used by the Swedish KFOR in Kosovo.

Length: 4 in. / 10 cm closed
              5.5 in. / 14 cm open
Weight: 6 ounces / 170 grams
Materials: 100% stainless steel

(Engraved with name)

(Private collection)

Locking Pliers
Wire Cutters
Hard-Wire Cutters
Serrated Knife
Metal/Wood File
Ruler (Inch/Metric)
Bottle Opener
Small Screwdriver
Medium Screwdriver
Large Screwdriver
Phillips Screwdriver (#1/#2)
Hex Bit Driver
Wire Stripper
Lanyard Attachment

Åter till
Göta Vapenhistoriska
Sällskapets Hemsida