M1862/1866/1869 Artillery carbine.

Technical information:

Name: M1862 /1866 /1869 Artillery carbine

Production year: 1864, later changed in 1869

Serialnumber: 849

Serialnumber range: Approximately 1-1400, (This range is shared with the M1865 Cavalry carbine).

Produced: 1864-1865

Calibre: 4 linjer, later 12,17x44R

Magasin capacity: 0, singelshot

Weight: About 2,1kg

Produced at: Kongsberg Våpenfabrikk.

Stockmaterial: Birch

Lockmechanism: 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 carabin 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 carabin have leaf sight for 200, 400 and 600 alen. ( 200 alen = about 120 meter ). This sight was approved at the same time as the cavalry carabin M1865 the 24 June 1865. The carabin came with a sword bayonet, it is almost identical with the sword bayonet M1860 but the grip is shorter on the carabin 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 carabin has mostly the same markings as other chamberloders from Kongsberg. The 5 of Marts 1868 there was actually another change on this model. They experienced that the strapclamp on the rifle was not that comfortable for the soldier and it was wearing out the uniform. Therefore they decided to move the it. The rear strapclamp 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 strapclamp 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 this carabins was rebuilt in 1869 when Lunds patent was approved. Today only a handful of the M1862/66 carabin 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.