Copyright © Hans Högman 2020-07-23
Infantry Uniforms 1840 - 1900
(page 2)
Introduction
The need for uniforms better adapted to battle
conditions increased during the first decades of the
19th century. Therefore, many changes to the
uniforms of the European armies took place in the
1840s. In 1842 the Prussian Army enacted a new
jacket, the tunic (Swe: vapenrock) instead of the
former tailcoat, a garment not very suitable for
battle conditions.
At the same time the shako was replaced with the
custodian helmet. The tunic was better adapted to
bad weather such as rain and windy conditions and
the custodian helmet protected the head against
cuts and blows and could be securely fixed to the
head.
Sweden was early in introducing these new military
garments. In 1845 there was a major change of the
Swedish uniforms. All infantry units, the artillery
and most of the cavalry were affected by these
changes.
Pick a period/uniform:
Period 1840 - 1900
Uniforms of the Swedish
Army - 1800s (B)
Kepi m/1854
The kepi (Swe: Käppin) was peaked cap with a stiff
narrowing crown. In parades and ceremonies the kepi
was equipped with pompon or plume. The kepi was
wider at the bottom than at the top of the crown.
When the kepi m/1854 was introduced in the
Swedish infantry in 1854 it replaced the
custodian helmet. In 1858 also the Life
Guards and the grenadier regiments
were equipped with kepi. Later also the
artillery wore kepi.
The image to the right shows a kepi
m/1854, soldiers, Västgöta Regiment.
Wikipedia.
Uniform m/1860
A new infantry uniform was enacted in 1860, m/1860.
The tunic was dark blue and double-breasted. The
trousers were blue too, but in a lighter shade of blue
than the tunic and equipped with a yellow piping on
the outer seams.
The greatcoat was blue too.
The tunic was equipped with yellow oblong flaps on
cuffs and collars. These flaps looked like large
buttonholes and are therefore known as “knapphål”
(buttonholes) in Swedish. The cuffs had two vertical
flaps and the buttons were done.
The image to the right shows the two flaps
worn on the cuffs. Photo
Hans Högman, 2012.
The image to the left shows
the flaps worn on the collar and the
unit number on the shoulder strap.
Shoulder straps were reintroduced on uniform
m/1860 and were in the same color as the tunic. The
regimental unit numbers were attached on each
shoulder strap (Arabic numerals) for the soldiers of
rank and file.
The uniform m/1860 was worn by all infantry
regiments except for Svea Life Guards, Göta Life
Guards, First Life Grenadier Regiment, Second Life
Grenadier Regiment and Värmland Rifle Regiment.
Cap m/1865
The high kepi introduced in 1858 was unwieldy in field
conditions and was replaced in 1865 with a new cap,
the m/1865 cap.
This new cap was a low soft peaked cap in dark blue
color. In parades and ceremonies, the cap was
equipped with a front plate and plume. The origin of
this cap was the Russian line infantry cap at the time.
Cap m/1865 was assigned to the entire Swedish
infantry.
The cap was submitted to some changes in 1899 and
are thereafter referred to as cap m/1865-1899. In
1899 the stripes on top of the cap were removed and
that the top mustn’t exceed the sides of the cap.
Rank insignias were worn on cap m/1865 marked
with a number of yellow stripes depending of rank.
The number of stripes and the width of them
differentiated the ranks. The stripes went around the
cap from side to side.
The image to the right shows cap
m/1865 with two parallel stripes which
was the insignia for Lieutenants.
Officers wore in-front of the cap an agraffe with a
yellow silk cockade and a gold plated blue enamel
button with the Swedish three crowns.
The men wore the company number in-front of the
cap and below a soldier button. The men’s caps were
equipped with a yellow or white twine around the
cap’s lower part.
Images of uniform m/1860:
Uniform m/1872
In 1872 the light blue trousers were replaced with
new trousers of the same color as the jacket, i.e.
dark blue. The new trousers are referred to as
m/1872. There was no piping on the new trousers.
The tunic/coat m/1860 wasn’t changed in 1872.
There was also a new greatcoat introduced in 1872,
greatcoat m/1872. The greatcoat (frock coat) was
gray and double-breasted with 5 buttons in each
row. However, the cavalry greatcoat was dark blue.
A frock coat is a coat characterized by a knee-length
skirt all around the base.
The greatcoat had a folding collar with a piping which
color depended on the regimental color. It had
shoulder straps on which the officers wore their rank
insignias. The greatcoat reached down 10 - 20 cm (4 -
8 inches) below the knees and could be supplied with
a fur lining and fur collar in winter. The greatcoat was
used by the entire army.
The 1872 uniform regulation contained a clause
stating that the old trousers m/1860 could be used
until worn out. So, the new regulation was only for
new acquisitions.
Fatigue Uniform m/1870
Fatigue uniform m/1870 (Swe: lägermundering)
was a simple work uniform used when it wasn’t
suitable to wear the regular uniform such as duties
that would expose them to field conditions and/or
greasy and grimy jobs.
The fatigue coat and trousers were blue-striped and
made of linen. The coat (Swe: Lägerrock) was single-
breasted with 4 buttons and had a open collar cut on
the bias. In-front were two pockets without flaps.
Officers were allowed to wear the fatigue uniform as
a daily uniform if the men were
wearing it.
The fatigue uniform m/1870 was in
use until 1913 when it was replaced
by a new fatigue uniform, m/1913.
The image two the right shows two
junior officers, Södermanland
Regiment, wearing fatigue uniform
m/1870. Photo Arsenalen Museum,
Photo Archives 2017.
Uniform m/1886
In 1886 a new infantry uniform was introduced,
uniform m/1886. The coat was dark blue, single-
breasted with 8 buttons and had a open standing
collar cut on the bias. Around the collar was a yellow
piping. Like on the previous uniform, m/1860, the
m/1886 uniform was equipped with the yellow
oblong “buttonhole” flaps on collar and cuffs.
Headgear was the former cap m/1865.
The trousers was in the same color as the coat, dark
blue and was equipped with piping along the outer
seam.
The regimental unit numbers were attached on each
shoulder strap (Arabic numerals) in yellow color for
the soldiers of rank and file.
Officers and NCOS wore their rank insignias on the
shoulder straps, collars and hats. The cuffs had
embroideries.
Uniform m/1886 was designed in two slightly
different models; model I and model II where
model II had differences depending on unit.
Independent of model the color was dark blue.
•
Modell I was equipped with two yellow vertical
oblong flaps on the cuffs, so-called
“buttonholes”, both buttons done.
•
Modell II was equipped with three horizontal
“buttonholes” on a flap on each cuff where the
two top buttons were done.
Model I was used by the infantry regiments and
Jämtland Rifle Regiment while model II was used by the
Svea Life Guards and Göta Life Guards, Life Regiment
Grenadiers, First Life Grenadier Regiment, Second Life
Grenadier Regiment, Karlskrona Grenadier Regiment,
Vaxholm Grenadier Regiment and the Fortification
Corps.
Regarding model II; the colors varied on collar,
piping, buttonhole flaps etc depending of regiment.
See below:
Regimental colors, uniform m/1886 – men
(model I)
.
Uniforms details model I:
Regimental colors, uniform m/1886 – men
(model II)
Uniform details model II:
Rank Insignias on uniform m/1886
Rank insignias were on tunic m/1886 were worn on
collar, cuffs and/or shoulder straps as follows:
Regimental officers (Colonel, Lieutenant Colonel and
major), company officers (Captain, Lieutenant and
Second Lieutenant), master sergeants (Swe:
fanjunkare) and staff sergeants wore rank insignias
on the shoulder straps. The “buttonholes” on the
collar were gold or silver embroideries for officers
and master sergeants and gold or silver lace for staff
sergeants.
The cuffs were equipped with gold or silver
embroideries for officers and master sergeants gold
or silver lace for staff sergeants. Sergeants and
corporals wore a yellow stripe around the cuffs.
The image to the right shows
an army captain; 3 stars on the
braided shoulder straps and 3
stripes around the cap. Photo:
Arsenalen Museum, Photo
Archives 2017.
Sergeants and corporals wore
rank insignias in the shape of stripes on collar and/or
cuffs as follows:
Sergeants (Swe: furir); gold or silver braid along the
edge of the collar and around the cuffs.
Corporals; yellow or white twine along the edge of
the collar and around the cuffs.
The uniform m/1886 was worn for a long time, even
after introductions of new uniforms.
Greatcoat m/1886
Greatcoat (frock coat) m/1886 replaced the former
greatcoat m/1872. The color was dark blue.
Photos of uniform m/1886 (model I):
Cap m/1865, officer.
Army Museum.
Photo Hans Högman
2007.
Uniforms of the Life Guards Regiments of
Foot
The Life Guard Regiments of Foot were wearing the
older uniform m/1845 until 1858 when they adopted
a new tunic and a high kepi as headgear. The kepi
m/1858 was used until 1878 when it was replaced by
another lighter type of kepi with a visor both in front
as well as behind. In 1878 the tunic
was equipped with shoulder straps
for officers.
The image to the right shows Kepi
m/1858 for the men, infantry.
Wikipedia.
In 1886 the Life Guard Regiments enacted the
uniform m/1886, model II. Colors of collar, lining,
cuffs and piping were yellow for Svea Life Guards
and red for Göta Life Guards.
See images below:
The flaps on the cuffs were equipped with three
horizontal buttonholes. In 1887 kepi was replaced
by a custodian type of helmet. This helmet was lower
than the former helmet, m/1845, and was equipped
with a white plume.
Images of uniform m/1886 (model II):
Life Grenadiers
The grenadiers wore from 1858 a double-breasted
tunic and a high kepi as headgear. In 1865 the kepi
was replaced with the new cap, m/1865. The crown
on the cap was equipped with an embroidered loop.
The shoulder straps were equipped with a flaming
grenade in 1873. In 1886 the grenadiers adopted the
new m/1886 uniform (model II).
Like the Life Guard regiments the grenadiers wore
flaps with three horizontal buttonholes on the cuffs,
the bottom button undone.
Images of uniform m/1886 (model II) - Life
Grenadiers:
Rangers
Special units were being established during the last
half of the 18th century. These special units were
called “jägarförband” or “fältjägarförband” in Swedish.
They operated as independent units with their
respective regiment and later as independent corps.
Their missions were reconnaissance, reconnoitering,
assault etc and the the nature of their work required
more discreet colors of the uniforms to avoid
detection.
In the US corresponding units are ranger units or
rifle regiments and commando units in the UK.
Individual soldiers of these Swedish special units were
referred to as jägare, fältjägare or jägarsoldater which
is ranger or rifleman in English, and can be described
as skirmishers, scouts or sharpshooters and came to
denote light infantrymen.
Green uniforms became early a characteristic of the
Swedish rifle units (in contrast to the dark blue tunics
of the ordinary Swedish infantry).
Västerbotten Rifle Regiment and Norrbotten Rifle
Regiment were wearing a dark green color of their
m/1845 uniform with red flaps on the collar and red
piping. Jämtland Rifle Regiment wore a dark green
uniform with light blue flaps on collar and light blue
piping.
However, the greatcoat (kapott) was dark gray.
In the 1800s there were a great improvement of the
firearms which changed the combat tactics of the
infantry. Close formations in lines were abolished for
thin scattered firing lines. Thereby became the regular
infantry combat tactics more and more like the way
the rangers fought and finally there were no need for
special ranger units. The ranger units were
disestablished both in Sweden and other European
countries.
Västerbotten and Norrbotten Rifle Regiments were
renamed in 1892 to Västerbotten and Norrbotten
Regiments.
The Värmland Rifle Corps wore a dark green single-
breasted uniform from 1859, m/1859. The officer and
NCO tunic were equipped with
black cords on in-front and the
shoulders were adorned with black
twines. Headgear was a black hat,
m/1859, equipped with a black
plume of feathers. This uniform was
in use until 1901.
The image to the right shows an
officer and a soldier wearing the
green uniform m/1859, Värmland
Rifle Corps. Wikipedia.
The image to the left shows an
enlisted soldier in the Värmland
Rifle Corps wearing uniform
m/1859 with cap m/1865. The
shoulders are adorned with
black twines. The image was
taken at the Marie Phersons
Photo Studio in Säffle,
Värmland. The photo is shown
with consent of Randolph
Stenson, USA.
Images of uniform m/1859
Rank insignias were
also worn on the
collar of the m/1860
tunic. This officer is
wearing two stars
which is Lieutenant.
Photo: Arsenalen
Museum, Photo
Archives.
Uniform m/1845
A new uniform was enacted in 1845, m/1845. A
custodian-style helmet (Swe: Kask) was introduced
as new headgear in 1845. Further, the tunic (Swe:
vapenrock) replaced the former tailcoat. The tunic
was dark blue with yellow lining. The tunic was
single-breasted with 8 buttons and each unit had
distinctive buttons. The collar was a so-called
standing collar which was open in-front. The
officers’ tunic had a vent at the back and had a
yellow piping on the collar, around the cuffs and on
the pocket flaps. Officers wore epaulettes on the
shoulders as a sign of rank. The tunic of the NCOs
and soldiers of rank and file were equipped with
shoulder straps.
A military tunic is a type of medium length coat or
jacket, the lower hem of which reaches down to the
thighs all the way round. It is named after the tunic,
a garment of similar length worn in Ancient Rome.
The long trousers were dark blue with a yellow
stripe along the outer seams and made of
broadcloth. Trousers m/1845 also came in a white
color for the summer season. The summer trousers
were made of linen or cotton cloth.
The greatcoat (Swe: kappa) was a dark gray kapott
with yellow flaps on the standing collar. The
officers’ kapott were dark blue with yellow flaps on
the standing collar.
The kapott was a type of greatcoat with sleeves
introduced in the Swedish Army in 1806-1807.
Beside the tunic there were a short jacket called
kollett. The kollett was made of dark blue
broadcloth and equipped with shoulder straps,
collar and a single row of buttons. The kollett was a
type of jacket shorter than the tunic, had
a standing collar and no tails. The kollett
was used during summers and drill
exercises.
The Life Guard regiments and the
grenadier regiments were also equipped
with the new m/1845 uniform.
The soldier to the right is wearing
uniform m/1845, Oppunda Company,
Södermanland Regiment, 1863. Photo:
Arsenalen Museum, Photo Archives
2017.
Surtout m/1824-1854
Surtout (Swe: syrtut) m/1829-1854 was a military
greatcoat used by the army officers and NCOs,
cavalry excluded. It was made of dark blue
broadcloth and double-breasted, each row
containing 8 buttons. The standing collar was open
in-front and cut on the bias. The officers wore rank
insignias on the collar.
Images of uniform m/1845:
Conscription (Beväringen)
In 1812 a conscript system was established called
Beväringen. Beväringen was a forerunner to the
Universal Conscription System introduced in 1901.
The conscript system of 1812 was universal and
embraced all able men fit for military service
between the ages of 21 and 25. The conscript
soldiers were only regarded as a reinforcement of the
regular army.
It took a long time before the conscripts were being
dressed in uniforms equal to the uniforms of the
regular regiments. The conscripts weren’t equipped
with proper uniforms until the mid-1800s. In 1856
they were supplied with both a battle uniform as well
as a work uniform. Previously they had been dressed
in old outdated military garments no longer used by
the regular regiments.
Now, the conscripts of Beväringen were dressed in
similar uniforms as the regular units. However, when
new uniforms were introduced, the regular units
were prioritized. The conscripts were the last to be
equipped in new uniforms.
