Finnish 1915 DWM 7.65 Caliber

Lloyd in Nevada · 03-03-2004, 01:16 AM

I am looking at a Finnish Luger Rig that I am a bit puzzled by. The Luger is a DWM 1915 chamber dated/marked but the barrel has been replaced with a 7.65 caliber barrel and marked with the Tikkakoski circle/triangle T. It is all matching but the barrel (Tikkakoski Marked) is the only evidence that it was in Finland. It is a very handsome Luger in 97% (straw about 75%) with a SA marked holster and tool and two magazines one wooden bottom and the other metal. The Luger itself is NOT SA marked. I know most of the Finnish Lugers were obtained from DWM and are basically a 1923 DWM commercial Luger. This Luger is Century import marked and the owner said he got it from them when they were imported back in the early 90s. Could this be a post war rebuild and then put in inventory until imported by Century? Any ideas about this Luger? THANKS!

Doubs · 03-03-2004, 01:26 PM

The Finnish contract began, I believe, in 1923 and the Lugers they purchased were of the 1920 Commercial style or "Alphabet" Lugers in 7.65mm. They were not chamber dated. Your 1915 DWM may have been a private purchase or one acquired later during the Winter War or Continuation War. The lack of an "SA" stamp further indicates private purchase and the replacement barrel could have been privately done also. The Finnish military Lugers were reworked in most cases according to all I've read and the majority of them are not matching. (The one I owned had matching numbers on the major parts but a small part or two were not.) Your matching numbers except for the barrel also suggests private ownership. This is all speculation, of course, but if the price is right I'd buy it in a heartbeat as it sounds like an honest pistol with obvious ties to Finland.

Lloyd in Nevada · 03-03-2004, 04:46 PM

Doubs,

Thanks for the input and your thoughts on this Finnish origin Luger. I think you are on the right track in terms of a private purchase piece. I can get the whole rig for a very attractive price so I may just do it. Anyone else with any input it is much appreciated and welcomed. THANKS!

Lloyd in Nevada · 03-07-2004, 03:42 AM

Left side view of Finn Luger

Lloyd in Nevada · 03-07-2004, 03:43 AM

Right side view of Finn Luger

Lloyd in Nevada · 03-07-2004, 03:46 AM

Tikkakoski 7,65mm barrel marking

Lloyd in Nevada · 03-07-2004, 03:50 AM

Finn Luger Tikkakoski 7,65mm barrel on left compared to DWM Military P.08 9mm Luger on right.

Lloyd in Nevada · 03-07-2004, 03:54 AM

Left side profile of Finn Luger barrel with Finnish installed front sight. Barrel width, length and profile same as DWM German Army P.08 Luger.

Lloyd in Nevada · 03-07-2004, 03:56 AM

Finn Luger wood grip panels showing last two digits of serial number--27.

Lloyd in Nevada · 03-07-2004, 03:59 AM

Finn hoslter and tool both SA marked. Pistol is not SA marked. Rear of holster has leather webbing for carry of shoulder stock. Pistol came with two wood bottom magazines neither SA marked.

Edward Tinker · 03-07-2004, 10:05 AM

Lloyd, the last picture of your rig is my background for the week! Very nice man!!

Ed

Thor · 03-07-2004, 10:16 AM

Lloyd, I must compliment you on the excellent Luger and pictures! They are very good! The picture quality is outstanding!

Lloyd in Nevada · 03-07-2004, 10:46 AM

Ed and Thor,

Thanks for the nice compliments on the rig and the the picture quality. I recently purchased a new digital camera (Fuji S602 FinePix)and I have been pretty happy with the photo quality--it has an excellent macro (closeup) function. I have wanted a Finn touched Luger rig for sometime and when this one came along I couldn't let it escape. Best Regards, Lloyd in Vegas

Doubs · 03-07-2004, 11:30 AM

I've had a Fuji S602 for over a year and can't say enough positive things about it. I use it in my real estate work and all home pictures on the website I maintain are taken with it. I especially value the hot shoe for an external flash. (I use an old Vivitar 273 that has wide-angle flash capabilities.)

My single criticism is the wide angle isn't wide enough and I have to use an auxillary lens to get somewhere between 28 ~ 25mm for interior shots(35mm camera equivalent). Now if I only had a Finnish Luger to take pictures of........

03-03-2004, 01:16 AM	#1
Lloyd in Nevada User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 85 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Finnish 1915 DWM 7.65 Caliber I am looking at a Finnish Luger Rig that I am a bit puzzled by. The Luger is a DWM 1915 chamber dated/marked but the barrel has been replaced with a 7.65 caliber barrel and marked with the Tikkakoski circle/triangle T. It is all matching but the barrel (Tikkakoski Marked) is the only evidence that it was in Finland. It is a very handsome Luger in 97% (straw about 75%) with a SA marked holster and tool and two magazines one wooden bottom and the other metal. The Luger itself is NOT SA marked. I know most of the Finnish Lugers were obtained from DWM and are basically a 1923 DWM commercial Luger. This Luger is Century import marked and the owner said he got it from them when they were imported back in the early 90s. Could this be a post war rebuild and then put in inventory until imported by Century? Any ideas about this Luger? THANKS!

03-07-2004, 10:05 AM	#11
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,924 Thanks: 2,014 Thanked 4,518 Times in 2,087 Posts	Lloyd, the last picture of your rig is my background for the week! Very nice man!! Ed __________________ Edward Tinker ************ Co-Author of Police Lugers - Co-Author of Simson Lugers Author of Veteran Bring Backs Vol I, Vol II, Vol III and Vol IV

03-07-2004, 10:16 AM	#12
Thor User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Rio Rancho, New Mexico Posts: 4,583 Thanks: 958 Thanked 970 Times in 276 Posts	Lloyd, I must compliment you on the excellent Luger and pictures! They are very good! The picture quality is outstanding! __________________ Thor's Luger Clinic http://members.rennlist.com/lugerman/ Ted Green (Thor Yaller Boots) 725 Western Hills Dr SE, Rio Rancho, NM 87124 915-526-8925 Email thor340@aol.com ----------------------------------- John3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

03-03-2004, 01:26 PM	#2
Doubs User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Byron, Georgia Posts: 1,693 Thanks: 789 Thanked 1,671 Times in 548 Posts	The Finnish contract began, I believe, in 1923 and the Lugers they purchased were of the 1920 Commercial style or "Alphabet" Lugers in 7.65mm. They were not chamber dated. Your 1915 DWM may have been a private purchase or one acquired later during the Winter War or Continuation War. The lack of an "SA" stamp further indicates private purchase and the replacement barrel could have been privately done also. The Finnish military Lugers were reworked in most cases according to all I've read and the majority of them are not matching. (The one I owned had matching numbers on the major parts but a small part or two were not.) Your matching numbers except for the barrel also suggests private ownership. This is all speculation, of course, but if the price is right I'd buy it in a heartbeat as it sounds like an honest pistol with obvious ties to Finland.

03-03-2004, 04:46 PM	#3
Lloyd in Nevada User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 85 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Doubs, Thanks for the input and your thoughts on this Finnish origin Luger. I think you are on the right track in terms of a private purchase piece. I can get the whole rig for a very attractive price so I may just do it. Anyone else with any input it is much appreciated and welcomed. THANKS!

03-07-2004, 03:42 AM	#4
Lloyd in Nevada User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 85 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Left side view of Finn Luger

03-07-2004, 03:43 AM	#5
Lloyd in Nevada User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 85 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Right side view of Finn Luger

03-07-2004, 03:46 AM	#6
Lloyd in Nevada User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 85 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Tikkakoski 7,65mm barrel marking

03-07-2004, 03:50 AM	#7
Lloyd in Nevada User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 85 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Finn Luger Tikkakoski 7,65mm barrel on left compared to DWM Military P.08 9mm Luger on right.

03-07-2004, 03:54 AM	#8
Lloyd in Nevada User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 85 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Left side profile of Finn Luger barrel with Finnish installed front sight. Barrel width, length and profile same as DWM German Army P.08 Luger.

03-07-2004, 03:56 AM	#9
Lloyd in Nevada User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 85 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Finn Luger wood grip panels showing last two digits of serial number--27.

03-07-2004, 03:59 AM	#10
Lloyd in Nevada User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 85 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Finn hoslter and tool both SA marked. Pistol is not SA marked. Rear of holster has leather webbing for carry of shoulder stock. Pistol came with two wood bottom magazines neither SA marked.

03-07-2004, 10:46 AM	#13
Lloyd in Nevada User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 85 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Ed and Thor, Thanks for the nice compliments on the rig and the the picture quality. I recently purchased a new digital camera (Fuji S602 FinePix)and I have been pretty happy with the photo quality--it has an excellent macro (closeup) function. I have wanted a Finn touched Luger rig for sometime and when this one came along I couldn't let it escape. Best Regards, Lloyd in Vegas

03-07-2004, 11:30 AM	#14
Doubs User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Byron, Georgia Posts: 1,693 Thanks: 789 Thanked 1,671 Times in 548 Posts	I've had a Fuji S602 for over a year and can't say enough positive things about it. I use it in my real estate work and all home pictures on the website I maintain are taken with it. I especially value the hot shoe for an external flash. (I use an old Vivitar 273 that has wide-angle flash capabilities.) My single criticism is the wide angle isn't wide enough and I have to use an auxillary lens to get somewhere between 28 ~ 25mm for interior shots(35mm camera equivalent). Now if I only had a Finnish Luger to take pictures of........