Standard Catalog of Military Firearms. Phillip Peterson

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FINLAND

      Finnish Military Conflicts, 1870-Present

      Finland was annexed by Russia in 1809 but was allowed considerable independence throughout the 19th century. Finnish nationalism began to grow during the latter part of the 19th century, and, by the early 20th century, Finland established its own parliament in 1906. Finnish independence was declared in 1917. Beginning in 1918, a civil war erupted in which the White Guard aided by German troops defeated the leftist Red Guard supported by the Soviet Union. As a result of this conflict a republic was established in 1919. In 1939 Soviet troops invaded Finland, and by 1940 Finnish forces were defeated, despite a heavy cost to the Soviet troops. Finland joined the German attack on the Soviet Union in 1941. Finland was again defeated by Soviet forces by 1944. Finland was then forced to expel the Germans which resulted in a massive loss of life and property to the Finnish people. A 1947 treaty between Finland and the Soviet Union ceded some Finnish territory to the Soviets, and in 1948 the Finns signed a mutual defense pact with the Soviets. During the postwar period, Finland attempted to stay neutral and preserve its independence. By 1990, with the collapse of the Soviet Union, the 1948 treaty was moot and in 1995 the Finns joined the European Union.

      NOTE: The Finns established their own arms factory soon after independence. It was called Souojeluskuntain Ase-ja Konepaja Oy (SAKO). In 1926 the Finns constructed a state rifle factory called the Valtion Kivaaritehdas (VKT, later Valmet). Also in the 1920s another state arms plant was built called Tikkakoski (TIKKA).

HANDGUNS

      NOTE: During the 1920s and 1930s the Finnish army relied primarily on the Model 1895 Russian Nagant revolver and the Spanish 7.65mm self-loading pistols, the Ruby (Model 19). During World War I the Finns were supplied with the Mauser M1896 Broomhandle in a late wartime commercial configuration. In the early 1920s the Finns adopted a commercial model of the DWM Luger, called by the Finns the Model 23. By the late 1920s the Finnish military decided to adopt and domesticly produce a 9mm self-loading pistol of their own. It was called the Lahti.

      The Finns, more recently, have used the FN M1935 in 9mm and the French MAB PA-15 pistol in 9mm.

       M35 Lahti

      This 9x19mm semi-automatic pistol was adopted in 1935 and built at VKT. This pistol is a locked-breech semi-automatic that features a bolt accelerator that does much to make this a reliable firearm. This pistol is the same as the Swedish Model 40 Lahti, 4.7" barrel and 8-round magazine, except that it has a loaded chamber indicator on top of the pistol, a different assembled recoil spring, and the Finnish pistol’s grips are marked “VKT.” Finnish army markings on top of slide. This pistol was designed to function in extreme cold and has a reputation for reliability. About 5,700 wartime Lahti pistols were produced.

SUBMACHINE GUNS

      The first Finnish submachine gun was developed by Aimo Lahti in 1922. This gun later became the Model 1926 with only about 200 built in 7.65mm caliber. A perfected design was later built called the Model 1931 Suomi. Since the end of World War II the Finns have used the Sten Mark II and Mark III guns.

       Suomi Model 1931

      First produced in Finland in 1931, this submachine gun is chambered for the 9mm cartridge. It was widely used by Scandinavian armies as well as several countries in South America. It features a 12.25" barrel with wooden stock and 71-round drum magazine. Box magazine capacity is 20 or 50 rounds. Rate of fire is 900 rounds per minute. Weight is about 10 lbs. Marked on the end cap and left side of the receiver. Production stopped in 1944. A total of about 80,000 were produced by TIKKA.

      This gun was also made in Sweden where it was designated the Model 37-39. In Switzerland it was called the Model 43/ 44. In Denmark it was made by Madsen.

       Pre-1968

Exc.	V.G.	Fair
16000	14500	13000

      Finnish M35 Lahti • Courtesy J.B. Wood

      Model 1931 • Paul Goodwin photo

       Suomi Model 1944

      This Finnish gun is based on the Russian Model PPS-43, but the Model 1944 fires the 9mm cartridge. It is fitted with a 9.66" barrel and accepts a 36-round box magazine or 71-round drum magazine. Rate of fire is 650 rounds per minute. Weight is about 6.35 lbs. Production stopped in 1945. Marked on left side of receiver. TIKKA built about 10,000 of these guns.

       Pre-1968

Exc.	V.G.	Fair
16000	14500	13000

RIFLES

      NOTE: Prior to 1917 Finland was part of Russia. All Finnish military rifles are built СКАЧАТЬ