Sweden
[edit]
Swedish Kg m/21 model, which was nearly identical to the M1919 configuration
Model Kg m/37 with quick-detachable barrel
In 1920, Belgian arms manufacturer Fabrique Nationale (FN) acquired sales and production rights to the BAR series of firearms in Europe from Colt. The first BAR model sold by FN was the Kg m/21 (Kg—Kulsprutegevär or “machinegun rifle”) chambered for the 6.5×55mm m/94 cartridge. The m/21 is a variant of the Model 1919 designed to Swedish specifications and manufactured initially by Colt’s and later under license at the Carl Gustafs Stads Gevärsfaktori in Eskilstuna. Compared to the Model 1919, the Swedish weapon has—apart from the different caliber—a spiked bipod and dust covers for ejection.[35] The m/21 would become one of Sweden’s main support weapons in the interwar years together with the water-cooled, belt-fed Ksp m/1914 medium machine gun (Swedish adaptation of the Austrian M07/12). Dissatisfied with the rapidly overheating fixed barrel of the m/21, Carl Gustaf began to design a new quick-detach mechanism for the barrel that mates the externally grooved chamber to a series of rotating flanges in the receiver operated by a locking lever. The barrel also received cooling fins along its entire length. These enhancements were incorporated into the fm/1935 prototype, which was favorably evaluated during trials in 1935. The final version was the Kg m/37, adopted for service in 1937, which uses a smooth-contour, unfinned barrel. Numerous m/21 guns were retrofitted with the screw-on receiver extension and quick-change barrel and renamed the Kg m/21-37.[citation needed] The m/37 remained in service until replaced by the FN MAG,[36] but was still in second-line use until 1980. Carl Gustaf also developed a belt-fed prototype; however, it was never adopted.[citation needed]
Cartridge * .30-06 Springfield (7.62×63mm)/.303 British (7.7×56mmR)/7.92×57mm Mauser (M1918, M1922, M1918A1, M1918A2)
- 7.92×57mm Mauser (wz. 1928)
- 6.5×55mm (Kg m/21, m/37)