Kuggeforband

Kuggeforband is a historical term found in Danish and Norwegian military vocabulary, used to denote equipment associated with carrying ammunition. It refers to a belt or bandolier designed to hold cartridges for early muskets and similar firearms. The term is attested mainly in sources from the 17th to 19th centuries, though surviving references are relatively few.

Etymology and meaning: The component kugge is related to the word for bullet in Danish, while forband denotes a belt or band. The combination thus roughly translates to “bullet belt” or “cartridge belt.” The precise scope of the term varied by region and period, and it is sometimes discussed alongside other ammunition carriers such as cartridge boxes or separate bands.

Usage and construction: A kuggeforband would typically be worn around the waist and could include leather loops or pouches for individual cartridges. Some designs were integrated with a cartridge box, while others functioned as standalone belts with cartridges attached directly to the belt. The equipment served to keep reload ammunition readily accessible to infantrymen during maneuvers and combat.

Historical attestation and interpretation: References to kuggeforband appear in Danish inventories and military regulations of the early-modern period. The term is uncommon in contemporary language, and many historians distinguish kuggeforband from other forms of ammunition carriers such as cartridge belts or bandoliers in use at the time.

Modern references: Today, the term is of interest primarily to historians and historical reenactors. It is used to illustrate a specific style of field equipment rather than as a standard, widely adopted technical term.

See also: Cartridge belt, Bandolier, Military equipment, Danish-Norwegian Army.