DESCRIPTION: Very nice Swedish Royal Life Guard M.1881 Jarmann rifle! Caliber: 10.15 x 61R (Jarmann). This is an early production Swedish Jarmann rifle with slightly different design of the bolt, extractor and some other parts. The rifle was manufactured by Carl Gustafs Stads Gevarsfaktori in 1883, as indicated by markings on the barrel and receiver. Jarmann was among the first bolt action repeating rifles to be adopted in the world. It was designed by a Norwegian engineer Jacob Smith Jarmann. Several thousand of Jarmanns were manufactured to equip both, Norwegian and Swedish forces in the 1880-s (30,000 were manufactured for the Norwegian armed forces, 500 for the Swedish Royal Life Guard, and 1,000 were manufactured for the Swedish Navy). The Jarmann rifle was a remarkably accurate rifle for its time. The rifle utilizes a bolt action and a Kropatschek-style 8-round tubular magazine under the barrel. Early production configuration with one steel barrel band and a nose cap (the first 500 Swedish Jarmanns were made for the Swedish Life Guard with only one barrel band, while the remaining 1,000 Swedish Jarmanns, ordered by the Swedish Navy, had two barrel bands). Ramp and leaf rear sight. A notch on the extended rear sight slider in conjunction with studs on the band and nosecap could be used for long distance ranges. Complete with original cleaning rod with a brass tip. All matching serial numbers (stamped on the receiver, barrel, bolt, buttplate, rear sights, nosecap and on the barrel band). No serial numbers are present on all the remaining parts of the rifle, which is correct for this model. All the serial numbers are factory original, and they were not restamped. The left side of the receiver displays the maker markings, "Swedish Royal Crown over C", production date, "1883", and Swedish military inspectors acceptance markings, "J.P" and "J.G.". The chamber also displays, "Swedish Royal Crown over C" and a production date, "1883". Overall length: 53.25 inch. Barrel length: 32.25 inch. Very scarce early Jarmann rifle with a three digit serial number! CONDITION: Overall, in NRA antique excellent condition. 94% of blue finish is still on metal. The rifle shows only minor service wear. The blue finish is worn mainly on the nosecap and trigger guard. Some light brown patina on the barrel band, nosecap and on the bolt. Occasional patina on the barrel. The buttplate shows dark brown patina. The stock is smooth, with some handling marks and dings. There is a very small stress hairline crack in the upper part of the buttstock, just in front of the buttplate tang (please, see pictures). Very small chip of wood is missing from the buttstock just behind the receiver tang. Bore is in excellent condition, with strong and shiny rifling. Mechanically, the rifle is in excellent condition as well, with crisp, strong action. All the internal parts of the rifle are in excellent condition, with no visible wear. All the markings and numbers on metal are clearly visible. Very nice example of an early production Swedish M.1881 Jarmann rifle! This is a very difficult to find Royal Life Guard variation of Swedish Jarmann rifle! Serial# 1XX.
