Norway

Remarks about the table above:

The purpose of the table is to give an overview of the development of the systems that were issued to the land forces. The model designations, mentioned by the system names are indicative. Different model designations, but with the same system and calibre, are not mentioned separately. Calibre modifications can be relevant for showing the technical borders of a certain system. Therefore calibre modifications are mentioned. PBRL stand for Percussion Breech Loader. RF stand for Rim Fire.

Background information

Political reunion between Sweden and Norway occurred in 1814 as a result of events related to the Napoleonic Wars. Denmark, a supporter of Napoleon, had ruled Norway since 1450 but agreed as part of the Treaty of Kiel in 1814, to cede the country of Norway to Sweden as a compensation for Sweden's loss of Finland to Russia. From 1814 until 1905 Sweden and Norway forms the United Kingdoms of Sweden and Norway. Nevertheless, Norway & Sweden were not one nation. They were two nations under mutual king and foreign policy - and with increasing problems. Norway had the by far largest merchant fleet, the Swedes controlled the embassy's. Norway started a serious arms race in the 1840's after recouping from the Danish states bankrupt in 1813, building border fortresses and developing and producing small-arms. Full war almost broke out in the early 1880's and in 1904. For information about Norwegian rifles and cartridges during that period, see also Sweden.

M1842 Kammerlader rifle

The Norwegian model 1842 wasn't by far the first military breechloader. Think, for example of the English Fergurson or the American Hall flint lock breech loaders. However, Norway was the first country to introduce the breech loading rifle at full scale in the army and navy. A total of about 40,000 Norwegian Kammerlader (chamber loaders) were made in the years from 1842 to 1870 in more that 80 different models which are only slightly different in technical point of view.

It started with 500 M1842 calibre 18 bore (16.8 mm) rifles for the army. 100 rifles were produced at Liege, Belgium and 400 rifle were made at Kongsberg, Norway. The M1842 kammerladnings gevær and its derivatives was a percussion breech loader, under hammer rifle, intended for paper cartridges. The breech chamber was withdrawn and raised by cranking the handle. Later on, 3000 improved model 1846 were made at Kongsberg, 1500 M1846 were made at A. Francotte in Liege, Belgium and another 1500 at Crause in Hertzberg, Germany. The barrels of the calibre 18 bore (16.8 mm) chamber loader rifles had Krupp rifling.

I old sketch of the M1842 under hammer rifle that is not very accurate. Source: "Die Handfeuerwaffen" by Rudolf Schmidt, 1875.

M1857 Kammerlader carbine

In 1857 the first Kammerlader (chamber loader) carbine was introduced. It was intended for the cavalry and different from the M1842 rifle in 2 important things. Fist of all, it was not only shorter than the rifle, it's action was also smaller. Besides, it's calibre was not 16.8 mm but 12.55 mm. Only several hundreds were made.

Note: The regular Norwegian carbines were calibre 11,77 mm chamber loader carbines or calibre 11.17 x 42R rim fire carbines, converted following the Lund system. However, these carbines do not differ from the rifles in technical point of view. These carbine are therefore not further discussed on this website.

M1860 Kammerlader rifle

Experiments, for example in Switzerland and the UK (Joseph Whitworth), with the then so called small bore (10 to 12 mm) rifles with longitude bullets had proved a more flat bullet trajectory and les air resistance by a given bullet weight. This made more accurate shooting at longer distances possible.

In 1860 Norway ordered to make some 9,000 small bore chamber loader rifles at Kongsberg. The M1860 chamber loader was identical to the calibre 18 bore (16.8 mm) rifles but had a 4 linjer (11.77 mm) calibre hexagonal Whithworth rifling with a more flat bullet trajectory. Since round balls were no longer used it served no purpose to designate the calibre in bullets per pound. 4 linjer equals 11.77 mm, and compared to the 18 bore rifles the calibre was reduced with 5 mm. Another new feature was the rifled chamber.

M1860/67 Kammerlader/Lund transformation

One of the main drawbacks of the chamber loader was its gas leakage between chamber and barrel. The American Civil War had proved the advantages of the rim fire cartridge. Norway and Sweden adopted the Remington rolling block rifle, chambered for the 12.17 x 42R rim fire cartridge in 1867. Norway had still a large stock of the obsolete chamber loaders, therefore Norwegian army started in 1867 to transform their M1860 chamber loader following the system of Jacob Lund designated as M1860/67 Kammerlader/Lund calibre 12.17 x 42R rim fire.

The Lund transformation consisted of replacing the brass bottom plate for a steel plate with milled track for the extractor en an entire new chamber piece. Also the right receiver wall was milled down. The first M1860 chamber loaders were re-rifled, later on, the original 11.77 mm hexagonal rifling was maintained.

Even a very small quantity (probably 100) of calibre 18 bore (16.8 mm) chamber loaders were converted to M1867/68 Lunds calibre 17 x 32R rim fire rifles. None of the M1857 carbines were converted due to the deviated 12.55 mm calibre.

Ammunition

12.17 x 44R

12.17 x 44R Rim Fire cartridge for Norwegian rolling block rifle. The .22 Long Rifle cartridge is displayed for comparison only.

With their adoption of the Remington Rolling Block rifle in 1867 the Swedish first used the 12.17 x 42R rim fire ammunition jointly adopted with Norway. See also "Remington Rolling Block M/1867" under "Sweden".

Later on, the Norwegians chose to increase the powder capacity by lengthening the case and introduced the 12.17x44R rim fire. (source: George A. Hoyem stated in “The history and development of small arms ammunition, volume one”, page 184). Øyvind Flatnes (http://www.svartkrutt.net) stated it as follows:  In 1879, Norway adopted a new bullet, and as a result the point of impact changed. Because of the cost of altering the sights it was decided to increase the powder charge slightly to compensate for trajectory of the new heavier bullet. The increased powder charge in turn resulted in a 2 mm increase of the case length. It's a common misconception that the new Norwegian round couldn't be fired in the Swedish rifles. Nothing was done to the chambers, and the Swedish and Norwegian rifles had similar chambers from the start.

The Swedish Rifle Associations soon discovered that they could easily purchase 12.17mm centre fire brass from Germany which they could easily re-load. This cartridge was given a civilian designation of 12,7 x 44R (CF). It meant that the volunteers changed many of their rim fire Rolling Block rifles to 12,7 x 44R centre fire. The centre fire cartridge was not a military round.

Credits 

• George A. Hoyem, "The History and Development of Small Arams Ammunition, volume one", Armory Publications, Washington USA 1981.

• Info about Krag-Jørgensen rifle: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krag-J%C3%B8rgensen#Norwegian_Krag-J.C3.B8rgensen_rifles.

• Rudolf Schmidt,"Die Handfeuerwaffen, ihre entstehung und  technisch-historische entwiklung bis zur gegenwart", Schwabe Verslagsbuchhandlung,  Bavel, Switzerland 1875. Source: The digital library of the "Nederlandse Vereniging ter Bestudering van Munitie en Ballistiek" (NVBMB).

• The website of Øyvind Flatnes, http://www.svartkrutt.net.

• The website of Trond Wikborg, http://norskevaapen.no.