Jarmann M1884
Cross section of the M1884
Type	bolt action repeating rifle
Place of origin	Norway
Service history
In service	1884 to 1900 (reissued to second line units in 1905)
Production history
Designer	Jacob Smith Jarmann
Designed	1878
Number built	31,500
Variants	Swedish Jarmann (three bands) Norwegian Jarmann (two bands)
Specifications
Weight	4.5 kg (10 lb)
Length	Unknown
Barrel length	850 mm (33.5 in)
Cartridge	10.15 x 61R rimmed
Action	Bolt action
Rate of fire	Unknown, but as fast as the operator could operate the action
Muzzle velocity	485 to 500 m/s (1,191 to 1,640 ft/s)
Effective range	2,400 m (2,600 yd)
Feed system	8 round tubular magazine
Sights	V-notch and front post

The Norwegian Jarmann M1884 was among the first bolt action repeating rifles to be adopted in the Western world. Its adoption, and subsequent modifications, turned the Norwegian Army from a fighting force armed with single-shot black powder weapons into a force armed with modern repeating weapons firing smokeless ammunition. Several thousand were manufactured to equip both Norwegian and Swedish forces in the 1880s. The design is unique, and was the brainchild of Norwegian engineer Jacob Smith Jarmann. After the design had been phased out of the Norwegian Army, a number of the weapons were rebuilt as harpoon guns.

Description

The Jarmann M1884 fired a 10.15 mm black powder cartridge in an 8-round, tubular magazine in which the rounds were lined up in a tube below the barrel. It has a non-rotating bolt (the part of the action that seals the rear end of the barrel) locked by a rotating bolt handle, and reputedly a smooth action. However, this action is not considered strong enough to fire modern ammunition, since the only locking is provided by the rotating bolt handle.

Jacob Smith Jarmann designed his first breech-loading rifle—firing cardboard cartridges—in 1838,^[1] but this was turned down by the armed forces at the time. The logic was that a rifle capable of firing 13 shots a minute would be impossible to resupply with enough ammunition. In the 1870s, he stepped down from the daily running of his workshop to work on his newly invented bolt-action rifle. According to the patent, three particulars were considered new and unique with the action he had developed:<ref name="NMG" />

• The extractor, which not only pulled the spent round out of the breech, but also served to limit the bolt's rearward motion.
• The design of the rotating bolt handle, which served to lock the bolt to the receiver in the forward position.
• The way the extractor was secured to the body of the bolt.

Another interesting oddity is that the Jarmann action does not have a separate ejector, but instead relies on the fact that the extractor pushes the spent round down onto the elevator. The resulting friction was enough to safely eject the round from the receiver.

The design was first tested by a joint Norwegian-Swedish rifle committee. Their first tests were favorable but highlighted the desirability of a repeating weapon, that is, a weapon with a magazine. Several magazine-fed prototype rifles were built—Ole Herman Johannes Krag, the designer of the Krag-Petersson and the Krag-Jørgensen repeating rifles, designed two different magazines<ref name="NMG" /> for the Jarmann rifle: one virtually identical to the magazine used on the Krag-Petersson, one which was the forerunner for the magazine he used on the Krag-Jørgensen. Jacob Smith Jarmann himself also made several prototypes,<ref name="NMG" /> mainly with tubular magazines under the barrel or detachable magazines mounted sideways over the bolt. The latter was considered unusable in the field, and in the end a tubular magazine was selected for the weapon. The magazine is similar to the Kropatschek^[2] tubular magazine and may have been inspired by it, although it is just as possible that the magazine is inspired by the Krag-Petersson magazine.

Despite being a trailblazer with its then-pioneering design, the Jarmann M1884 cannot be considered successful. The combination of tubular magazine and centerfire ammunition has been referred to as "too excitable", especially when used with pointed bullets.^[3] Also, the balance of the weapon changed with every shot fired. However, both of these issues are common to all firearms that use tubular magazines.

The first Jarmann design was firmly a single-shot weapon, and Jacob Smith Jarmann was reportedly at first unwilling<ref name="NMG" /> to design a magazine for it. This may explain why the magazine and bolt do not always work well together.

The sights on the Jarmann M1884, as first issued,<ref name="NMG" /> were graduated to a distance of 2,400 m (2,620 yd), and the original issue ammunition had a muzzle velocity of about 485 to 500 m/s. At first the gun used paper-wrapped lead bullets but soon changed to a steel jacketed bullet. During production, the sights were modified, and M1884s with serial numbers higher than 4330 also had a combat sight—<ref name="NMG" /> by folding the sight arm fully forward, a V-notch was revealed. The combat sight was graduated to 430 m (470 yd), since the path taken by the bullet did not rise over 1.80 meters (6 ft) at this distance. The M1884s with the combat sight were also equipped with a sidemounted volley sight, intended for indirect volley fire over long distances. To be effective, an entire company would have to fire at the same time, which would ensure that at least some of the bullets found their targets. The volley sight was used at distances beyond 1600 meters (about one mile).

Ammunition

The aforementioned Norwegian-Swedish committee also designed the 10.15 x 61R cartridge<ref name="NMG" /> that the various prototypes as well as the service weapon were chambered for. Originally a black powder round with a paper-wrapped lead bullet, it was later loaded with smokeless powder and a full metal jacket bullet. More than 5 million cartridges were manufactured for the M1884, in addition to several thousand specialty cartridges. The following different variations on the 10.15 x 61R cartridge have been identified:<ref name="NMG" />

• 10.15 Ball, rounded tip, lead bullet wrapped in paper, black powder (possibly testing-only round)
• 10.15 Ball, flat tip, lead bullet wrapped in paper, black powder
• 10.15 Ball, flat tip, full metal jacket, smokeless powder
• 10.15 Gallery, round lead bullet (for use indoors or at short ranges)
• 10.15 Gallery, same as above but with a ring crimped around the neck of the case
• 10.15 Blank, unpainted wooden 'bullet', smooth case
• 10.15 Blank, same as above but with six long ridges pressed into the case
• 10.15 Blank, same as above but with six long and six short ridges pressed into the case
• 10.15 Dummy, red wooden 'bullet' going all the way to the bottom of the case, six long and six short ridges pressed into the case, and two rings crimped around the neck of the case
• 10.15 Dummy, as above but with just the six long ridges and rings around the neck
• 10.15 Dummy, as above but with brown wooden 'bullet' and two rings crimped around the neck of the case (tests only).
• 10.15 Harpoon round, a blank round crimped shut, used only in the M28 harpoon gun
• 10.15 Harpoon round, as above but closed with a crimped lid

Accuracy

The Jarmann rifle was a remarkably accurate rifle for its time. In 1886, the joint Norwegian-Swedish rifle committee, which had selected the Jarmann, created a list of the ballistic properties of all the rifles tested.<ref name="NMG" /> It is clear from the list that the Jarmann M1884 was significantly better than the other rifles tested, although in part this must be due to the higher muzzle velocity of the Jarmann.

The 10.15 mm bullet fired by the Jarmann was fully enfilading (meaning that the path of the bullet would pass through a man-sized target) up to 438 m (479 yd), and at a range of 600 metres (660 yd) it did not spread more than 61 cm (24 in) with uncoated lead bullets and 46 cm (18 in) with jacketed bullets. This compared very favorably to the Remington M1867, then the Norwegian standard weapon, which was enfilading out to 300 m (330 yd) and had a spread at 600 m of 96 cm (38 in).

In comparison, the Gras rifle displayed a spread of 89 cm (35 in) and the Mauser rifle (presumably a Gewehr 71) had a spread of 80 cm (31.5 in), both at 600 m (660 yd).

Service

Despite the problems with the weapon, no fewer than 30,000<ref name="NMG" /> were manufactured for the Norwegian armed forces in the decade between its adoption in 1884 and the later adoption of the Krag-Jørgensen in 1894. A further 1500<ref name="NMG" /> were manufactured for the Swedish Navy in the same period. In Norwegian service, it replaced the Remington M1867 and the last few kammerladers still in use.

When the weapon was chosen and first issued, the military considered it a very good weapon.<ref name="NMG" /> It had a good rate of fire and had less than half the spread of the Remington M1867 at 600 m (46 versus 96 cm). It was later eclipsed, however by the radical development of firearms at the time. Within a decade it was phased out and replaced by the Krag-Jørgensen rifle. Even though it was phased out, several second-line units were issued the weapon in 1905,<ref name="NMG" /> when war between Norway and Sweden was considered imminent.

Towards the end of their use in the armed forces, the original gunpowder cartridges were replaced by cartridges filled with smokeless powder. Despite the increase in muzzle velocity, the sights were not altered,<ref name="NMG" /> thus radically decreasing the accuracy of the rifle.

Fate of the Jarmanns

Jarmann M1884s in their original condition are now extremely rare. During the 1920s and 1930s, a number of the surplus rifles was either sold to civilians or rebuilt into M28 harpoon guns.

From the mid 1920s and until the German invasion of Norway, it was possible for civilians to buy surplus Jarmann rifles for about a quarter of what a brand-new Krag-Jørgensen would cost. Despite the reasonable price, it appears that very few were actually sold. Attempts were also made to sell the rifles and ammunition abroad. In 1929, about 5000 rifles were sold to a German firm,<ref name="NMG" /> but the fate of these Jarmanns is unknown. In 1936 King Ibn Saud from Saudi Arabia initiated talks to buy 20,000 Jarmanns with ammunition for his police force,<ref name="NMG" /> but the request was turned down by the Norwegian parliament, who claimed that the sale of such outdated weapons would reflect badly upon Norway. In 1938 a private investor - Trygve G. Hygen, a former captain in the Norwegian Army - caused a minor international incident when he offered to sell Jarmann rifles to Ceylon.<ref name="NMG" /> The British Consulate General complained to the Norwegian government, pointing out that Ceylon was British and they wanted full control of all weapons sold there. The Norwegian government reprimanded Hygen, and the offer was withdrawn. Attempts were also made by Hygen to sell Jarmanns to Lithuania, Cuba, Nicaragua, Bulgaria, Italy and the Netherlands, but without any takers.<ref name="NMG" />

It is reported that the Germans melted down<ref name="NMG" /> the last remaining Jarmann rifles in military warehouses during the Nazi occupation, since they were "too obsolete to be of interest, too modern to have lying around".^[3] It is quite possible that as many as 21,000 Jarmanns were destroyed in this fashion.

M28 Harpoon gun

Jarmann M28 harpoon gun
The M28 was delivered in a custom crate loaded with supplies
Type	bolt action harpoon gun
Service history
In service	1928 onwards
Production history
Designer	Jacob Smith Jarmann
Designed	1928
Number built	1,911
Variants	M28
Specifications
Weight	5.3 kg (11.7 lb) empty, 7.7 kg (17 lb) with harpoon
Length	1.06 m (42 in)
Barrel length	Unknown
Cartridge	10.15 x 61R rimmed
Action	Bolt action
Rate of fire	Unknown, but as fast as the operator could reload
Muzzle velocity	Unknown
Effective range	300 m (330 yd)
Feed system	1
Sights	V-notch and front post

Between the wars, several Norwegian gunsmiths attempted to create harpoon guns,<ref name="NMG" /> intended for hunting seals and shooting rescue lines to boats in distress. Seeing a ready market, and having access to the several thousand Jarmanns in storage, Kongsberg Våpenfabrikk designed a harpoon gun referred to as the M28.<ref name="NMG" /> As part of the rebuild, the magazine and the repeating mechanism were removed, and the handguard and barrel were shortened. In addition, a heavy rubber shoulderpad was added to reduce the considerable recoil. The rifle could still fire the ordinary 10.15 x 61R cartridge after the conversion. A box could be mounted under the handguard containing up to 300 metres (1000 ft) of thin rope. Kongsberg manufactured the M28 harpoon gun until 1952, when they started using the Mauser 98 mechanism in a new harpoon gun called the M52. The sources indicate that around 1,911 Jarmann rifles were modified to M28s,<ref name="NMG" /> about half of them after World War II.

The M28 was advertised as being suitable for use for hunting and rescue work, as well as for general shooting of lines. The advertisement reproduced here specifically mentions its suitability for firefighters, people erecting telephone lines and general construction work. The M28 was seen as suitable for hunting Northern bluefin tuna, seals, swordfish and other large marine animals. Among the equipment that could be delivered for the M28 were hunting harpoons, rescue harpoons, rocket-assisted harpoons, 'dum-dum bullets' and rope of various lengths in special crates. The special rounds for launching harpoons were manufactured until the mid-1970s.<ref name="NMG" />

Comparison with contemporary rifles

The Jarmann was, at the time of its adoption, considered a good weapon. By comparing it to the Remington M1867, which was the standard issue rifle in the Norwegian Army, as well as against the standard service rifles of Germany, France and the United Kingdom at the time it is clear that the Jarmann indeed was an excellent weapon for its time, particularly in its accuracy, range and enfilading effect.<ref name="NMG" />

Rifle	Jarmann M1884	Remington M1867	Mauser Gewehr 71/84	Gras rifle	Martini-Henry
Accuracy at 600 m	46 cm (18.1 in)	96 cm (37.8 in)	80 cm (31 in)	89 cm (35 in)	69.5 cm at 1,100 m
Enfilading	438 m (1,437 ft)	300 m (984 ft)	350 m (1,150 ft)	379 m (1,243 ft)	346 m (1,135 ft)
Effective range	2,400 m (2,620 yd)	900 m (980 yd)	Unknown	Unknown	1,370 m (1,500 yd)
Rate of fire	Unknown	13 round/min	Unknown	Unknown	8 to 12 round/min
Magazine capacity	8	None	8	None	None
Calibre	10.15 x 61R	12.17 x 44 rimfire	11.15 x 60R	11 x 59R	.450/577 (11.455 x 65R)
Muzzle velocity	500 m/s (1,640 ft/s)	381 m/s (1,250 ft/s)	430 m/s (1,411 ft/s)	455 m/s (1,493 ft/s)	416 m/s (1,365 ft/s)
Barrel length	850 mm (33.5 in)	951 mm (37.4 in)	Unknown	Unknown	840 mm (33.1 in)
Total length	Unknown	1355 mm (53.3 in)	Unknown	Unknown	1245 mm (49 in)
Loaded weight	4.5 kg (10 lb)	4.32 kg (9.52 lb)	Unknown	Unknown	3.83 kg (8.5 lb)

See also

Other Norwegian rifles:

• Kammerlader
• Remington M1867
• Krag-Petersson
• Krag-Jørgensen

Comparable weapons from the same era:

• The German Mauser Gewehr 71/84 and Gewehr 88
• The French Lebel Model 1886 rifle and its forerunner the Gras rifle
• The British Martini-Henry and Lee-Metford

Sources and references

External links

• Page with some pictures and information on the Jarmann
• More pictures of the Jarmann
• Closeups of the Jarmann bolt assembly
• Photo of the M28 from the left side, right side with harpoon and closeup of harpoon and line.
• A photograph of two rather corroded rounds for the M28 .
• The M28 in use

Norwegian service rifles

''Kammerlader, Remington M1867, Krag-Petersson, Jarmann M1884, Krag-Jrgensen, Lee-Enfield No. 4 (used during World War II), Pattern 14 Rifle (used during World War II), Karabiner 98k (spoils of war), Selvladegevr M1 (Garand), M1917 Enfield rifle (replaced the Lee-Enfields), AG-3, Vpensmia NM149