M1862/1866/1869 Artillery carbine.

Technical information:

• Name: M1862/1866/1869 Artillery carbine
• Production year: 1864, later changed in 1869
• Serial number: 849
• Serial number range: Approximately 1-1400, (This range is shared with the M1865 Cavalry carbine).
• Produced: 1864-1865
• Caliber: 4 linjer, later 12,17x44R
• Magazine capacity: 0, singe shot
• Weight: About 2,1kg
• Produced at: Kongsberg Våpenfabrikk.
• Stock material: Birch
• Lock mechanism: Breachloader percussion, later changed to Lunds patent.
• Approved by the army: September 11, 1862 and April 17, 1866
• Number produced: Kongsberg arms factory about 304.

Carbines are known to be short and light guns. Because of this they were very well received by the units that got them. This model was first approved by his Majesty the King the 11 of September 1862 as the temporary model 4 linjers carbine for the foot artillery. The 17 of April 1866 it was finely approved by the Army command. Since it got two different approvals it was now called M1862/66. The carbine has leaf sight for 200, 400 and 600 alen. ( 200 alen = about 120 meter ). This sight was approved at the same time as the cavalry carbine

M1865 the 24 June 1865. The carbine came with a sword

bayonet, it is almost identical with the sword bayonet M1860 but

the grip is shorter on the carbine model. The sheath was made

in steel. This bayonet is very scarce today, and I would love to

get hold of one. Beyond that, the carbine has mostly the same

markings as other kammerladere from Kongsberg. The 5th of

Marts 1868 there was actually another change on this model.

They experienced that the strap clamp on the rifle was not that

comfortable for the soldier and it was wearing out the uniform. Therefore they decided to move it. The rear strap clamp was now located on the left side of the butt stock and the hole where it used to be was plugged with a small piece of wood. The front strap clamp was also removed, and it was now placed on the left side on the front brass band. This was now able to move in any directions. Most of these carbines was rebuilt in 1869 when Lunds patent was approved. Today only a handful of the M1862/66 carbine is known, where the Lunds patent never was done. When the Lunds patent was done, a new problem arise, the cock was resting directly on the firing pin. To solve this, they came up with the idea of install half cock. Now there was no risk that the gun would fire when the soldier was carrying the rifle on his shoulder, when he was preparing the cannon. This is the reason this rifle is called 1862/66/69.