M1862/66/69 & M1869/77 carbine
The kammerlader carbines are really neat, little contraptions. They almost look like a toy. The only things being large in this carbine are the Swivels for the strap. A M1849 kammerlader – has more than twice the barrel length.
The kammerlader carbines had some purpose until 1867, but by 1869 the clearly superior Remington rifle had been in production for a couple of years and would probably also have accounted for a less expensive carbine due to its simple design.
The carbine was developed for the foot artillery with the rear strap-buckle attached beneath the butt, but this was moved as shown on the picture in 1866.
The carbine was converted to a Lund catridge rifle in 1869 – but did they ever find the time to use it before this? It must have been in for alterations most of the time. In 1869 the clearly superior Remington rifle had been in production for some time, it is strange they waited more than 20 years before making a carbine version from it.
This carbine had a sword bayonet similar to the one the short M1860 had, but with a 12 cm long grip and steel scabbard. I’ve never been offered this bayonet and therefor have a mjor hole in my collection.
There was also a M1869/77 cavalry version (the one with the strap on the picture). This was produced as a Lund cartridge carbine from the start (why not a Remington instead? Yes, I know I am a dreadful repeater.).
Kammerlader carbines are scarce, very scarce. With the original open chamber they are virtually non-existing with the exception of the M1857, here you might find one or two.
They are charming little rifles and almost look like a little boys gun, downsized from his fathers large one. Everything except the bore seems to be scaled down from a “real” one and if just catching a glance of one on a picture, you might almost believe is was a M1859 or similar.