 | This article includes a list ofgeneral references, butit lacks sufficient correspondinginline citations. Please help toimprove this article byintroducing more precise citations.(March 2019) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
| Industry | Armaments |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1812; 213 years ago (1812) |
| Defunct | 2005; 20 years ago (2005) |
| Headquarters | Eskilstuna, Sweden |
Carl Gustafs stads gevärsfaktori (English: Rifle Factory of Carl Gustaf's Town) was a Swedish firearms manufacturer based inEskilstuna, Sweden.
Carl Gustafs Stads Gevärsfaktori ("Rifle Factory of Carl Gustaf's Town") was founded in 1812 as a state-ownedarsenal.[citation needed] The name "Carl Gustaf's Town" was used intermittently for the town ofEskilstuna afterKing Karl X Gustav gave the towncity privileges.[citation needed]
Between 1943 and 1991, the factory was run by the state agencysv:Försvarets Fabriksverk (FFV),[citation needed] and the whole complex was often referred to asFFV-Carl Gustaf.[citation needed]
In 1970, theHusqvarna Group sold its firearms manufacturing division,Husqvarna Vapenfabriks Aktiebolag, to FFV.[citation needed] FFV-Carl Gustaf continued to manufacture theHusqvarna 1900 hunting rifle[citation needed] and also developed that firearm into theCarl Gustaf 2000 series.[citation needed]
In 1999,Saab AB purchased theCelsius Group, the then parent company of FFV-Carl Gustaf.[1] In September 2000,United Defense Industries (UDI) of the United States acquired Bofors Weapons Systems (the heavy weapons division), while Saab retained the missile interests.
BAE Systems acquired UDI and its Bofors subsidiary in 2005, and BAE Systems Bofors is now a business unit ofBAE Systems AB;Saab Bofors Dynamics is a unit of Saab AB.[2]
Along withHusqvarna Vapenfabrik, Carl Gustafs Stads Gevärsfaktori has provided the Swedish Army with small arms for over two centuries. There have been both foreign designs, such as theRemington M1867 rolling block and theSwedish Mauser rifles, as well as domestic designs such as theAg m/42 semi-automatic rifle and theKpist m/45 submachine gun.
In addition Bofors Carl Gustaf have produced a number of other weapons such as the m/42Carl Gustaf 20mm recoilless rifle, the 20 mm m/45 autocannon and the famed 84 mmCarl Gustaf 8.4cm recoilless rifle, still one of the most common anti-tank weapons in the world.
The NIVA XM1970 (Nytt Infanteri Vapen, "New infantry Weapon") was an experimental combined 5.56mm automatic rifle / 45mm recoilless rifle concept by FFV-Carl Gustaf during the early 1970s.[3] It failed to attract any buyers and was abandoned.The NIVA orNytt infanterivapen (New Infantry Weapon) program was primarily intended to replace theAk 4 battle rifle that was then in service with theSwedish Army. It was apparently also simultaneously intended to act as a lower cost alternative to use of the Carl Gustaf 8.4cm recoilless rifle. The automatic rifle section was of bullpup configuration with the 45mm recoilless rifle overhead. At least two prototypes were built and tested.[4] Ultimately however, the XM1970 was not adopted by the Swedish military.
The company also produced the standard Swedish Army weapon, theAk 5 automatic rifle. The Ak 5 is a modified version of theFabrique Nationale 5.56 mm carbineFN FNC, produced with a folding stock and an option to mount theSUSAT sight from the BritishSA80.
