Finnish 9mm Luger Ammo

Luke · 01-27-2003, 02:50 PM

Today a local friend gave me a box of 25 90mm Luger rounds. It is marked in English on the top, "Cal.9mmPARABELLUM (Luger) Non-Corrosive Primers INTERARMS, Alexandria, Virginia USA.

On the bottom of the box it is marked,
"MADE IN FINLAND"

The brass is marked V P T above the primer and either 42, 43 or 44 below the primer.

I am guessing that this means these were made in 1942, 1943, and 1944. Duh! I don't know anything about this stuff.

Anyone know what this is? I don't plan to shoot it, just keep is a souvenir from a friend.

Would appreciate any information.

Luke

Luke · 01-27-2003, 04:19 PM

Also,

Barely readable on the back of the cardboard box,

"Lapuan Patruunatehdas"
"LAPUA"

Luke

Luke · 01-27-2003, 05:26 PM

Hello tacfoley,

OK, thanks a lot. Now, what does
Ig Suomilainen bar Cohen Ui Foghlaidhe mean?????

Thanks,
Luke

Lonnie Zimmerman · 01-27-2003, 06:27 PM

Luke; I have a lot of this ammo that I bought back in the middle 70"s. Under the label on the box is more information. Mine went thru a flood, and the label"s all came off. This ammo was made especially for the P.08, and they still load their 9mm ammo to the same specs today. I only know this because I wrote to them and ask about it. Randy Bessler had this for sale for $30 a box a few months ago. (only one box)
Lonnie

Luke · 01-27-2003, 06:44 PM

Lonnie,

Thanks for the information. The label on my box is very loosely connected, and I can see that there is no information underneath in this case.

Do you think the 42, 43, and 44 on the brass indicates year of manufacture?

Luke

Lonnie Zimmerman · 01-27-2003, 07:22 PM

Luke, yes, those are the dates of manufacture.
Lonnie

Luke · 01-27-2003, 08:02 PM

Hello Lonnie,

Best theory then seems to be that INTERARMS imported a large volume of loose WW-II 9mm Luger cartridges from Finland and packaged them for commercial sale. This theory would explain the 3 different dates of manufacture in the same sealed package.

Thanks for the input.

Regards,
Luke

Lonnie Zimmerman · 01-27-2003, 10:26 PM

Luke; my ammo is in the original boxes with Interarms labels glued on them. (Obviously not waterproof glue) My dates are almost all 44, with a few 43.
Lonnie

Luke · 01-28-2003, 05:55 AM

tacfoley,

I'm impressed ! !

I know that Finnish is a rather obscure language which has common elements only with one of the Baltic Countries.

I was in Finland once . . in the SUMMERTIME. Had my first sauna there with a bunch of other businessmen at an LM Ericsson plant just outside Helsinki.

Thanks,
Luke

01-27-2003, 02:50 PM	#1
Luke User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: NC - USA Posts: 1,239 Thanks: 0 Thanked 18 Times in 6 Posts	Finnish 9mm Luger Ammo Today a local friend gave me a box of 25 90mm Luger rounds. It is marked in English on the top, "Cal.9mmPARABELLUM (Luger) Non-Corrosive Primers INTERARMS, Alexandria, Virginia USA. On the bottom of the box it is marked, "MADE IN FINLAND" The brass is marked V P T above the primer and either 42, 43 or 44 below the primer. I am guessing that this means these were made in 1942, 1943, and 1944. Duh! I don't know anything about this stuff. Anyone know what this is? I don't plan to shoot it, just keep is a souvenir from a friend. Would appreciate any information. Luke __________________ "Peace, if possible; truth, at any cost." . . . Martin Luther

01-27-2003, 04:19 PM	#2
Luke User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: NC - USA Posts: 1,239 Thanks: 0 Thanked 18 Times in 6 Posts	Also, Barely readable on the back of the cardboard box, "Lapuan Patruunatehdas" "LAPUA" Luke __________________ "Peace, if possible; truth, at any cost." . . . Martin Luther

01-27-2003, 05:26 PM	#3
Luke User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: NC - USA Posts: 1,239 Thanks: 0 Thanked 18 Times in 6 Posts	Hello tacfoley, OK, thanks a lot. Now, what does Ig Suomilainen bar Cohen Ui Foghlaidhe mean????? Thanks, Luke __________________ "Peace, if possible; truth, at any cost." . . . Martin Luther

01-27-2003, 06:27 PM	#4
Lonnie Zimmerman User Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 523 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Luke; I have a lot of this ammo that I bought back in the middle 70"s. Under the label on the box is more information. Mine went thru a flood, and the label"s all came off. This ammo was made especially for the P.08, and they still load their 9mm ammo to the same specs today. I only know this because I wrote to them and ask about it. Randy Bessler had this for sale for $30 a box a few months ago. (only one box) Lonnie __________________ Lonnie Zimmerman

01-27-2003, 06:44 PM	#5
Luke User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: NC - USA Posts: 1,239 Thanks: 0 Thanked 18 Times in 6 Posts	Lonnie, Thanks for the information. The label on my box is very loosely connected, and I can see that there is no information underneath in this case. Do you think the 42, 43, and 44 on the brass indicates year of manufacture? Luke __________________ "Peace, if possible; truth, at any cost." . . . Martin Luther

01-27-2003, 07:22 PM	#6
Lonnie Zimmerman User Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 523 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Luke, yes, those are the dates of manufacture. Lonnie __________________ Lonnie Zimmerman

01-27-2003, 08:02 PM	#7
Luke User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: NC - USA Posts: 1,239 Thanks: 0 Thanked 18 Times in 6 Posts	Hello Lonnie, Best theory then seems to be that INTERARMS imported a large volume of loose WW-II 9mm Luger cartridges from Finland and packaged them for commercial sale. This theory would explain the 3 different dates of manufacture in the same sealed package. Thanks for the input. Regards, Luke __________________ "Peace, if possible; truth, at any cost." . . . Martin Luther

01-27-2003, 10:26 PM	#8
Lonnie Zimmerman User Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 523 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Luke; my ammo is in the original boxes with Interarms labels glued on them. (Obviously not waterproof glue) My dates are almost all 44, with a few 43. Lonnie __________________ Lonnie Zimmerman

01-28-2003, 05:55 AM	#9
Luke User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: NC - USA Posts: 1,239 Thanks: 0 Thanked 18 Times in 6 Posts	tacfoley, I'm impressed ! ! I know that Finnish is a rather obscure language which has common elements only with one of the Baltic Countries. I was in Finland once . . in the SUMMERTIME. Had my first sauna there with a bunch of other businessmen at an LM Ericsson plant just outside Helsinki. Thanks, Luke __________________ "Peace, if possible; truth, at any cost." . . . Martin Luther