Original 1914 recipe
Verbatim from the first edition of the Big Cookbook.

Homemade smoked salmon: an 8–9 kg salmon is split along the back without water, salted 2½ days in 1 l salt and 2 dl sugar under a weight, brushed with saltpeter dissolved in cognac, cold-smoked 8 hours, and matured 6 days. The trimmings are boiled into salmon soup; the salmon is stored dry, not in the refrigerator.
Source: Henriette Schønberg Erken, Stor kokebok, 1914-utg. s. 125 (falt i det fri)
Erken's thorough instructions for home-smoked salmon, with her characteristic practical note that "most people probably send it off to be smoked." She wastes nothing: the backbone, head, and tail are boiled into salmon soup.
Split the salmon
The salmon should not be scraped or washed. Cut off the head and tail, and open the fish along the back, not the belly. Let the knife follow the underside of the backbone, then cut the backbone away on the other side.
Clean without water
Remove the innards and entrails. Wipe away the blood with a cloth that is not wet, and rub some of the blood into the fish. Do not use water.
Salt down
Spread a thick layer of 1 liter salt and 2 dl sugar on a large wooden board. Lay the salmon skin-side down, cover it completely with salt and sugar, and place a board on top.
Weight and cure
The next day, place a light weight on top. Let the salmon rest this way for 2½ days; it must be covered with salt the entire time.
Wipe off and brush
Wipe away the salt with a cloth, and finally wipe the salmon over with 1 teaspoon finely ground saltpeter dissolved in ½ dl cognac.
Smoking
Spread the salmon out on the skin side with two thin wooden splints. Smoke the salmon 8 hours in cold smoke (or send it to a smokehouse).
Post-maturing
After 6 days the salmon is ready to eat. Let the salmon lie flat, not hang — it gets drier from hanging.
Use the trimmings
Put the backbone into cold, salted water. When it boils and has been skimmed, boil the head and tail or a few tail pieces in the stock. Use the stock for salmon soup.
Storage
Smoked salmon must not be stored in the refrigerator, because the salmon draws in moisture. It is best stored — once you have begun to slice it — in a dry, slightly cool room, preferably wrapped in parchment paper.
Measurements converted to modern units (1 l salt, 2 dl sugar, ½ dl cognac). "Iskasse" (ice box) is explained as a refrigerator. Saltpeter has been kept as in the original but is not necessary for the flavor.
Original 1914 recipe
Verbatim from the first edition of the Big Cookbook.

Revised 1949 recipe
From the revised edition of the Big Cookbook.

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