Rustmästare

Rustmästare is a former Swedish rank that literally means the one responsible for the armory.

Origin
Rustmästare was used, among other things, as a designation for officer rank in the artillery during the 16th century and as a non-commissioned officer title in the infantry from around 1615 to 1835.

Rustmästare was originally a non-commissioned officer rank and the holder of the rank was responsible for the care of the armory, weaponry and ammunition within a company.

1833/37
Holders of the rank were elevated to furir, which then was the lowest non-commissioned officer rank.

1957
The rank was reintroduced as the rank within the Underbefäl category.

1972
The rank of rustmästare was replaced with fanjunkare, and the rank was removed.

Reform 1972
Prior to 1972, military personnel were divided into three categories Underbefäl (non-commissioned officers), Underofficerare (warrant officers) and Officerare (commissioned officers).

The Underbefäl category was split into two categories
 * gruppbefäl, for national servicemen, to include:
 * korpral - former vicekorpral
 * furir - former korpral
 * överfurir - former furir
 * plutonsofficerare to include
 * sergeant - former överfurir
 * fanjunkare - former överfurir and rustmästare

The Underofficer category was renamed kompaniofficerare to include:
 * fänrik - former sergeant and fanjunkare with less than 3 years of service
 * löjtnant - former sergeant and fanjunkare with 3-7 years of service
 * kapten - former sergeant, fanjunkare with a minimum of 7 years of service and förvaltare

The Officer category was renamed regementsofficerare to include
 * löjtnant - Löjtnant with less than 3 years of service and former fänrik
 * kapten - kapten with less than 11 years of service and former Löjtnant with 3-11 years of service
 * major - former kapten and löjtnant with a minimum of 11 years of service
 * överstelöjtnant - överstelöjtnant and former major
 * higher ranks

Reform 1983
All categories were merged into one professional officer category with the lowest rank set to fänrik. Furir, överfurir, sergeant and fanjunkare were removed as a professional ranks. Holders of the rank fanjunkare were given the rank of löjtnant and the rest to fänrik.