Göta Vapenhistoriska Sällskap

Göta Association for Weapon History

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.

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).

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. 24^th 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.

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!

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

11 mm centre-fire cartridge

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

7,5 mm Swedish Nagant

In box - 7,5 mm Swedish Nagant

To open the box - click on the lid.

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.

9 mm Browning long (9x20 Semi Rim)

9 mm Browning long (9x20Semi Rim)

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.

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.

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 >>>

.38 Special.

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

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

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.

 Savage arms later copied this Swedish design!

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.

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.