Videos tagged with Finnish Army

This expert-level overview details the Finnish M28 Mosin-Nagant, often called the 'Ski Trooper' rifle. Ian McCollum explains its development as an improvement over the Russian M91, its unique sourcing of parts from international surplus markets, and specific features like SIG barrels and double sling slots. The rifle's complex history, including Austro-Hungarian capture and Italian reparations, is meticulously traced.

The Finnish LS-26/31 represents a rare drum-fed variant of the Lahti-Saloranta M/26 LMG, developed by VKT for export. While typically using 20-round box magazines, these experimental models featured a 75-round drum and were chambered in various calibers, including 8mm Mauser for a large Chinese order. Despite a significant Chinese contract, only a fraction were delivered, with remaining units seeing limited Finnish Army service during the Winter War, often converted back to box magazine use.

This YouTube video features Jari Laine, CEO of Varusteleka, participating in the "Chauchat Challenge" on the History of Weapons & War (HOWW) platform. The episode, available exclusively on HOWW, sees Laine, a Finnish reservist, attempt to handle and possibly shoot the Chauchat, a WWI-era French light machine gun. The video hints at the specific Chauchat's Finnish Army ownership and improvements, posing questions about Jari's performance and potential outcomes. Viewers are encouraged to sign up for a free trial of the HOWW app to watch the full episode.

This review details the Winchester 1895 rifle, specifically the Russian contract variant chambered in 7.62x54R. It highlights John Browning's final lever-action design and its unique military adoption. The video also covers historical markings from Spanish and Finnish refurbishments, demonstrating its journey through different conflicts and owners.

This video provides a detailed look at the Finnish M/39 Mosin-Nagant rifle, showcasing its loading procedure with stripper clips and its historical markings, including the 'SA' Finnish Army stamp and 1942 production date. Live fire demonstrates the rifle's accuracy on a steel target, with slow-motion impact footage highlighting the 7.62x54mmR cartridge's performance. The Misha's Guns channel expert demonstrates high proficiency with this classic firearm.

Finnish forces acquired approximately 94,500 Carcano M38 rifles in 7.35mm from Italy during WWII. Despite the quantity, the rifles were largely disliked due to inconsistent ammunition quality and the fixed 200-meter sights, which clashed with the Finnish marksman tradition. Frontline troops often preferred captured Soviet Mosin-Nagants, leading to the Carcanos being relegated to rear-echelon units and eventually traded away post-war.

This entry details the German WWII Panzerschreck (Raketenpanzerbüchse 54), an 88mm anti-tank weapon inspired by the US Bazooka but with greater power. It highlights features like the protective blast shield, electrical ignition, and rear-loading mechanism. The weapon could penetrate approximately 8 inches of armor, effective against Sherman and T-34 tanks, with an effective range of 150 meters. The Panzerschreck weighed 24 lbs unloaded, significantly more than modern equivalents like the AT4.

This review delves into the Finnish M39 PH sniper rifle, a rare but practically flawed weapon from the Continuation War. It highlights the ambitious but compromised Physica scope, its unique rangefinding reticle, and the rifle's specific modifications like the offset mount and cheek rest. The video also touches upon the scope's significant weight, fogging issues, and dangerously short eye relief, contrasting it with other Finnish sniper optics.

This review details a rare commercial export Suomi M31 SMG, notable for its integrated vertical foregrip and bipod. The Tikkakoski manufacturer offered these modular configurations in the 1930s for international sales. This specific example, bearing Israeli property marks, saw service in the War of Independence before being sold as surplus.

The L-34 Sampo was Aimo Lahti's gas-operated alternative to the recoil-operated LS-26, designed to be simpler and lighter. Despite positive trial results, it was never adopted due to shifting military requirements towards belt-fed guns and market dominance by the Bren and ZB-26. Its design featured a top-mounted box magazine and a quick-change barrel.

This review details Captain Carl Pelo's 1954 prototype semi-automatic rifle, a short-recoil, flapper-locked design developed by Sako. Despite its innovative mechanism and trials in the 1950s, the rifle was not adopted due to the Finnish Army's shift towards intermediate cartridges and gas-operated systems like the RK 62.

The Ahlberg pistol represents Finland's first domestic handgun, closely mirroring the FN Model 1910 design. Despite a contract for 1,000 units, production faced significant delays and quality issues, with fewer than 1258 units produced. Modifications included a longer barrel and slide, but the pistol retained the FN 1910's simple blowback, striker-fired .32 ACP mechanics. Ultimately, the Finnish government favored French Ruby pistols, leaving the Ahlbergs for police and reserve use post-WWII.