Finnish Luger

Michael E Halbrook · 02-22-2001, 01:10 AM

I was hoping someone might share some information

about an apparently Finnish Luger I've had for about

12 years.

SN# 98XX, 4 3/4" barrel 9mm cal, serialed to frame. No other parts matching. The barrel is marked with a circle with a triangle inside with a

T in the triangle. Import marks on bottom of barrel (CAI etc)

Date ground off barrel extension. Crown over N proof

on side of barrel extension (upper receiver) partly covered

by SA in a box. No other visable proofs.

DWM on toggel, black plastic grips as on the "swan" just posted. Dull black finish on pistol.

TIA

Mike Halbrook

Marvin · 02-22-2001, 06:49 AM

Mike,

I don't know anything about the Finnish Lugers, but it is very interesting that yours is import marked and have the Finnish markings. I wonder how this pistol came into the possesion of the Russians and was reblued by them. Why were the stamps polished off?

Since the Finns were allied with the Germans, I would suspect that the Germans provided some of their older pistols to them, but how did it get into their stock of German captured pistols? Very interesting.

Marvin

G.T. · 02-22-2001, 08:29 AM

Hi Mike & Marvin!I remember these guns! They were imported into the us back in the mid 80's. The pistols had a somewhat heavy contour 5" barrel with a tall square front sight, the grips were a high quality black plastic made for the gun, but, they were not black widow baekolite and could be affected by certain cleaning solvents! So be careful! I think the guns came directly from Finland, but it seems some type of monkey motion was done to get around the import restrictions of the time......I believe Tom Heller knows something of these pistols...till....later...G.T.

02-22-2001, 10:42 AM

Gerry, you are correct. I bought several of these M23 Finnish commericals years ago from Century Arms who did purchase them directly from the Finns. They purchased 5000 ofthem as new pistols directly from DWM in 1923 with 7.65 x 95mm barrels and with surplus LPO8 shoulder stocks,this is why the Finnish Lathi was desgned to take a luger stock; they already had 5000 of these "in stock" (please forgive the pun). During WW2 many of these were reworked by the Finnish Tikkakoshi arsenal to 9mm x 5"(Lathi barrel length) barrels. See Ezell's "HANDGUNS OF THE WORLD" pages 588-606 for further info and some nice photos.

Kyrie · 02-22-2001, 11:04 AM

Hi Michael,

See the 1923 Finn Luger in the Owners' Corner, under "Kyrie"

Best regards,

Kyrie

Marvin · 02-22-2001, 11:11 AM

Tom,

I just learned something new about the Finnish Luger. I wondered why these would have been captured by the Russians, but now I know the answer. Thanks for this information.

Marvin

Artsi · 02-22-2001, 11:32 PM

Hi Mr. M Halbrook

Do you have a fairly large 'X' stamped on the left side of the slide (just in front of slide serial number)?

My P08 has apparently been also captured by the Russians and this is what one gun collector told me by the 'X' stamp on my gun.

- Artsi

Michael E Halbrook · 02-23-2001, 01:33 AM

My gun is not a Russian capture weapon. It was purchased by me about 1987 while the good ole "evil empire" was still in

business.

I haven't seen any of the current batch of lugers yet.

I did see a nickle plated luger at a local gun shop.

S/42 all matching, it was plated right over the various

rust pits.

Best Regards,

Mike Halbrook

02-22-2001, 01:10 AM	#1
Michael E Halbrook User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Nampa, ID Posts: 31 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Finnish Luger I was hoping someone might share some information about an apparently Finnish Luger I've had for about 12 years. SN# 98XX, 4 3/4" barrel 9mm cal, serialed to frame. No other parts matching. The barrel is marked with a circle with a triangle inside with a T in the triangle. Import marks on bottom of barrel (CAI etc) Date ground off barrel extension. Crown over N proof on side of barrel extension (upper receiver) partly covered by SA in a box. No other visable proofs. DWM on toggel, black plastic grips as on the "swan" just posted. Dull black finish on pistol. TIA Mike Halbrook

02-22-2001, 06:49 AM	#2
Marvin User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Upstate S.C. Posts: 1,132 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Finnish Luger Mike, I don't know anything about the Finnish Lugers, but it is very interesting that yours is import marked and have the Finnish markings. I wonder how this pistol came into the possesion of the Russians and was reblued by them. Why were the stamps polished off? Since the Finns were allied with the Germans, I would suspect that the Germans provided some of their older pistols to them, but how did it get into their stock of German captured pistols? Very interesting. Marvin

02-22-2001, 08:29 AM	#3
G.T. Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Chandler Arizona Posts: 3,485 Thanks: 1,283 Thanked 3,581 Times in 989 Posts	Re: Finnish Luger Hi Mike & Marvin!I remember these guns! They were imported into the us back in the mid 80's. The pistols had a somewhat heavy contour 5" barrel with a tall square front sight, the grips were a high quality black plastic made for the gun, but, they were not black widow baekolite and could be affected by certain cleaning solvents! So be careful! I think the guns came directly from Finland, but it seems some type of monkey motion was done to get around the import restrictions of the time......I believe Tom Heller knows something of these pistols...till....later...G.T.

02-22-2001, 10:42 AM	#4
tom heller Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Finnish Luger Gerry, you are correct. I bought several of these M23 Finnish commericals years ago from Century Arms who did purchase them directly from the Finns. They purchased 5000 ofthem as new pistols directly from DWM in 1923 with 7.65 x 95mm barrels and with surplus LPO8 shoulder stocks,this is why the Finnish Lathi was desgned to take a luger stock; they already had 5000 of these "in stock" (please forgive the pun). During WW2 many of these were reworked by the Finnish Tikkakoshi arsenal to 9mm x 5"(Lathi barrel length) barrels. See Ezell's "HANDGUNS OF THE WORLD" pages 588-606 for further info and some nice photos.

02-22-2001, 11:04 AM	#5
Kyrie User Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 757 Thanks: 0 Thanked 212 Times in 101 Posts	Re: Finnish Luger Hi Michael, See the 1923 Finn Luger in the Owners' Corner, under "Kyrie" Best regards, Kyrie

02-22-2001, 11:11 AM	#6
Marvin User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Upstate S.C. Posts: 1,132 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Finnish Luger Tom, I just learned something new about the Finnish Luger. I wondered why these would have been captured by the Russians, but now I know the answer. Thanks for this information. Marvin

02-22-2001, 11:32 PM	#7
Artsi User Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Finland Posts: 61 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Finnish Luger Hi Mr. M Halbrook Do you have a fairly large 'X' stamped on the left side of the slide (just in front of slide serial number)? My P08 has apparently been also captured by the Russians and this is what one gun collector told me by the 'X' stamp on my gun. - Artsi

02-23-2001, 01:33 AM	#8
Michael E Halbrook User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Nampa, ID Posts: 31 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Finnish Luger My gun is not a Russian capture weapon. It was purchased by me about 1987 while the good ole "evil empire" was still in business. I haven't seen any of the current batch of lugers yet. I did see a nickle plated luger at a local gun shop. S/42 all matching, it was plated right over the various rust pits. Best Regards, Mike Halbrook