After declaring their independence from Russia on the 6th of December in 1917, the Finns built a standing army equipped with captured Mosin Nagants left behind in warehouses in Helsinki. Both the Army and the Protective Corps (Suojeluskuntain Ylieskunnan or Sk.Y ) selected the Mosin Nagant as the standard infantry weapon. This love affair with the Mosin Nagant would last well into the post W.W.II era, marking one of the longest service cycles for any military bolt action rifle. I am not the expert on the Finn Mosin Nagant and for further historic perspective, I would suggest that you visit the Finn section of Mosin Nagant dot Net.

  Kivääri M/91-Model 1891 Infantry rifle

Photo Courtesy of Empire Arms

Kivääri M/91 P-26

Data & Facts

Produced from 1918 - circa 1943

Russian Arsenals - Tula, Ishevsk, Sestroretsk,Chatterault, Westinghouse, Remington

Finnish Arsenals, Tikka, VKT

Models:

SAT Riihimaki M91 - 1922-1924

P-25, P-26, and P-27 - 1925-1927

Early Tikka M91 - 1925-1927

B barrel M91 - 1942

VKT - 1940-1942

Tikka Late Production - 1940-1943

The Finns made steady improvements to the M1891 by using an improved stock, changing front sight blades, different sling attachments, Finn produced barrels and some barrels were relined with the Salerno method as illustrated above with the P-26. 

Stats

Length: 1288 mm w/out bayo

Weight (unloaded): 4.06kg

Barrel: 760mm, 4 groove, right-hand twist

Magazine: 5 round integral box

Rate of Fire: Bolt-action, 10 - 12 rounds per minute

Caliber: 7.62x54Rmm vintovochnyi patron obr 1891g

Muzzle Velocity: 615mps

Kivääri M/24-Model 1924 Civil Guard rifle

Photo Courtesy of Empire Arms

Data & Facts

Produced by SAKO,1923-1927

Receivers made by - Tula, Ishevsk, Sestroretsk,Chatterault, Westinghouse, Remington

Has a unique stepped barrel.

Basically a rebarreled M91 with changes to the stock and sights.

Barrels produced by Schweizerische Industrie Gesellschaft of Switzerland, Venus Waffenbrink Oscar Will group of Zella-Mehlis and Bohler-Stahl of Germany.

Known as the Lotta Rifle.

Stats

Length: 1300 mm

Weight (unloaded): 4.02kg

Barrel: 818mm, 4 groove, right-hand twist

Magazine: 5 round integral box

Rate of Fire: Bolt-action, 10 - 12 rounds per minute

Caliber: 7.62x54Rmm vintovochnyi patron obr 1891g

Muzzle Velocity: 880 mps

Kivääri M/27-Model 1927 rifle

Photo Courtesy of Empire Arms

Data & Facts

Valtions Kivaaritedhas, Jyvaskyla, 1927-1939

Receivers made by - Tula, Ishevsk, Sestroretsk,Chatterault, Westinghouse, Remington

Produced as a standard infantry rifle and adapted in a carbine version for ski troops.

Some sources describe these rifles as shortened versions of the M/24 . The M/27 standard rifle was a model unto itself, being newly designed. The barrels were all made by Tikka except for a couple of thousand (2150) made by VKT in 1931-32. The "short version" should be referred to as a M27 Muskatoon or M27 Ski Trooper. The stocks are different from the M/24, as was the hand guard. The nose cap was hinged like that of the German Kar.98AZ and carried a bayonet lug.

Stats

Length: 1185 mm

Weight (unloaded): 4.02kg

Barrel: 818mm, 4 groove, right-hand twist

Magazine: 5 round integral box

Rate of Fire: Bolt-action, 10 - 12 rounds per minute

Caliber: 7.62x54Rmm vintovochnyi patron obr 1891g

Muzzle Velocity: 740 mps

Sk.Y Kivääri M/28-rifle, Protective Corps

Photo Courtesy of Empire Arms

Data & Facts

Suojeluskuntain Ase-ja Konepaja Osakeyhtio (Sako), Riihimaki, 1927-1930

Receivers made by - Tula, Ishevsk, Sestroretsk,Chatterault, Westinghouse, Remington

Some of these feature a double sling slot in the buttstock.

Adopted in August, 1927, the M/28 was an all together new design in response to the Army's new M27 Developed by Niilo Talevnheimo, the principal arms inspector of the Protective Corps. The barrel was shortened, the depth and pitch of the rifling changed, the trigger was improved and the stock was changed. The rifles were assembled at the Sako factory using new SIG made barrels. Some barrels were made by Tikka as well. They had a single barrel band and simple nose cap. The rear site was re-graduated to 850 meters.

Stats

Length: 1185 mm

Weight (unloaded): 4.18kg

Barrel: 685 mm, 4 groove, right-hand twist

Magazine: 5 round integral box

Rate of Fire: Bolt-action, 10 - 12 rounds per minute

Caliber: 7.62x54Rmm vintovochnyi patron obr 1891g

Sk.Y Kivääri M/28/30-rifle, Protective Corps

Data & Facts

Suojeluskuntain Ase-ja Konepaja Osakeyhtio (Sako), Riihimaki, 1927-1930

Receivers made by - Tula, Ishevsk, Sestroretsk,Chatterault, Westinghouse, Remington

A ski trooper model was produced as well

The M/28-30 was a continued development of the M/28. There was recognized a need to replace the old Russian designed sight. Harry Masner an Arms Inspector assigned to the Civil Guard undertook the project in 1930. The sight design was accepted and put into production in 1933. Changes were also made to the rear band and handguard to accommodate the new sight base. An improved magazine was added with two "dimples" pressed into the top of the magazine body to prevent feeding problems. These magazines were marked with the letters HV in the side. An adjustable front sight was added and improvements made to the barrel channel for accuracy.

Lapin,Vic Thomas et.al.

Stats

Length: 1185 mm

Weight (unloaded): 4.18kg

Barrel: 685 mm, 4 groove, right-hand twist

Magazine: 5 round integral box

Rate of Fire: Bolt-action, 10 - 12 rounds per minute

Caliber: 7.62x54Rmm vintovochnyi patron obr 1891g

Kivääri M/39 Rifle

Photo Courtesy of Empire Arms

Straight Stock M39

Data & Facts

Made by VKT, SAKO and SkY 1939 - 1944

B-barrel - 1942

Receivers made by - Tula, Ishevsk, Sestroretsk,Chatterault, Westinghouse, Remington

A later production in the 60's was introduced to the US collectors market.The M39 is easily recognizable for it's pistol grip stock. The straight stock variant was only produced in 1941 by SAKO and is considered as highly collectable. Another very collectable variant is the B-barrel so named because the barrel is not arsenal stamped but rather has a distinctive B marking that denotes the barrel is made by Leige Belgium.

Stats

Length: 1185 mm

Weight (unloaded): 4.55 kg

Barrel: 685 mm, 4 groove, right-hand twist

Magazine: 5 round integral box

Rate of Fire: Bolt-action, 10 - 12 rounds per minute

Caliber: 7.62x54Rmm vintovochnyi patron obr 1891g

Kivääri M91/30 Infantry Rifle

Photo Courtesy of Empire Arms

Data & Facts

Made by Tikka, Izhesvsk and Tula

Receivers made by - Tula, Ishevsk, Sestroretsk,Chatterault, Westinghouse, Remington

The Tikka round receiver is considered very collectable

The Finnish 91/30 was a virtual redesign of the Russian original when you consider that the barrels, sights and stocks were all changed. The Barrels came from such famous makers as Tikka and the stocks are sturdier 2-piece finger jointed. A blade replaced the post and globe front sight. The bedding pillar in the stock is often shimmed and the trigger group sometimes reworked.

Stats

Length: 1218mm

Weight (unloaded): 3890 kg.

Barrel: 730 mm, 4 groove, right-hand twist

Magazine: 5 round integral box

Rate of Fire: Bolt-action, 10 - 12 rounds per minute

Caliber: 7.62x54Rmm vintovochnyi patron obr 1891g

Muzzle Velocity: 860 mps

Model 28-76 Mosin Nagant military match rifle

These are Finn military Mosin Nagant match rifles as used until just recently by the Finnish Defense Forces.  They were constructed from Finn Model 28/30 military 7.62x54R rifles by the Finnish military with hexagonal receivers, turned-down bolts, match triggers and Lyman-style aperture sights. The butt-stocks are made of Finnish birch with built-in cheek-rests and are specially bedded to each action. There are aluminum rails on the left side and the bottom of forend for mounting of accessories such as palm-rests and slings.

For more detailed information, consult with Doug Bowser, who is undeniably one of the foremost authorities on the history of the Finnish Mosin Nagant. Also, visit Tuco's Forum for more information. Mosin Nagant dot Net has one of the most concise Finnish weapons sections on the web.

Editorial assistance was provided by our friend "Vic" who is often found on Tuco's Forum. His assistance has been invaluable.