Finnish Lugers

thomas schwend · 12-26-2004, 02:08 AM

Hello, where can I find out any information about finnish lugers? I am looking into buying one.
Thanks,
Thomas

Dwight Gruber · 12-26-2004, 05:19 PM

Thomas,

There is not much in print regarding Finnish Lugers, best references are Still's "Axis Pistols" and Walters's "The Luger Story" and "The Luger Book".

In short, Finland made small orders of 9mm Lugers (Finnish designation M-23) between 1923 and 1930, totalling about 9,500 guns--8,000 from DWM, 1,500 from Mauser. These came from Commercial stock (Alphabet Commercials), proofed with an upright crown/N, and are found with m, n, p, r, u, and no-suffixes. Some are found with Mauser Banners.

The Finnish property mark is SA inside a rectangular cartouche, stamped on the left receiver and bottom of their wood-based magazine. A quarter-sized brass disc was inletted into the right grip and stamped with unit mark information. About 1940 these discs were removed to maintain military security.

Finnish Lugers were used hard and reworked often. They are commonly found with mismatched parts, refinished in a matte, 'Parkerized' manner. Grips were often replaced. Front sights were often replaced with very angular, square profile sights, and the rear sights filed to match. Very often the barrels were replaced by Tikkakoski, marked with T inside a triangle, sometimes inside a circle.

One of my Luger regrets is not buying a Finnish Luger when I was offered one at a very good price (I didn't know the information above and thought I was being offered a junker, I studied up after my near miss)--good luck with yours, be sure to post photos and all pertinent information once you buy it.

--Dwight

John D. · 12-26-2004, 05:30 PM

Hi Thomas,

To add a bit of information regarding Lugers by the Finns, you may also want to refer to the thread linked below. While it deals specificially with HKs, you may also find it interesting:
http://forum.lugerforum.com/showthre...&threadid=5310

My Best,

John D.

thomas schwend · 01-01-2005, 10:21 PM

Thanks for the info! How long are the Tikkakoski barrels? The one I am looking at is chambered in 7.65mm. Is this normal?
Thanks,
Thomas

Dwight Gruber · 01-01-2005, 11:47 PM

Tikka barrels came in 4" & 4 3/4", 9mm & .30.

--Dwight

12-26-2004, 02:08 AM	#1
thomas schwend New User Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Vancouver Posts: 4 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Finnish Lugers Hello, where can I find out any information about finnish lugers? I am looking into buying one. Thanks, Thomas

12-26-2004, 05:19 PM	#2
Dwight Gruber User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,890 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1,282 Times in 424 Posts	Thomas, There is not much in print regarding Finnish Lugers, best references are Still's "Axis Pistols" and Walters's "The Luger Story" and "The Luger Book". In short, Finland made small orders of 9mm Lugers (Finnish designation M-23) between 1923 and 1930, totalling about 9,500 guns--8,000 from DWM, 1,500 from Mauser. These came from Commercial stock (Alphabet Commercials), proofed with an upright crown/N, and are found with m, n, p, r, u, and no-suffixes. Some are found with Mauser Banners. The Finnish property mark is SA inside a rectangular cartouche, stamped on the left receiver and bottom of their wood-based magazine. A quarter-sized brass disc was inletted into the right grip and stamped with unit mark information. About 1940 these discs were removed to maintain military security. Finnish Lugers were used hard and reworked often. They are commonly found with mismatched parts, refinished in a matte, 'Parkerized' manner. Grips were often replaced. Front sights were often replaced with very angular, square profile sights, and the rear sights filed to match. Very often the barrels were replaced by Tikkakoski, marked with T inside a triangle, sometimes inside a circle. One of my Luger regrets is not buying a Finnish Luger when I was offered one at a very good price (I didn't know the information above and thought I was being offered a junker, I studied up after my near miss)--good luck with yours, be sure to post photos and all pertinent information once you buy it. --Dwight

12-26-2004, 05:30 PM	#3
John D. Administrator & Site Owner LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: A Little NE of Somewhere... Posts: 2,651 Thanks: 471 Thanked 513 Times in 127 Posts	Hi Thomas, To add a bit of information regarding Lugers by the Finns, you may also want to refer to the thread linked below. While it deals specificially with HKs, you may also find it interesting: http://forum.lugerforum.com/showthre...&threadid=5310 My Best, John D.

01-01-2005, 10:21 PM	#4
thomas schwend New User Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Vancouver Posts: 4 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thanks for the info! How long are the Tikkakoski barrels? The one I am looking at is chambered in 7.65mm. Is this normal? Thanks, Thomas

01-01-2005, 11:47 PM	#5
Dwight Gruber User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,890 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1,282 Times in 424 Posts	Tikka barrels came in 4" & 4 3/4", 9mm & .30. --Dwight