Norma (company)
Encyclopedia
Norma Precision is a Swedish
manufacturer of ammunition
located in Åmotfors
, in the province of Värmland
, just 20 km of the Norwegian
border. It is commonly referred to as simply Norma.
, who a few years earlier started "Norma Projektilfabrik A/S". The name "Norma" has, contrary to what someone would think, nothing to do with Norwegian
or Normandy
. The name was chosen because one of the Enger brothers was very fond of the opera Norma
by Bellini
.
The Swedish
shooting movement needed a Swedish
supplier and "Norma Projektilfabrik A/S" was asked to establish in Sweden. At this time, Sweden
and Norway
were united
.
The Enger brothers took the train to Sweden and simply got off at the first stop on the other side of the border, Charlottenberg
, and made inquiries about a suitable factory building. However they found the town council took no interest in their plans and therefore decided to try their luck further into Sweden. Next stop was Åmotfors, where the brothers were better welcomed and decided to establish their company.
From the start until the middle of the century, the production was dominated by military ammunition standards. After a while though, hunting ammunition seemed to be more interesting. Norma began to make international connections by this time. This, combined with military interest, forced more modern thinking and new products, which the company pursued with impressive precision.
Nils Kvale and Roy Weatherby
were invaluable for Norma's success in the latter half of the 20th century. Nils Kvale was a visionary and competent product developer. In the 1960s a couple of new calibers, like the .308 Norma Magnum
and .358 Norma Magnum
, were introduced on the market. Nils Kvale's cooperation with American
colleagues made Norma well known as a producer of high quality rifle ammunition.
Today, Norma has a yearly production of about 23 million rounds in 90 calibers. As such, Norma has one of the largest assortments of rifle ammunition in the world.
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
manufacturer of ammunition
Ammunition
Ammunition is a generic term derived from the French language la munition which embraced all material used for war , but which in time came to refer specifically to gunpowder and artillery. The collective term for all types of ammunition is munitions...
located in Åmotfors
Åmotfors
Åmotfors is a bimunicipal locality situated in Eda Municipality and Arvika Municipality, Värmland County, Sweden with 1,476 inhabitants in 2005.- References :...
, in the province of Värmland
Värmland
' is a historical province or landskap in the west of middle Sweden. It borders Västergötland, Dalsland, Dalarna, Västmanland and Närke. It is also bounded by Norway in the west. Latin name versions are Vermelandia and Wermelandia. Although the province's land originally was Götaland, the...
, just 20 km of the Norwegian
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
border. It is commonly referred to as simply Norma.
History
Norma was started in 1902 by the Enger brothers from OsloOslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
, who a few years earlier started "Norma Projektilfabrik A/S". The name "Norma" has, contrary to what someone would think, nothing to do with Norwegian
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
or Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
. The name was chosen because one of the Enger brothers was very fond of the opera Norma
Norma (opera)
Norma is a tragedia lirica or opera in two acts by Vincenzo Bellini with libretto by Felice Romani after Norma, ossia L'infanticidio by Alexandre Soumet. First produced at La Scala on December 26, 1831, it is generally regarded as an example of the supreme height of the bel canto tradition...
by Bellini
Vincenzo Bellini
Vincenzo Salvatore Carmelo Francesco Bellini was an Italian opera composer. His greatest works are I Capuleti ed i Montecchi , La sonnambula , Norma , Beatrice di Tenda , and I puritani...
.
The Swedish
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
shooting movement needed a Swedish
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
supplier and "Norma Projektilfabrik A/S" was asked to establish in Sweden. At this time, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
and Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
were united
Union between Sweden and Norway
The Union between Sweden and Norway , officially the United Kingdoms of Sweden and Norway, consisted of present-day Sweden and Norway between 1814 and 1905, when they were united under one monarch in a personal union....
.
The Enger brothers took the train to Sweden and simply got off at the first stop on the other side of the border, Charlottenberg
Charlottenberg
Charlottenberg is a locality and the seat of Eda Municipality in Värmland County, Sweden with 2,048 inhabitants in 2005.Situated some 7 km from the Norwegian border, the town has a population of around 3,000. Charlottenberg railway station is the last station in Sweden before the Norwegian border,...
, and made inquiries about a suitable factory building. However they found the town council took no interest in their plans and therefore decided to try their luck further into Sweden. Next stop was Åmotfors, where the brothers were better welcomed and decided to establish their company.
From the start until the middle of the century, the production was dominated by military ammunition standards. After a while though, hunting ammunition seemed to be more interesting. Norma began to make international connections by this time. This, combined with military interest, forced more modern thinking and new products, which the company pursued with impressive precision.
Nils Kvale and Roy Weatherby
Roy Weatherby
Roy E. Weatherby was the founder and owner of Weatherby, Inc., an American rifle, shotgun and cartridge manufacturing company set up in 1945. Weatherby created an entire line of custom cartridges, and was one of the people responsible for the industry interest in high-speed cartridges...
were invaluable for Norma's success in the latter half of the 20th century. Nils Kvale was a visionary and competent product developer. In the 1960s a couple of new calibers, like the .308 Norma Magnum
.308 Norma Magnum
The .308 Norma Magnum cartridge was created by Nils Kvale at Norma, Sweden. Like the larger .358 Norma Magnum it is based on the .300 H&H Magnum. The length of the case is the longest that would fit in a standard Mauser action. While it appeared to have a bright future initially, it was soon...
and .358 Norma Magnum
.358 Norma Magnum
The .358 Norma Magnum is a bolt action rifle cartridge introduced in 1959 by Swedish company, Norma. It is closely related to the smaller .308 Norma Magnum. Both calibers share the same dimensions of the case head as the .300 H&H Magnum. The length of the case is the longest possible that would...
, were introduced on the market. Nils Kvale's cooperation with American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
colleagues made Norma well known as a producer of high quality rifle ammunition.
Today, Norma has a yearly production of about 23 million rounds in 90 calibers. As such, Norma has one of the largest assortments of rifle ammunition in the world.