ESKILSTUNA

eskilstuna, a town of sweden in the district (_lan_) of sodermanland, on the hjelmar river, which unites lakes hjelmar and malar, 65 m. w. of stockholm by rail. pop. (1900) 13,663. the place is mentioned in the 13th century, and is said to derive its name from eskil, an english missionary who suffered martyrdom on the spot. it rose into importance in the reign of charles x., who bestowed on it considerable privileges, and gave the first impulse to its manufacturing activity. it is the chief seat in sweden of the iron and steel industries, its cutlery being especially noted, while damascened work is a specialty. there is a technical school for the metal industries. there are, in the town or its neighbourhood, great engineering, gun-making, and rolling and polishing works and breweries. the largest mechanical works are those of munktell and tunafors. the karl gustaf stads rifle factory was established in 1814.