Finnish Luger from WWI??

[some_finn]

Originally posted by tsellati
I was more curious about what the Finns might have used/manufactured during wartime as I likle to try and collect a box or two of period-appropriate ammunition for the firearms in my collection.

About the Finnish WW2 ammo, I did some checking. Both Sako and VPT (Valtion patruunatehdas, The State Cartridge Works) manufactured 9mm ammo. Both used 7,5 gram (115gr) bullets, mostly tombac jacketed but later in the war also tombac washed steel jackets. The load was pretty stiff, giving about 395 m/s (1300 fps) so really not a good idea to shoot it in a Parabellum!

The cartridge boxes will read something like "9mm Pistoolin patruunia" with possibly "Parabellum" added. Mostly 50rd boxes I believe.

Sako cases will mostly have markings like "S-42" or "SO42" the latter part obviously being the year of manufacture. Some German made brass was used during late 30's, these will read "Sako 9mm".
VPT cases will "suprisingly" have VPT and a two digit year headstamp.