11mm SWEDISH ORDNANCE

[Bob Riebe]

Swedish Revolver m/1863



Original pinfire cartridges for 11mm Lefaucheux revolvers

1863 the Swedish Artillery bought 1065 revolvers from Eugene Gabriel Lefaucheux in Paris. They were of the same model - Mle. 58 - as the French revolvers. The Swedish Navy bought some 890 revolvers also. Most of these revolvers for the Artillery were never issued.

Marking: LEFAUCHEUX BRte S.D.G.D.A. PARIS
Cartridge: 11 mm pin–fire 12,8 gram lead bullet and 0,8gram gunpowder.

From those 1065 revolvers for the Artillery only a small number had been issued to the Artillery officers. 1872 a General Order regulated that shooting with revolver was part of the annual exercise for the officers of the Artillery. 30 revolvers “of Lefaucheaux model should be issued to each Artillery regiment and sharp ammunition with an amount of 20 cartridges per man” should be issued. At an General inventory inspection 1876 only three revolvers were found at Svea Artillery Regiment. It is evident that the major part of the m/1863 revolvers remained in supply depot 1863-1880 according to Josef Alm (Swedish Army Museum 1953).


11 mm Revolver m/1871[/b][/b][/b]



The Swedish cavalry accepted 19th of April 1871 a revolver with system what is commonly known as Lefaucheux – Francotte. These test resulted in acceptance of a new revolver for the Cavalry model 1871. The revolver was a development of the Lefaucheaux design.
 This revolver is a Swedish invention and it has in this form only been produced for Sweden. According to Arne Thell, who has made research on this subject, the revolver m/71 was invented by August Hagstrom (1817-1901). 25th of April 1871 4.000 revolvers were ordered from August Francotte, Liége in Belgium. Another 2.000 were ordered 1872. Altogether 7.000 pcs of revolver m/71 were produced by Francotte.

 The majority of these revolvers were produced by August Francotte in Liége but 520 pieces were also produced by Husqvarna 500 for the Navy and the rest for civilian market. The lowest number known is No 4. The number is normally displayed on the rear of the drum.

[Revolver m/1863-79


In 1879 the revolver of 1863 was changed to centre - fire cartridge. The same cartridge used in the revolver m/1871.


    Revolver m / 1884 for the Navy


1884 the Swedish navy accepted this revolver. Produced by S:t Etienne or Henry.
Cartridge: 11 mm centre – fire 13,2 gram lead bullet and 0,85 gram gunpowder.

The Swedish M/1884 was chambered for the 11x17mmR cartridge that was the standard revolver cartridge for Sweden at that time. The cartridge evolved from the (nominal) 12mm pin fire cartridge used earlier in the Lefaucheux m/1863 revolver. The 11x17mmR cartridge was first used in the m/1871 Hagstr�evolver and later in the modified Lefaucheux m/1863-79. The cartridge had 204 grain projectile with 13.2 grains of black powder. It is listed with a velocity of 525 feet per second (160 meters per second). The cartridges were issued in unmarked 6 round paper packages.