Nagant m/1887

Husqvarna Vapenfabrik · Revolver · Out Of Production · 1887

Also known as: Revolver m/1887, Swedish Nagant M1887, Husqvarna m/1887, 7.5mm Nagant m/1887

Overview

The Nagant m/1887 is the Swedish military service revolver adopted in 1887, a six-shot, solid-frame double-action revolver chambered for the small-bore 7.5mm Swedish Nagant (7.5x23mm) cartridge. Developed from the Belgian Nagant brothers' 1886 pattern, it has a fixed cylinder loaded one round at a time through a hinged gate and cleared with a rod ejector, an octagonal barrel, blued steel frame and walnut grips. The bulk of Swedish m/1887 revolvers were produced under license by Husqvarna Vapenfabrik, with an earlier batch supplied directly by Fabrique Nagant of Liege, and it served as Sweden's standard sidearm until superseded by the m/1907 Browning pistol.

Specifications

Weight (empty)	800 g (28.2 oz)
Overall Length	237 mm (9.33")
Barrel Length	114 mm (4.49")
Action Type	Double Action Revolver
Firing Mechanism	Double Action
Trigger Type	Double Action
Magazine Capacity	6 rounds
Magazine Type	Internal
Muzzle Velocity	240 m/s (787 fps)
Muzzle Energy	193 J (142 ft·lbf)
Effective Range	25 m (27 yd)
Barrel Rifling	Right Hand
Number of Grooves	4
Frame Material	Steel
Barrel Material	Steel
Stock Material	Wood
Finish	Blued

Calibers

7.5x23mm Nagant · primary — also known as 7.5mm Nagant, 7.5mm Swedish Nagant, 7.5x22mmR, 7.5mm 1887 Ordnance

Features

Firing modes: Repeating
Feed systems: Fixed Cylinder
Safety mechanisms: Loading Gate, Half Cock Notch
Features: Solid Frame, Fixed Cylinder, Loading Gate, Rod Ejector, Octagonal Barrel, Lanyard Ring, Fixed Sights

Service history

Operators

Swedish Army · adopted 1887 · as Revolver m/1887
Swedish Navy · adopted 1887 · as Revolver m/1887

Production

Estimated total produced: 16,600 · Production years: 1887-1905

Approximately 14,000 produced by Husqvarna Vapenfabrik (circa 1897-1905) plus an earlier delivery of roughly 2,600 from Fabrique Nagant in Liege

Origin

Country of origin: Sweden

Designer: Emile and Leon Nagant

Discontinued: 1905

Notes

Husqvarna manufactured roughly 14,000 examples between about 1897 and 1905, with an additional block delivered by Nagant in Belgium. The chambering is commonly written 7.5mm Nagant; sources give the case length as roughly 7.5x22-23mm. Unlike the later Russian Nagant M1895 it does not use the gas-seal system.

Background

Sweden's m/1887 Nagant was praised at adoption for its light weight and flatter trajectory over the older heavy revolvers it replaced, and although withdrawn as a front-line sidearm around 1907, surviving examples lingered on for home-defence and training duties right through the Second World War.