Finnish Luger rev a

[Dick Herman]

In the early 1920s Finland tried to purchase Lugers from DWM. The IMKK military pistol restrictions forced Finland to purchase the Lugers with 3-3/4 inch (95mm) long barrels and chambered in 7.65mm Parabellum.

Finland adopted Parabellum Pistooli 23 (m/23) for service in the Suomen Armeija (SA). Finland purchased a total of 8,000 Luger's from DWM in Germany. Pistols in the earliest shipments were delivered between 1923 and 1928 with serial number suffix ranging from k into q. Later pistols delivered between 1928 and 1930 had the serial number suffix ranging from r into t.

This Finnish m/23 example has the commercial Crown over N proof on the left side of the receiver adjacent to an inverted SA property marking. The serial number is 9276r which was probably manufactured in 1928. The wooden magazine knob has a SA property marking stamped above a non matching serial number. This pistol has a 3-7/8 inch (98mm) barrel chambered for 7.65mm Parabellum.

The Finnish weapons experienced hard usage and arsenal reworking. This Luger example is a typical reworked Finnish m/23 with mixed numbered parts. An additional rework feature is on the underside of the breech block has an arsenal drilled hole for venting gas. Presumably the hole is to vent gas from a ruptured cartridge primer. The rear sight slot has also been machined from a sharp v to a wide u.

The m/23 served Finland through two wars against the Soviet Union; the Winter War of 1939–1940 and the Continuation War of 1941–1944. The m/23 also saw service during the Lapland War of 1944–1945 forcing the Germans to withdraw from northern Finland.

The following pictures illustrate the Finnish m/23 Parabellum complete with an early SA rig. These pistols were in service into the 1980s. While this pistol is an variation of a very common commercial Luger the Finnish application has a long history that experienced harsh usage. This application is a testament to the ruggedness and serviceability of the Luger pistol.