Sword bayonet m/1867 for the navy

Last updated 2012-05-18

Content
Sword bayonet m/1867
Contracts with the navy
Other contracts
Cutlass m/1903 for the Coast Artillery
Unknown modification of the sword bayonet m/1867
Sword bayonet m/1867 modified for Carbine m/1894
References

Sword bayonet m/1867

Rifle m/1867 ("1867 års bakladdningsgevär") with a cruciform blade socket bayonet was approved the 8^th May 1867 in general order number 258.
A sword bayonet was approved in the same general order, "in case of future manufacturing".
There was no scabbard approved at this point of time.
Model for the sword bayonet was not suprisingly the Norwegian sword bayonet M1860.

The sword bayonet has brass guard and pommel and wooden grips. The total length is 635 mm and the blade length is 500 mm.
Muzzle ring diameter is 19 mm.
The scabbard is made of black leather with brass mouthpiece and chape and is secured in the frog by the brass reinforced leather strap.
The frog is also black.

The rifle number is normally stamped on the right side of the guard with about 4-5 mm digits.
The navy property marking (stylized crown, the "crow's foot", is normally stamped on the left side of the guard.
The maker's mark, in this case Eskilstuna Jernmanufactur AB, a crowned anchor, is placed on the left side of the blade.

In 1870 the Parliament allocated funds for the purchase of 1000 rifles for the Navy and the 6^th April 1870 a scabbard for the sword bayonet was approved; “Modell å sabelbajonettbalja för Sjövapnets Remingtongevär”.
The 27^th May 1870 a contract was signed with Eskilstuna Manufaktur Aktiebolag for delivery of 1000 sword bayonets with scabbards and frogs.
The contract below is kept in Swedish and not translated.

Kontrakt

Emellan Kongl Förvaltningen af Sjöärendena å Kongl Majt och Kronans vägnar, samt Eskilstuna Manufaktur Aktiebolag är följande kontrakt afslutadt.

§ 1.

Manufaktur Aktiebolaget skall för Sjöförsverets behof tillverka och inom den 1. nästkommande Maj, eller ifall sjöfarten emellan Eskilstuna och Stockholm då ännu ej är börjad, med derefter först afgående ångbåt, vid Kongl Warfvet på Skeppsholmen leverera: Ett tusende /1000/ stycken Sabelbajonetter med tillhörande baljor och hylsor, enligt till leveranten kommande, fastställda modeller, hvarvid likaväl medgifves följande toleranser neml:

å klingans vigt	5 ort öfver eller under
” Fästets do	3 ort do
“ Klingans längd	1 linje under
“ do bredd närmast tången	0,4 linje do
“ do do på midten	0,4 linje do
“ do do vid slutet af skålningen	0,4 linjer do

§ 2.

Besiktningen verkställes hos leveranten och i den mån arbetet fortgår af besiktningsmän från Carl Gustaf Stads Kronogevärafaktori, och skola sabelbajonettarna, utan att dereftar visa någon skada eller felaktighet, uthålla följande prof, neml:

Böjningsprofvet, hvilket verkställas för. monteringen på det sätt att klingan lagd på 2ne städ, anbringda 1 dec tum från hvarandera ändan, nedtryckas på midten 1 decimal linje.
Huggningsprofven, hvilka äfven ske före monteringen och utföras så, att kungen hugges 2ne gånger med egen mot en Ek kubb, samt ett on jerntråd af 1 linies diameter afhugges.
Stötprofvet, bestående dervid att bajonetten sedan den blifvit fullt färdig och påsatt ett gevär, stötes mot en blytacka med den kraft att spetsen intränger 1/2 tum i blyet.

§ 3.

Sedan leveransen blifvit besigtigad, godkänd vid Skeppsholmen levererad och behörigen emottagen samt räkningen ankommit hunnit granskas eger leveranten att i Kongl. Förvaltningens kassa uppbära betalning efter nie / 9 / Riksdeler rmt för hvarje Sabelbajonett med tillhörande balja och hylsa.

§ 4.

Efter fullgjord leverans skall leverenten till Kongl Förvaltningen återställa de bekomna modellerna.

Af detta Kontrakt äro 2ne lika lydands exemplar, ett för hvardera kontraktanten, utskrifvne.

Stockholm den 27 Maj 1870.

Kongl Förvaltningen af Sjöärenden

- IL Adlersparre

B von Feilitzen Johan Ankarkrona / C E Halm

Förstående Kontrakt antages till fullgörande

Eskilstuna den 27 Maj 1870.

för Eskilstuna Jern Manufaktur Aktiebolag

C A Ström Joh. Svengren

The Navy administration made an inquiry to Carl Gustaf Stad rifle factory if they had an inspection officer that could inspect the bayonets for 50 öre each, but the factory could not make any inspection officer available.
Therefore inspection officer C.G.Breitholtz and inspction armourer Teodor Ludvig Norlander were commanded to inspect the bayonets,
Their signatures; G.B. and T.L.N. was stamped on the right side of the blade..

The bayonets arrived at the Navy Artillery station "Skärgårds Artilleriet" in Stockholm the 2^nd May 1871. 500 bayonets with scabbards and frogs was kept in Stockholm while the remaining 500 were shipped to the Navy station in Carlskrona.

In Ferbruary 1873 the Navy administration "Förvaltningen för Sjöärenden" entered an agrement with Husqvarna Vapenfabrik AB for delivery of 2000 rifles. At the same time, they inquired Carl Gustaf Stad rifle factory if any of the inspection officers could inspect 2000 sword bayonets with scabbards and frogs for a special allowance. The bayonets was to be delivered before the end of the year according to the contract of 21^st January 1873 with Eskilstuna Jernmanufaktur AB. The reason they asked was an attempt to reduce the costs and avoid having to order an inspection officer like they had to do in the first delivery 1871.

The lieutenant at Göta Artilleri Regemente F.G. Treffenberg agreed to inspect the bayonet for 25 öre per bayonet with acabbard and frog.
No inspection armourer was commanded for this delivery. The signature "F.T." is found on the right side of the blade and in the T-slot.
The sword bayonets were delivered to Skeppsholmen the 30^th December 1873.

A new contract was signed with Eskilstuna Jernmanufaktur AB for further 1000 sword bayonets, to be delivered up to October 1874.
These bayonets were also inspected by lieutenant F.G. Treffenberg, they were reported finished in 1^st November and were immediatly delivered to the Navy station in Stockholm.

Yet a new contract was signed 1^st February 1877 with G.E. Svalling from Mölntorp for the manufacturing of 200 sword bayonets with scabbards and frogs. The bayonet blades were sent to the Navy station on Skeppsholmen for inspection. After the inspection they were returned to Mölntorp for the final assembly.
A number of bayonets marked with a capital 'M' on the blade are known, but if this is the inspection mark used by the Skeppsholmen naval station is not known. These bayonets differs slightly from the bayonets manufactured by Eskilstuna Jernmanufaktur AB; e.g. the shape of the pommel and grips.
It is not known if this is the bayonets made by Svalling, they are not marked with the navy property mark either.
A few bayonet blades marked "G.E SVALLING & Co MÖLNTORP" has been observed, but I have not seen any complete bayonets.

Sword bayonets delivered to the Navy

Year	Maker	Inspection	Marking	Number delivered
1870	Eskilstuna Jernmanufaktur Aktiebolag	Inspection officer C G Breitholtz Armourer Teodor Ludvig Norlander	GB TLN	1000
1873	Eskilstuna Jernmanufaktur Aktiebolag	Inspection officer Fredrik Gillis Treffenberg	F.T	2000
1874	Eskilstuna Jernmanufaktur Aktiebolag	Inspection officer Fredrik Gillis Treffenberg	F.T	1000
1877	G.E. Svalling, Mölntorp	Naval statsion on Skeppsholmen	Okänt	200
Total number of delivered bayonets				4200

Sword bayonets returned to Carl Gustaf stads rifle factory for the change of rifle m/1867 to m/1867- 89.

Date	From	Number
29 January 1892	Stockholm naval station	200
13 February 1892	Karlskrona naval station	400
19 Mars 1892	Karlskrona naval station	99
2 June 1893	Stockholm naval station	100

These 799 sword bayonets are the only ones that has been registered in the rifle factory legends.
They were later sold in public auctions at the rifle factory.

Date	Where	Number
11 July 1892	Auction	698
4 August 1892	Direct sale	1
15 August 1895	Auction	100

Other contracts

It has been stated that the sword bayonet was used by other branches than the Navy. Has it been used outside te Navy ?
No bayonets were delivered from any of the three main armouries.
In the book "Lärobok om Eldhandvapen till Begagnande vid Arméns skjutskolor för officerare, 2:a delen, Tekniska kursen, Stockholm 1877" is it written that the sword bayonet was not used by the ifantry.
"Sabelbajonettklackene af jern, sittande på högra sidan fram emot mynningen, möjliggör fästandet af en sabelbajonett, om en sådan skulle komma till användande. En modell till sabelbajonett fastställdes redan 1867 för flottans Remingtongevär”
"The sword bayonet lug of iron,mouned on the right side of the barrel, makes it possible to mount a sword bayonet, if one should be used. A model of sword bayonets for the Navy was approved already in 1867."

In the author's possession is a bayonet with inspection stamps TN och W.N. There is no maker mark but it has a serial number (1206) stamped with small digits (2 mm high). TN is the inspection officer Carl TimarNordström and W.N. is the inspection armourer Walfrid Nygren, both active at Carl Gustaf gevärsfaktori.

In the arms and armour museum ("Armémuseum") is another sword bayonet marked Johan Svengren, Eskilstuna. (AM.030892).

The table below tries to summarize known deliveries and other observed bayonets.
All information would be highly appreciated !

Year	Maker	Making	Comment	Number
1866 ?	Johan Svengren, Eskilstuna	None	AM.030892 No Navy property marking	few
1870	Eskilstuna Jernmanufaktur Aktiebolag	GB TLN		1000
1873	Eskilstuna Jernmanufaktur Aktiebolag	F.T		2000
1874	Eskilstuna Jernmanufaktur Aktiebolag	F.T		1000
1877	G.E. Svalling, Mölntorp	?	Only blades observed, no complete bayonets	200
?	Okänd	M	’M’ on the blade, maker or insection ? No Navy property marking	scarce
?	Okänd	TN WN	No maker No Navy ownership marking	few ?

Cutlass m/1903 for The Coast Artillery

In the newly formed Coast Artillery the bayonet got a new usage. In general order 167 of 1903 a cutlass was defined for corporals and privates.
This equipment list was valid until 1939 but the privates was still equipped with cutlass m/1903 well into the second world war.

The modification consisted in;

The T-slot was filled with brass
The locking spring stud was removed and the hole was plugged.

There were however numerous variations of the modification.

To the cutlass m/03 belonged belt and frog m/03, both of brown leather. (Note thet the origial Navy frog was black)

Usually the new belonging of the cutlass was marked on the quillon. Sometimes the old markings were grinded away from the guard.

V.K.A.R. Vaxholms Kustartilleriregemente
C.K.A.R. Carlskrona Kustartilleriregemente

Cutlass m/1903

Cutlass m/1903
with slot filled

Cutlass m/1903 Carlscrona KustArtilleriRegemente

Unknown modification of the sword bayonet m/1867

This modification consists of a cutout in the pommel, shortening the slot a few millimeters.
One reason to this modification might quite simply be to fit the bayonet on the rifle.
The position of the bayonet lug relative the front band varies quite a lot between the differmet makers and models.


Closeup of the pommel.

Sword bayonet m/1867 modified for Carbine m/1894

The question about mounting a bayonet on the Carbine m/1894 arouse quite soon after the introduction of the Carbine.
Several models, for both the Cavalry and the Navy, were tried the upcoming years, but the trials were classed as failed.
It was not until 1914 the cavalry got a carbine bayonet, and one year later, 1915, the navy got their carbine bayonet.

Early 1906 the Navy begun to investigate the possibilty to mount the sword bayonet m/1867 on the Carbine m/94. Discussions were initiated with Carl Gustaf Stads rifle factory about manufacturing, but as they were considered too expensive the work was issued to the Naval station in Stockholm instead. The 20^th November 1907 they were requested to adapt the sword bayonet on 400 carbines m/1894 and then proof shoot them again..
Not until the 28^th Mars 1913 the Chief of the Naval station reported the work done !
The carbines and bayonets should primarily be issued to the mine posistions manned with Navy personnal, remaining carbines should be used at the Naval base.

The bayonet was modified with a new steel guard. There is a small lug on the muzzle ring
A bayonet lug is mounted on the barrel and a groove is cut in the front band, for the lug on the muzzle ring.

Sword bayonet m/1867 modified for carbine m/94



Details of the carbine mounting.

References

Inkomna handingar Kungliga marinförvaltningen
Allan Cyrus, Kungl Kustartilleriet 1902 – 1952
Skånes Vapenhistoriska Förening, meddelande 140, April 1983.
Olof P. Berg:, Svenska blankvapen, Del V Marinens blankvapen
Alm Josef, Flottans handvapen, 1954