Copyright © Hans Högman 2025-03-19
Rifle m/1867
Rifle m/1867 (Swedish: Gevär m/1867) is a rifle
with a Remington mechanism in caliber 12.17×44
mm adopted by the Swedish Armed Forces in 1867.
The m/1867 rifle was the first weapon with metal-
cased ammunition and an integrated primer in the
Swedish military.
During the time of the American Civil War (1861-
1865), breech-loading rifles with unit cartridges
were developed. This was superior to earlier
muzzle-loading rifles with paper cartridges and
separate primers.
The first 10,000 rifles for Sweden were
manufactured by Remington in the United States,
and they also produced 20,000 mechanisms that
were then finished into complete rifles in Sweden.
Thereafter, the production of rifles and carbines
continued in Sweden under license by Carl Gustafs
stads Gevärsfaktori and Husqvarna Vapenfabriks
Aktiebolag.
Rifles m/1867 were replaced in Sweden by
repeating rifles with cylindrical breeches, carbine
m/1894, and rifle m/1896, which were better
adapted to this more modern type of ammunition.
By 1900, the rifle m/1867 had been replaced as the
main armament in most army units.
However, in connection with the mobilization of
World War I and the shortage of weapons, rifles
m/1867 had to be taken out of the stores to equip
the Landstorm units (older age groups). When the
Home Guard (Swe: Hemvärnet) was formed in the
early 1940s, large quantities of m/1867 rifles were
still in the mobilization stores.
Specifications:
•
Type
Single-shot rifle
•
Caliber
12.17 × 44 mm
•
Barrel Length
948 mm
•
Magazine
No
•
Lock mechanism
Remington-mechanism,
rolling-block breech
•
Length
1,366 mm
•
Mass
4.3 kg
•
Rate of fire
5 rounds/min
•
Muzzle velocity
386 m/s
•
Effective firing range
900 m
m/1867-89:
2000 m
The image shows a rifle m/1867 with a bow flap
sight. Caliber 12 mm. Image: Army Museum, ID:
AM.026126.
Revolver m/1887
The revolver m/1887 is a revolver with model year
1887 and caliber 7.5 mm used in Sweden's defense.
The revolver was manufactured partly by Nagant in
Liège and partly by Husqvarna in Sweden. It was
used by the Swedish
Home Guard until 1945.
The image shows a
revolver m/1887. Caliber
7.5 mm. Image:
Armémuseum, ID:
AM.035526.
Carbine m/1894
Carbine m/1894 (Swedish: Karbin m/1894) is a
repeating rifle in caliber 6.5 × 55 mm, delivered to
the Swedish Armed Forces from 1895 to 1918. The
carbine is a bolt-action rifle based on an improved
variant of Mauser's earlier Model 1893 but using
the 6.5×55mm Swedish cartridge.
The weapon has a 5-round magazine, is 950 mm
long without the bayonet, and weighs 3.4 kg.
The weapon was developed in conjunction with the
development of the 6.5 mm rifle m/1896.
The new carbine was based on a repeater system
developed by the German company Mauser and
was designed to fire the same cartridge as the co-
developed m/1896 rifle, which became the 6.5 mm
live cartridge m/1894.
The Swedish defensde initially purchased about
10,000 copies directly from German Mauser. The
weapon was then manufactured at Carl Gustafs
stads gevärsfaktori in Eskilstuna, Sweden, in about
115,000 additional copies.
The carbine m/1894 was originally intended for the
Swedish Cavalry, Artillery, Engineer Troops,
Fortification Corps, Army Service Troops, and
infantry drivers, but around the turn of the century
it was also acquired by the Land Storm youth units
(Landstorm = military units composed of conscripts
who are not in the regular army) and the Swedish
Navy.
In the Swedish Navy, model numbers were written
with a capital M to indicate that the equipment
belonged to the ‘Navy’ (Swe: Marinen), and the
spelling 6.5 mm carbine M/94 was used on the
Navy's carbines.
During World War II, the carbine m/1894 was used
in combat by the Swedish Volunteer Corps during
the Finnish Winter War when the Soviet Union
attacked Finland.
When the Landstorm was abolished in 1942, their
weapon was also transferred to the replacing Home
Guard. It was actively used in the Home Guard until
it was replaced by the m/1938 rifle in the early
1960s.
Specifications:
•
Type
Repeating rifle
•
Caliber
6.5 × 55 mm
•
Barrel Length
449 mm
•
Ammunition
6.5 mm m/94 and m/41
•
Magazine
5 cartridges
•
Length
950 mm
•
Mass
3.4 kg
•
Effective firing range
1,600 m
•
Max. firing range
4,000 m
The image shows a carbine m/1894 of the Mauser
system. Image: Armémuseum, ID: AM.029416.
Rifle m/1896
Rifle m/1896 (Swedish: Gevär m/1896) is a
repeating rifle of the Mauser system, in caliber 6.5
mm (6.5 × 55 mm), adopted by the Swedish Armed
Forces in 1896. The rifles were originally purchased
from the German Waffenfabrik Mauser Oberndorf
but were subsequently manufactured under license
by Carl Gustafs stads gevärsfaktori in Eskilstuna
and by Husqvarna Vapenfabrik, both in Sweden.
During World War II, the vast majority of Swedish
infantry soldiers were armed with m/1896 rifles.
Furthermore, Husqvarna manufactured
approximately 88,000 of the 14 cm shorter rifle
m/1938 during the years 1942–1944.
Additionally, Carl Gustafs converted 55,000 rifles
m/1896 to rifles m/1938 during the years
1938–1940.
Approximately 5,300 specially selected m/1896
rifles were also converted into m/1941 sniper
rifles equipped with telescopic sights during the
years 1941–1944.
The rifle m/1896 can be equipped with the bayonet
m/1896.
The rifle is loaded with 5 cartridges in the
magazine, and an additional one can be loaded into
the chamber if needed. The ammunition was used
with five cartridges mounted on a loading frame so
that the weapon could be reloaded quickly.
The rifle m/1896 has the sight graduated for
distances of 300–2,000 meters. The rifle m/1938
has a different sight in three different models,
graded for 250–600 meters, 150–600 meters, and
100–600 meters.
Specifications rifle m/1896:
•
Type
Bolt-action rifle
•
Caliber
6.5 × 55 mm
•
Barrel Length
739 mm
•
Magazine
5 cartridges
•
Length
1,260 mm
•
Mass
4.0 kg
•
Muzzle velocity
800 m/s
•
Effective firing range
600 m
The image shows a rifle m/1896 of the Mauser
system. Image: Armémuseum, ID: AM.006922.
Pistol m/1907
The Pistol m/1907 was a 9 mm automatic pistol
in the Swedish army that was adopted in 1907. It is
an FN M1903, designed by John Browning in the
early 1900s. The m/1907 pistol was purchased from
the Belgian arms manufacturer Fabrique Nationale
(FN). From 1914, the weapon was manufactured
under license by Husqvarna.
The weapon replaced the revolver m/1887 in
Swedish service and remained in use alongside the
pistol m/1940 until the introduction of the Pistol 88
in the 1980s.
Specifications:
•
Type
Automatic pistol
•
Caliber
9 mm
•
Barrel Length
127 mm
•
Ammunition
9 mm cartridge m/1907 (9mm
Browning Long)
•
Magazine
7 cartridges
•
Length
205 mm
•
Mass
930 g unloaded, 1009 g loaded
The
image shows the pistol m/1907. Manufacturer:
Husqvarna Vapenfabriks AB. Image: Armémuseum,
ID: AM.035542.
Submachine gun m/1937
The submachine gun m/1937 (Swedish:
Kulsprutepistol m/1937 (short: Kpist m/1937))
was the Swedish defense's first submachine gun
and was a Swedish version of the Finnish
submachine gun KP-31, used in the Swedish Armed
Forces. After the end of World War I, submachine
guns were developed by many countries. When
Sweden began to upgrade its arsenal of weapons in
the 1930s, a submachine gun became relevant.
The model they started with and favored was the
Finnish KP-31, or "M31."
Since the Swedish defense only had one type of
pistol ammunition, the submachine gun m/37 was
manufactured with this caliber. The caliber was 9
mm and was referred to as "9mm cartridge
m/1907." This ammunition was intended for the
Swedish Armed Forces' pistol m/1907.
The magazine was manufactured for 56 cartridges
since the pistol ammunition was packaged in boxes
of 28.
The weapon was put into service in 1937, and in the
years 1939-40, the conversion to m/1937-39 began,
and the production of m/1937 ceased.
Specifications:
•
Type
submachine gun
•
Mass
3.9 kg
•
Length
770 mm
•
Barrel Length
213 mm
•
Sights
Folding sight head and bead
•
Sight groove
Two: 100 m, 200 m
•
Cartridge
9 mm cartridge m/07, 9 × 20 mm Browning Long
•
Magazine
56 cartridges
•
Rate of fire
840 – 1,200 rounds/min
•
Effective firing range
0 – 200 m
•
Max. firing range
1500 m
The image shows the submachine gun m/1937
(kpist m/1937). Image: Armémuseum, ID:
AM.029793.
Sub-machine gun m/1937-39
Before the outbreak of World War II in 1939,
Sweden needed significantly more submachine
guns than could be procured from Finland.
In 1939, the Swedish Armed Forces therefore
purchased approximately 1,800 submachine guns
model Mp35 and 1,500 army pistols model Walther
HP (P38) from Germany.These weapons and
ammunition (9x19mm) were designated
Submachine gun m/1939 (Kpist m/1939), Pistol
m/1939, and Patron m/1939 (Cartridge m/1939).
It then became relevant to convert existing
submachine gun m/1937 and new production to
this new type of ammunition, which was both more
powerful and safer to use in stick magazines than
the 9x20mm.
The Armed Forces called the converted variant
submachine gun m/1937-39, and it was also newly
manufactured in 35,000 copies under license in
Sweden by Husqvarna Vapenfabriks AB, Sweden.
During the conversion, the barrel, magazine port,
and sight markings on the main weapon were
replaced. Since the new cartridge had a longer
range, new sight notches for 100, 200, and 300
meters were needed on the sight. The production
of the original m/1937 variant ceased with the
acquisition of the submachine gun m/1937-39.
The submachine gun m/1937-39 was still present in
Swedish mobilization depots as late as the late
1980s.
Specifications:
•
Type
Submachine gun
•
Mass
3.9 kg
•
Length
770 mm
•
Barrel Length
213 mm
•
Sight
Folding sight head and front sight
•
Sight notches
Three: 100 m, 200 m, 300 m
•
Cartridge
9 mm cartridge m/39, 9 × 19 mm Parabellum
•
Magazine
50 cartridges
•
Rate of fire
840 – 1,200 rounds/min
•
Effective firing range
0 – 300 m
•
Max. firing range
1,500 m
The image shows the 9 mm submachine gun
m/1937-39 (kpist 1937-39). Image: Armémuseum,
ID: M.042638.
Submachine gun m/1937-39F:
Sweden needed more submachine guns than the
licensed production of the m/1937-39 could supply.
This led to the Armed Forces purchasing 500
submachine guns of the Finnish variant of the
weapon, kp/31. This differed slightly from the
Swedish submachine gun m/1937-39 and was
therefore designated 9 mm submachine gun
m/1937-39F, where F stands for Finland.
Specifications:
•
Type
Submachine gun
•
Mass
4.6 kg
•
Length
867 mm
•
Barrel length
313 mm
•
Sight
Bow sight and front bead
•
Sight notches
One: 100 – 500 (adjustable)
•
Cartridge
9 mm patron m/39, 9 × 19 mm Parabellum
•
Magazine
50 cartridges
•
Rate of fire
840 – 1,200 rounds/min
•
Effective firing range
0 – 500 m
•
Max. firing range
1,500 m
The image shows the submachine gun m/1937-39F
(kpist m/1937-39F). Image: Armémuseum, ID:
AM.045527.
Arms in the Swedish Armed
Forces - 1a
Introduction
Small arms (or handguns) are firearms that are
small enough to be handled with one's hands
without the use of special supports or stands.
Small arms can be divided into one-handed
weapons (pistols, revolvers, etc.) and two-handed
weapons (rifles, carbines, submachine guns, etc.)
and traditionally refer to fine-caliber weapons.
Machine guns are often not considered small arms
because they mainly require a stand or tripod for
complete handling.
Hand-held medium- and large-caliber weapons fired
from the shoulder (anti-tank guns, grenade
launchers, rocket launchers, etc.) are usually
distinguished from small arms.
Terminology - Designation of
arms
The arms of the Swedish Armed Forces have a
designation system for introduced arms consisting
of the lower-case letter “m” followed by a slash “/”
and the year when it was adopted. This year is
referred to as the model year. The designation code
for weapons follows the format m/YYYY.
For example, m/1896 indicates that the weapon was
issued in 1896.
Sometimes you also see the weapon designation
without the century digit, i.e., m/1896 is written as
m/96.
Small Arms, 20th Century to
Present (1)
Listed below, in chronological order, are the small
arms used in the Swedish Armed Forces during the
20th century and up to the present day.
List of small arms
•
Rifle m/1867
•
Revolver m/1887
•
Carbine m/1894
•
Rifle m/1896
•
Pistol m/1907
•
Submachine gun m/1937
•
Submachine gun m/1937-39
•
Submachine gun m/1939
•
Pistol m/1939
•
Pistol m/1940
•
Semi-automatic rifle m/1942
•
Submachine gun m/1945
•
Assault rifle 4 (Ak 4)
•
Assault rifle 5 (Ak 5)
•
Pistol 88
•
Automatic rifle 90
•
Sniper rifle 90
•
Assault rifle 24 (Ak 24)
•
Assault rifle Colt M4A1
Sub-machine gun m/1939
The submachine gun m/1939 (Swedish:
Kulsprutepistol m/1939 or short: Kpist m/1939) is a
German submachine gun, Maschinenpistole 35/I,
which in Sweden is designated submachine gun
m/1939.
In the spring of 1940, the submachine guns of the
type MP 35/I were delivered to the Swedish Armed
Forces.
The submachine gun m/1939 was available with a
200 mm or 320 mm barrel. Both of these weapons
(the pistol and the submachine gun) were in caliber
9x19 mm, which led Sweden to introduce a new
cartridge: the 9mm Cartridge m/1939.
The submachine gun uses open bolt blowback
action.
The submachine gun m/1939 operates on the
principle of a heavy bolt. The sight is a tangent sight
adjustable between 50 and 1000 meters. All the
previously mentioned submachine guns were
eventually replaced by the submachine gun m/1945
in the Army, which resulted in the Finnish models
being used in the Air Force, Navy, and within the
Home Guard.
This applies also to the submachine gun m/1939,
which came to be used as command weapons within
the Home Guard and was also transferred to the
operational defense with the intention of creating a
uniform armament. The Coast Artillery has also used
these weapons.
Specifications:
•
Type
Submachine gun
•
Mass, loaded
4.48 kg
•
Mass, unloaded
4.25 kg
•
Length
850 mm / 950 mm
•
Action
open bolt blowback
•
Cartridge
9 × 19 mm Parabellum
9 × 23 mm Stey
9 × 25 mm Mauser
•
Sights
Front post, notched adjustable rear
•
Barrel length
200 mm and 320 mm
•
Rate of fire
~540 rounds per minute
•
Muzzle velocity
~410 m/s
•
Effective firing range
0 – 300 meter
The upper image shows the submachine gun
m/1939 (kpist m/1939) with short barrel. Image:
Armémuseum, ID: AM.041886.
The lower image shows the submachine gun m/1939
(kpist m/1939) with long barrel and magazine. Image:
Armémuseum, ID:AM.007153.
Pistol m/1939
Before World War II, the Swedish Armed Forces
urgently purchased 1,500 of the German pistol
Walther P38. In Sweden, it was designated as Pistol
m/1939 (i.e., 9 mm pistol m/1939). It had a caliber of
9 mm.
The Walther P38 had significant firepower for its
time, with a muzzle velocity of 340 meters per
second and a maximum range of 900 meters.
Specifications:
•
Type
Semi-automatic pistol
•
Caliber
9 mm
•
Barrel length
124 mm
•
Ammunition
9 × 19 mm Parabellum
•
Magazine
8 cartridges
•
Action
Short recoil
•
Length
219 mm
•
Mass
0.96 kg
•
Muzzle velocity
340 m/s
The image shows the 9
mm Pistol m/1939.
(Semi-automatic pistol
Walther P38). Image:
Armémuseum, ID:
AM.000902.
Pistol m/1940
The Pistol m/1940 was a copy of the Finnish
automatic pistol Lahti L-35, manufactured under
license by Husqvarna Vapenfabrik AB, Sweden. The
Pistol m/1940 differs from the L-35 by having a
hexagonal grip at the end of the barrel to facilitate
disassembly. The ammunition used for the pistol
was 9 mm m/1939B.
It was used by the Swedish Armed Forces from 1940
until the 1980s, when it was replaced by Pistol 88.
Specifications:
•
Type
Automatic pistol
•
Caliber
9 mm
•
Barrel length
120 mm
•
Ammunition
9 mm m/1939
•
Magazine
8 cartridges
•
Mass unloaded 1,250
g
The image shows the 9
mm Pistol m/1940.
Image: Armémuseum,
ID: AM.035563.
Semi-automatic rifle m/1942
The semi-automatic rifle m/1942 (Swedish:
Automatgevär m/1942 (short: Ag m/1942, AG 42))
was a Swedish semi-automatic rifle (battle rifle) in
caliber 6.5 × 55 mm in Swedish service developed at
Ljungman Pump AB at the beginning of World War II.
It was manufactured by the Gevärsfaktoriet in
Eskilstuna. A total of approximately 32,000 Ag
m/1942 were manufactured. The caliber is 6.5 mm
(6.5 × 55 mm), and the magazine capacity is 10
rounds. The weapon operates on the principle of a
tilting lock with gas operation.
Specifications:
•
TYpe
Semi-automatic rifle
•
Mass
4,.71 kg without magazine
•
Length
1,214 mm
•
Barrel length
622 mm
•
Caliber
6.5 × 55 mm cartridge m/94
•
Action
Direct impingement gas operation
•
Effective firing range
500 m - 600 m
•
Feed system
10-round box magazine
•
In service
1942–1964
The image shows the semi-automatic m/1942 (Ag
m/1942). Caliber 6.5 mm. Image: Armémuseum, ID:
AM.006709.
Sub-machine gun m/1945
The submachine gun m/1945 (Swedish:
Kulsprutepistol m/1945 (short: kpist m/1945) Carl
Gustaf) is a fully automatic submachine gun
intended for automatic fire. It is Swedish-made by
the Carl Gustafs City Rifle Factory in Eskilstuna,
starting in 1945.
The weapon was available in three models within
the defense: m/1945, m/1945B, and m/1945C.
The original model was black phosphated but
unpainted, while the B and C models were painted
olive green.
The weapon is designed for automatic fire and lacks
a setting for single-shot fire but has a firing rate and
trigger that allow for single-shot fire with finger
discipline.
The submachine gun m/1945 was employed by the
Swedish Armed Forces for more than 60 years
before being decommissioned on April 2, 2007, by
the Home Guard, the Swedish defense branch that
had utilized the weapon the longest.
The B model differed from the m/1945 by having
the butt reinforced and equipped with an extra hook
to prevent the weapon's bolt from coming loose. The
C model had a barrel jacket with a bayonet mount
that was attached to the weapon instead of the
regular jacket.
The weapon is of a type that in its basic
configuration (m/45, B, and C) can only fire in fully
automatic mode, meaning that by holding the trigger
down, the weapon can fire all the cartridges in the
magazine.
To be able to fire only one round at a time in a
controlled manner, one had to learn to quickly
release the trigger between each firing instance.
In addition to Sweden, several other countries have
used the weapon. The submachine gun m/1945 was
used by American special forces during the
Vietnam War due to its simplicity and reliability
under difficult conditions.
During the Congo Crisis in the 1960s, the Swedish
UN forces used the C version extensively.
The Swedish police had the submachine gun
m/1945 as a reinforcement weapon in their
organization, but unlike the military model, it was
equipped with a switch for fully automatic or single-
shot firing. The police's weapons were painted black.
Designation: submachine gun m/45BE and
submachine gun m/45BET.
Specifications submachine gun m/45:
•
Mass
Unloaded
3.9 kg
Loaded
4.6 kg
•
Length
Unfolded:
811 mm
Folded
552 mm
•
Barrel length
212 mm
•
Sight
100, 200 and 300 m
•
Caliber
9 x 19 mm (cartridge m/39)
•
Action
Blowback
•
Rate of fire
600 rounds/min
•
Muzzle velocity
420 m/s
•
Effective firing range
300 m
•
Magazine
36 cartridges
•
No. built
c:a 300,000
The upper image shows the submachine gun
m/1945 (Kpist m/1945). Image: Armémuseum, ID:
AM.002308.
The lower image shows the submachine gun
m/1945B (Kpist m/1945B) with magazine and
carrying strap. Image: Armémuseum, ID: AM.002312.
Assault Rifle 4 (Ak 4)
Assault Rifle 4 (AK 4) [Swedish: Automatkarbin 4
(Ak 4) (literally Automatic Carbine 4)] is a fully
automatic firearm (assault rifle) used within the
Swedish Armed Forces, where it served as the main
weapon from 1965 to 1986. The weapon is a
modified Swedish version of the German Heckler &
Koch G3.
The maximum number of rounds that can be fired
with single-shot fire is 60 rounds/min and with
automatic fire, 120 rounds/min, which means three
to six magazines of twenty rounds each. Caliber:
7.62 mm.
In the early 1960s, a number of different assault
rifles were tested with the aim of replacing the
earlier weapons: rifle m/1896, rifle m/1938, Ag
m/1942, and Kpist m/1945. These weapons had
served as the main armament for Swedish infantry
units since World War II. It was three assault rifles
that the defense was now focusing on: a Swedish
prototype called GRAM, the German-designed G3,
and the Belgian-designed FN FAL.
The German G3 best met the needs of the Swedish
defense, and in 1964, the G3 was adopted as the
new standard weapon of the Swedish army under
the name Automatkarbin 4 (Ak 4). The Ak 4,
however, had been improved in 40 different aspects
compared to the original version of G3, including a
20 mm (0.79 in) longer buttstock, a serrated thumb
groove on the bolt carrier to aid in silent bolt closure,
a heavier recoil buffer for increased reliability, and a
200-500m rotary diopter rear sight.
The Ak 4 was the primary armament for the
brigades' combat units until 1986. It was eventually
replaced by the then-new Assault Rifle 5 (Ak 5). The
Ak 4 thus began to be transferred to the territorial
and home guard units.
The Ak 4 was manufactured from 1965 to 1985 by
both Carl Gustafs stads gevärsfaktori in Eskilstuna
and Husqvarna Vapenfabrik in Huskvarna, both in
Sweden.
Variants:
Ak 4:
The Swedish-made version of the Heckler & Koch
G3A3.
Ak 4B:
The Ak 4B was a modified Ak 4 and equipped with a
red dot sight from Aimpoint, which was distributed
shortly after the turn of the millennium (1900/2000)
to the Home Guard, which at that time had become
the Home Guard's main weapon.
The fixed sights present on the original have been
milled away, and instead, a Picatinny rail has been
welded on as a mount for the red dot sight. The shell
catcher has also been slightly modified to fit under
the sight.
Ak 4C:
The Ak 4C differs from Ak 4B in that it has a stock
from Spuhr in Dalby AB that is adjustable in length
and has interchangeable cheek pieces at different
heights. Additionally, the stock is positioned higher
and more in line with the barrel than the original
stock, which reduces the recoil impulse. In 2018, they
began distributing the AK 4C to the Home Guard,
which was now the sole user of the AK 4.
Ak 4D:
The Ak 4D has the same stock as Ak 4C but also
features a new handguard, also from Spuhr. The new
handguard allows for the mounting of accessories
such as bipods, grips, lights, etc. The idea is that the
Ak 4D will be used as a sharpshooter weapon by the
army.
Ak 4OR:
The Ak 4 OR is an Ak 4 with a mounted Hensoldt
4×24 scope. These have been assigned to the Home
Guard units. Ak 4 OR is specifically intended for
sharpshooting.
Ak 4 med granattillsats:
The Ak 4 with grenade launcher is an Ak 4 or Ak 4B
equipped with a grenade launcher in the caliber
40×46 mm of the model Colt M203.
Specifications AK 4:
•
Cartridge
7.62 × 51 mm NATO
•
Mass, with magazine
4.25 kg
without magazine
5.3 kg
•
Length
1,045 mm
•
Magazine
20 cartridges
•
Barrel length
450 mm
•
Rate of fire
500-650 rounds/min
•
Muzzle velocity
800 m/s
•
Max. firing range
3,700 m
•
Sights
Rear: rotary diopter;
front: hooded post
•
No. produced
circa 250,000 – 300,000
•
Adopted
1964
•
Swedish manufacturers:
Carl Gustafs stads gevärsfaktori (1965-1970),
Husqvarna Vapenfabrik (1965-1970),
Gevärsfaktoriet i Eskilstuna (1970-198?).
The images show the Assault Rifle 4 (Ak 4). Image:
Armémuseum, ID: AM.067473.
Assault Rifle 5 (Ak 5)
Assault Rifle 5 (Ak 5) (Swedish: Automatkarbin 5
(Ak 5)) is a Swedish-Belgian assault rifle in caliber
5.56 mm that will be the standard weapon within the
Swedish Armed Forces until 2025.
The weapon is developed from the Belgian assault
rifle FNC 80. The Ak 5 has, however, been adapted
and modified by the Swedish Defense Materiel
Administration (FMV) for Swedish needs and differs
from the original design in several respects.
The Ak 5 was developed in the early 1980s and was
adopted by the Swedish Armed Forces in 1986.
The weapon was originally manufactured by FN
Herstal but has been licensed and produced by
Bofors Carl Gustaf AB since 1987.
In the mid-1970s, a number of different assault rifles
were tested as replacements for the Ak 4, which had
been the Armed Forces' main weapon since 1965,
and at the same time to phase out the submachine
gun m/1945.
After final testing, the choice fell on the FNC 80,
which was formally adopted by the Swedish Armed
Forces in 1986 as the Assault Rifle 5.
After the trials, it was necessary to modify the
original weapon FNC 80, to function in Swedish
conditions, specifically for operation in winter
conditions.
Since the weapon was introduced into the Armed
Forces in the late 1980s, it has been further
developed into various variants.
Two variants – Ak 5 and Ak 5B – were developed and
licensed for production in Sweden. These versions
were later replaced by the Ak 5C and Ak 5D.
These two versions differ in that the Ak 5D is about
10 cm shorter than the Ak 5C.
Variants:
Ak 5:
The AK 5 lacks a Picatinny rail and an adjustable
cheek rest. The sight is a hole sight with two distance
options: 250 or 400 meters. The shoulder support is
foldable, making it easier to carry the weapon in a
vehicle, for example. The Ak 5 boasts two gas
settings, enabling effective use in combat in both
sub-zero and above-zero temperatures.
The weapon can also be equipped with a 40 mm
grenade launcher.
Ak 5B:
The open sights are replaced in this variant by a
telescopic sight (known as the SUSAT sight) with four
times magnification and tritium illumination
mounted on a high mount. Above the rifle scope, a
night vision device can also be mounted. The
shoulder rest differs by being equipped with a cheek
rest.
The first Ak 5Bs were delivered to units in 1991, and
a total of about 5,400 weapons were delivered over
the years. The weapon never became popular,
especially not among the soldiers who had used
both the original version and the Ak 5B during their
service. With a cheek rest and scope, the weapon
became too heavy for comfort. The weapon was
considered bulky, and the Ak 5B was phased out of
service and scrapped in the latter half of the 2000s.
Ak 5C:
The Ak 5C is a renovated and modified version of the
Ak 5. In addition to open sights, the Ak 5C is
equipped with Picatinny rails (at 12, 3, 6, and 9
o'clock) for mounting external sights (red dot sights)
and accessories. The Ak 5C has also been equipped
with a shoulder support that, in addition to being
foldable, is also adjustable in length. The weapon
has also been equipped with a last-round bolt hold-
open.
New magazines made of plastic were introduced
with the C upgrade. They are transparent, which
allows soldiers to see how many rounds are left in
the magazine.
In October 2005, an order was placed with Bofors for
the upgrade of 40,000 Ak 5s to the final C standard.
Ak 5D:
The Ak 5D is a shorter version of the Ak 5, a self-
defense weapon for vehicle crews and similar. The
barrel has been shortened to approximately 259 mm
from 450 mm compared to the Ak 5 and equipped
with a new type of muzzle brake. The Ak 5D was
developed by converting approximately 20,000
unused Ak 5s into 10,000 shortened weapons. In
connection with the delivery of the Ak 5C in its final
configuration around 2005, all shortened Ak 5s were
also adjusted with similar modifications.
Ak 5E:
The Ak 5E was a proposed marksman version of the
Ak 5C and a replacement for the Ak 5B. The Ak 5E
would be equipped with a longer and heavier barrel,
a telescopic sight, and a bipod. Due to the
construction of the Ak 5, this was not a practical idea.
As a result, the idea was scrapped, and no Ak 5Es
were procured.
Specifications AK 5:
•
Cartridge
5.56 x 45 mm NATO
•
Mass:
Ak 5
4.0 kg (4.6 kg with magazine)
Ak 5C
4.5 kg (5.1 kg)
Ak 5D
3.9 kg (4.5 kg)
•
Length:
Ak5
750 mm (1,010 mm unfolded
shoulder rest)
Ak 5C
667 mm (852–914 mm)
Ak 5D
560 mm (820 mm)
•
Magazine
30 cartridges
•
Barrel length:
Ak 5
450 mm
Ak 5C
350 mm
Ak 5D
259 mm
•
Rate of fire
650 rounds/min
•
Effective firing range
400 m
•
Max. firing range
3,000 m
•
Muzzle velocity
Ak 5B 930 m/s, Ak 5C 870 m/s
•
Sights
Rear flip aperture, front post iron
sights
•
No. built
circa 190,000 (2006)
•
Adopted
1986
•
Manufacturer:
FFV-Carl Gustaf AB (in 1990
renamed Bofors Carl Gustaf AB)
The upper image shows assault rifle 5 (AK 5) with a
magazine. Image: Armémuseum, ID: AM.009994.
The lower image shows assault rifle 5C (AK 5C).
Image: Armémuseum, ID: AM.090165.
Pistol 88
The Pistol 88 is semi-automatic with a short recoil,
locked breech, and tilting barrel, developed and
manufactured by Glock in Austria (Glock 17). It was
launched in the early 1980s.
The Air Force acquired the smaller Glock 19 for its
pilots.
During the same period, the armed forces phased out
their older pistols m/1907 and m/1940.
The Swedish Armed Forces have purchased the pistol
in different batches, and therefore it comes in several
variants but with the same basic design: 88, 88B, 88C,
88 C2, and 88D. Pistol 88, 88C, and C2 have
magazines that hold 17 rounds. Pistols 88B and 88D
are slightly smaller and have magazines with a
maximum of 15 rounds.
The military designation is actually 9 mm pistol
m/1988 and short 9 mm pistol m/1988 (but usually
shortened to "Pistol 88").
Specifications:
•
International designation:
Glock 17 (88, 88 C, and 88 C2),
Glock 19 (88 B, and 88 D)
•
Cartridge
9 x 19 mm
•
Effective firing range
50 m
•
Mass:
915 g (loaded)
The image to the left shows the Pistol m/1988 (Pistol
88). Caliber 9 mm. Image: Armémuseum, ID:
AM.090915.
The image to the right shows the Pistol m/1988B
(Pistol 88B) — short. Caliber 9 mm. Pistol for Air Force
pilots. Image: Armémuseum, ID: AM.093159.
