The medal you have is a medal designed by Ivar Throndsen on behalf of Folkevæbningssamlagene in 1889. Folkevæbningssamlagene was an organisation wishing to “arm the people”, in order to protect Norwegian parliamentary rights, etc., should it become necessary. Norway was still in a union with Sweden at the time (1814-1905), something which was a highly debated topic.
Ivar Throndsen was born in 1853, and in 1880 he got a job at Den Kongelige Mynt (The Royal Mint). He did, however, also find time to designing medals. The medal he designed on behalf of Folkevæbningssamlagene was meant to represent the organisation. As you can see the woman on the medal is holding a rifle, and written on it was “Under fanen for vor friheds sag”. In 1893 Folkevæbningssamlagene and other similar organisation merged and formed a new organisation called Det frivillige skyttervesen (DFS). (For more information please see http://www.dfs.no/en/). The new organisation kept the medal as it was, but removed the name Folkevæbningssamlagene, which was written on the back. Later the motto was also changed to “For frihet og fedreland” (For liberty and fatherland), and on the newer medals Throndsen’s signature has been removed.
I am afraid we do not have any information about who K. Birkelund might be, but perhaps DFS might be able to help you.
Kind regards,
Ingeborg Johanne Alsaker Krabbesund
Konsulent
Norges Hjemmefrontmuseum