The Jarmann Harpoon Rifle,The Jarmann M1884 bolt action rifle was the mainstay firearms for the Norw
The Jarmann Harpoon Rifle,The Jarmann M1884 bolt action rifle was the mainstay firearms for the Norwegian and Swedish military, however by 1890 they were becoming outdated and were replaced with the popular Krag-Jorgensen. Many were sold as surplus and converted into hunting and sporting rifles, however many were also converted into whaling guns. At the time the Scandinavian whaling industry was at its height, and the Jarmanns 10mm bore made it perfect for firing a harpoon. The barrel was cut down into a more manageable size, and the stock was usually replaced with a more ergonomic sporting stock. Usually they were also converted into a single shot as well.To fire the whaler would insert a harpoon in the muzzle of the rifle. The the rifle was loaded with a special high power blank cartridge. When fired the cartridge would propel the harpoon, which was attached to a cable. After the noble whale was dead, the ship would real in the large beast, and begin processing and butchering.The Jarmann harpoon rifle would continue in production up to World War II, however the whaling industry collapsed after the boom of petroleum. Demand for whale oil quickly fell flat. -- source link
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