Swedish infantry uniform m/ 1886 type II

September 28

Swedish Infantry uniform m/ 1886 type II

With the uniform m/ 1886, a common uniform for the infantry was introduced. The model was available in two types, where type I was used by the standard infantry regiments (landscape regiments) and type II was used by enlisted units such as the life regiments and grenadier regiments as well as by the fortification. The uniform m/ 1886 type II consisted of a dark blue woolen coat with a row of 8 gold or silver buttons of the regimental type. The collar, sleeve cuffs, lining and piping varied in color depending on the regiment. The stand-up collar has two stylized buttonholes without buttons and the sleeve cuffs each have three stylized horizontal buttonholes with buttons. On the back there are two skirts with three buttons each. Along the collar and on the front of the coat there is a piping. The straight trousers were in the same dark blue woolen fabric as the coat. Along the trouser leg there was a narrow piping. The 1886 uniform was accompanied by the 1865-99 cap, a tall, straight cap with a short brim.

The uniform in the picture

The uniform in the picture is for an officer (lieutenant) of the second life grenadier regiment, I5, based in Linköping. The regiment is identified by the silver buttons on the coat and the cap and the red details on the uniform. Rank insignia are found as two stars on the shoulder flaps and in the form of two narrow braids on the cap. The cap in the picture has two braids, one narrow and one wide, which corresponds to the rank of major, unfortunately I do not have a cap with the rank of lieutenant. Otherwise they look the same. The coat is named to Cadet Hansson and dated September 28th 1936. It was sewn by Arvid Sandberg in Malmslätt, just outside Linköping.