Kongsberg M389

The History of Kongsberg

Kongsberg company began as Kongsberg Vapenfabrikk in 1814, established by Poul Steenstrup. The factory initially produced weapons for the Norwegian Armed Forces and introduced several rifle models throughout the 19th century. In 1888, Ole Hermann Johannes Krag and Erik Jørgensen released a magazine rifle prototype that significantly impacted weapon manufacturing. The rifle gained recognition and was soon used by the Royal Danish Army and even the U.S. military. By the end of World War I in 1918, the Krag–Jørgensen rifle had become a primary product, and the company also expanded into civilian goods, including other weapons, tools, and ship components. The 1930s marked the production of the M/32 anti-aircraft gun, a response to aerial bombing threats seen during the Spanish Civil War. Over the years Kongsberg introduced several rifle models such as the M59, M67 and Lakelander 389 rifles.

During World War II, the company was under German control, and production included rifles, machine guns, and pistols. Post-war, the factory underwent modernization in 1953 to meet NATO standards. Collaborative efforts began in 1947 with the Norwegian Armed Forces Research Institute, a partnership that has continued. The 1970s brought Kongsberg into the maritime sector, aligning with North Sea oil discoveries. In 1987 the company segmented into different sectors, from car and aircraft parts to maritime equipment and defense items. However, financial challenges led the government to sell off several company divisions, retaining only the defence segment.

Kongsberg's trajectory shifted again in 1997 with a focus on remote weapons solutions, particularly for the U.S. Armed Forces, with the peak in the 2008 establishment of Kongsberg Protech Systems. That same year, Kongsberg Oil & Gas Technologies was founded. In the following years, the company witnessed growth via defence contracts and the acquisition of Rolls-Royce Commercial Marine. As of 2023, Kongsberg has a global workforce of around 12,500 and operates within three main divisions: Kongsberg Maritime, Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, and Kongsberg Digital.

Kongsberg Lakelander 389

The Lakelander name refers to several rifles that were manufactured by some of the renowned Scandinavian manufacturers in the past. Kongsberg Lakelander 389 is a bolt action model that was based on the design of Lars Andersson and manufactured by the Kongsberg company in the 1980s. It features three radially symmetrical locking lugs and a bolt handle with an opening angle of 60 degrees.

The direct trigger is adjustable for the weight of pull and the rifle comes with a three-position safety lever, positioned on the upper right side of the receiver. Additionally, the Kongsberg Lakelander 389 features adjustable open steel sights and has a milled receiver for Weaver-type scope mounting systems. Markings for identification include control marks, serial numbers, and model text on the left side of the receiver, with the caliber being marked on the barrel.

The rifle was offered in four variants, Hunting, Affut, Battue, and Sports. These variants were also offered with three different handle designs; Standard, Luxe, and Classic. The Classic edition is without a cheek rest and has a classic design stock with a full rubber backplate. The Luxe and Standard editions have Monte Carlo design stocks with cheek support, the Luxe version differing in the rubber recoil pad with a white spacer.

Kongsberg Lakelander 389, chambered for 7.62x51 NATO

Figure 1: Kongsberg Lakelander 389, chambered for 7.62x51 NATO (Source: https://digitaltmuseum.no/011024058428/gevaer)

Kongsberg Lakelander 389 Calibers

The rifle can be chambered for the following calibers:

.243 Win.
6.5x55 Swedish
.270 Win.
.308 Win.
7.62x51 NATO
.308 Win.
7x64
.30-06 Spr.
9.3x62 Mauser

Kongsberg Lakelander 389 Variants

The rifle is available in the following variants:

Kongsberg Lakelander 389 Hunting
Kongsberg Lakelander 389 Affut
Kongsberg Kongsberg Lakelander 389 Battue
Kongsberg Lakelander 389 Sports

Kongsberg Lakelander 389 comes with a flat top receiver, with integrated weaver bases and an additional four holes on the top of the receiver which can also be used for scope mounting purposes. There are two holes in the front and two on the back end of the receiver.

The receiver of Kongsberg Lakelander 389, chambered for 7.62x51 NATO

Figure 2: The receiver of Kongsberg Lakelander 389, chambered for 7.62x51 NATO (Source: https://digitaltmuseum.no/011024058428/gevaer)

Kongsberg Lakelander 389, chambered for 7.62x51 NATO

Holes distances:

A: 21.9 mm

B: 95.1 mm

C: 18 mm

BHU: 0 mm

Ø: 8-40

R1: Flat top

R2: Flat top

Scope Mounts Interchangeable With Kongsberg Lakelander 389

Rifles That Have One-Piece Scope Mounts Interchangeable With Kongsberg Lakelander 389

All the rifles listed in the category below have one-piece mounts interchangeable with Kongsberg Lakelander 389. For one-piece mounts to fit on a rifle, mounting surfaces on these rifles must match in every dimension. Rifles with one-piece scope mounts interchangeable with Kongsberg Lakelander 389 are:

All rifles featuring weaver bases for scope mounting purposes

Rifles That Have Two-Piece Scope Mounts Interchangeable With Kongsberg Lakelander 389

All the rifles listed in the category below have two-piece mounts interchangeable with Kongsberg Lakelander 389. To meet interchangeability conditions, two-piece mounts must match in all dimensions except the B distance. B distance can vary because two-piece mounts can be installed and adjusted closer or further apart. Rifles that have two-piece scope mounts interchangeable with Kongsberg Lakelander 389 are:

All rifles featuring weaver bases for scope mounting purposes

Unfortunately, we were not able to find any rifles that would share the same hole spacings and radiuses with the Kongsberg Lakelander 389, however, due to the integrated weaver bases on top of the receiver, rifles using weaver bases will have scope mounts interchangeable with Kongsberg Lakelander 389.

Best Scope Mounts for Kongsberg Lakelander 389

Fixed Scope Mounts for Kongsberg Lakelander 389

If you are looking for a fixed scope-mounting solution for your Kongsberg Lakelander 389 rifle, you might consider these two-piece rings with bases made by the German manufacturer MAK.

Detachable Repeatable Scope Mounts for Kongsberg Lakelander 389

This two-piece pivot mount manufactured by the German manufacturer MAK will fit your Kongsberg Lakelander rifle perfectly. It is made of steel and comes with a 30-year warranty.

Help Us Build Our Riflescope Mounts Database

If you happen to own this or any other rifle, we would appreciate it if you could help us expand our database by sending us some photos of the rifle receiver (the bare mounting surface of the rifle without the mounts installed). For your help, our company offers a fair return in terms of practical rewards.

Please send us an email for more information. You can contact us here: info@optics-trade.eu