Greetings from Finland

[Karhu]

Hi guys. Today we celebrate our independence day in Finland and therefore I’ve got a story for you. I apologize my bad English. My grandma’s brother served in ww2 as a sniper and managed to keep himself alive. He brought a Parabellum 08 as a ”war-souvenir” and When his time was to go, he wanted me to keep that piece, because He knew I was quite good with guns. ”Remember to keep that Parabellum in our family, don’t loose it” was almost his last words to me. He never told anybody How he got that gun, that story went in grave with him, but it has something to do with the end of ww2, when finns pushed Germans out of Lappland.

I’d like to know the history of this gun, can anybody tell something about the pictures I try to attache.

Thanks in advance.

[calibrator]

Well, ... HELLO !

I have a Friend I've known since 1995. She is 100% Finnish. Last name is Wirkkala, comes from a family of Lumberjacks and Timber Haulers in Washington State. She has a great sense of loyalty and resolve to always work hard. She calls it "SISU".

https://www.bing.com/images/search?v...RST&ajaxhist=0

Can't tell you much about your Luger other than the "Crown Over Ms" have some sort of Navy issue heritage. The front sight is unusual to me also. The barrel does not have a step where it meets the slide, so I think not what it came with originally during WWI.

[Karhu]

One more picture to go

[Karhu]

Sorry about that wrong picture

[calibrator]

PS;

Is there a date stamp on the slide above the chamber?

1916...1917 ???

Experts here need a LOT more pictures from every angle possible.

During WWII, weren't the Finns allied with the Germans against the Russians ?

My Friend would sometimes call herself a "White Russian", ... what does that mean to you ???

[calibrator]

Show a side view of the last picture. The Toggle Pin in a "NAVY" was a larger diameter than others. Yours looks to be a bit large than usual.

I'm NOT an expert, so I'll just leave it up to the others from this point on.

[Norme]

Hi Hilel,
Welcome to the forum! Your grandma's brother's gun is an interesting piece. It started out as a 1906 or 1908 Navy and was later fitted with a shorter barrel and refinished. More photos would be needed to figure out it's history. For a start I would like to see a photo of the serial number on the front of the frame. I also need to know the diameter of the flange on the rear toggle axle, is it 8.0 or 9.0 mm?
Regards, Norm

[Karhu]

Calibrator, You are right about the barrel, it’s made by Finnish gun-factory Tikkakoski (aca Tikka) after ww2 in early -50 (see the T-label in picture).
Your definition of a typical Finn with Sisu was correct. With that determinition and stubborness and knowhow how to manage in cold forrest helped a lot to keep our independency during ww2.

[spangy]

Hi Karhu and welcome.



Here is a classic Tikkakoski barrel on a finn luger



Finn Lugers may have well started life with wood grips but through the course of use many got plastic replacement grips. They were better on the field because the wooden material would swell in the more moisturized environment. The history of Finn small arms is one of constant fixing/upgrading/re-arsenaled and constant reissue and recycling to the army. Most do NOT have much in the way of matching small parts but most DO have replacement Tikkakoski barrels that are very well thought of and most are very accurate.

[Curly1]

Welcome to the forum

[schutzen-jager]

my x sister in laws brother took these from a surrendering officer in
1945 who was a Finnish volunteer with the Nazi SS - Polish pistol - German knife , + Finnish sheath -

[gunnertwo]

Hilel,

Welcome to the Forum. Nice pistol with an interesting history. That it started as a Navy makes it more fascinating. Looking forward to more pics.

G2

[Ron Wood]

It is interesting to see that the original Navy receiver has not been faced back 2mm to accommodate the replacement barrel, but rather, the flange of the Tikka barrel has been turned down to allow barrel to be seated further into the receiver. I suspect some tinkering was done to make a tight fit torque for the barrel since it can't be snugged down on the flange.
Ron

[JONABI]

White Russians in opposition to Bolshevicks. White Russians are usually pro empire against the Bolsheviks.

[Diver6106]

Nice luger... welcome and my heritage traces back to Finland. Finland has used a mix of weapons thru the years to seek independence: Swedish, German, Russian... I have a number of Lugers, a Mossin Nagant and Finnish Type 39 sniper rifle (attached).

But fortunate for me, my relatives emigrated to South Dakota and worked the Homestake gold mine in the late 1800's: Hasti, Niemela, Patakoski, Soini, Karppinen. In fact the Finnish Lutheran Church is still in Lead SD. But I would like to visit Finland one day and see the memorial to one relative. Ahti Johannes Karppinen, who died in service to Finland, falling in the battle of Kolikkoinmäki in Vyborg on April 28, 1918 and buried in Kempele.