Standard Catalog of Military Firearms. Phillip Peterson
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 on Russian Model 1891 Mosin Nagant actions. There are a number of subvariations of Finnish Mosin Nagants that are beyond the scope of this book and may be of interest to the collector. A website that gives excellent information for all Mosin Nagant rifles in www.mosinnagant.net. For technical data and photos, see Terence Lapin’s, The Mosin-Nagant Rifle, and Doug Bowser’s Rifles of the White Death.
Model 1891 (Finnish Army Variation)
Basically a Russian Model 1891 but with a Finnish two-piece stock, sights calibrated to meters, trigger modified to two stage pull, and frequently with the addition of sling swivels. Large numbers of captured Russian Model 1891s were reconfigured this way as late as 1944. Many, but not all, have Finnish-made barrels with a length of 31.6".
Finnish irregulars with their Model 1891 rifles • Courtesy Paul S. Scarlata
Model 1891 Finnish Army rifle with close-up of barrel markings. From the top: “B” indicates Belgian made; “VKT” indicates state factory at Jyvaskyla; “D” indicates re-chambered for “D46&D166” ammunition • Courtesy Stoddard Martial collection, Paul Goodwin photo
Model 91 Dragoon and close-up of rear sight of Model 91 Dragoon • Private collection, Paul Goodwin photo
Model 1891 Dragoon (Finnish Army Variation)
Basically a Russian Model 1891 Dragoon rifle modified as above with a side mounted Mauser Kar 98-type sling. Barrel length is 28.8". About 19,000 of these rifles were produced. Rare.
Model 91/24 with SIG heavy stepped barrel for bayonet attachment.Close-up of barrel markings indicate armor’s notation that barrel has been shortened and re-chambered • Courtesy Stoddard Martial collection, Paul Goodwin photo
Model 91/24 Civil Guard Infantry Rifle
This model built by SAKO and consisted of new heavy Swiss or German barrels fitted to reworked Model 1891 Russian actions. Due to the larger diameter barrel, some barrels were turned down at the muzzle end so it would be the same diameter as the Russian barrel and accept the Russian bayonet. In other cases the larger barrel diameter was left and the bayonets modified instead. Chambered for 7.62x54R cartridge and fitted with 32" barrel. Box magazine capacity was 5 rounds. Weight is about 9.4 lbs.
Model 91/24 Civil Guard Carbine
As above but with 24" barrel. It is estimated that 650 of these carbines were produced. Very Rare.
Model 1927 Army Short Rifle
This rifle was made by Valmet, is a shorter version of the Model 1924, and fitted with a 27" barrel instead of 31". It has a full stock with bayonet lug with a ramp and leaf rear sight, graduated to 800 meters, and front sight guards for the blade front sight. Early stocks were modified from the Model 1891 stocks, and this made for a very weak forend, which was prone to breakage with the bayonet installed. The fore cap was a hinged, two-piece affair. Weight is about 9 lbs.
Model 1927 rifle with 1st style barrel band. This band was modified in 1937 • Courtesy Simeon Stoddard, Paul Goodwin photo
Model