Aimo Lahti
Encyclopedia
Aimo Johannes Lahti was a self-taught Finnish weapons designer. Out of the 50 weapons that he designed, the best known is the Suomi M-31 SMG
. Other well-known weapon designs include the Lahti-Saloranta M/26
LMG, Lahti L-35
pistol and Lahti L-39 anti-tank rifle. Lahti also designed the 7,62 ITKK 31 VKT
anti-aircraft machine gun and the 20 ITK 40 VKT
anti-aircraft cannon.
His work is considered decisive in defending Finnish independence and increasing trust in the reliability of domestic weapons produced there.
in 1896, to a family of five. He had a safe and somewhat wild childhood. Lahti did not enjoy school and left after the 6th year of elementary school. He started working in the Viiala glass factory when he was 14 years old. In the same year, he bought his first weapon, a Berdan rifle
, with five marks
he had earned in the factory. Lahti was fascinated by the rifle’s mechanism and visited local gunsmith Säteri with whom he examined the weapon closely. Aimo Lahti visited him several times, becoming familiar with weapon mechanisms. He served his conscription in central Finland’s regiment during 1918 and 1919. On October 20, 1919 he married his wife, Ida, with whom he had his only child. His son, Olavi Johannes Lahti, was later a pilot in the Finnish Air Force
and died in 1944.
as a Master Armorer in 1921. He was influenced in this decision by Captain Rosenholm. In 1922 - he started to design the Suomi M-31 SMG
after examining the Bergmann MP18
, which had many design problems as well as being expensive. The new design was revolutionary because the reliability, accuracy and the rate of fire were excellent. The first 200 Suomi SMGs were produced in 1922. After the prototypes were made, he was ordered to work under the control of the Ministry of Defence and to design a light machine gun, which eventually would be the Lahti-Saloranta M/26
. He then improved the Mosin Nagant rifle by designing the M/27 "Pystykorva" ("Spitz
"), which later was issued to the Finnish Army as their service rifle.
In 1932 Lahti and the Ministry of Defence signed two important agreements about Lahti's earnings and other economic benefits. It also gave the government rights to use and sell his designs. In the same year, he got an offer to move to an American weapon company. He was offered a check for 3 million marks and a 5% commission on the weapons that would have been produced in the USA. On the same day the Ministry reformed his older contract. Lahti received more benefits and rights to his inventions and therefore did not feel that moving to the USA was a better offer.
Aimo Lahti continued to design weapons until the end of the Continuation War
when the Allied Control Commission questioned him about the lost 30 "assault rifle
s" that he was designing and other topics. The commission made a decision that he would not be allowed to work as a weapon designer anymore. He enjoyed a Finnish Army’s Major General
’s pension
for 50 years, until his death in 1970 in Jyväskylä
at the age of 74.
Suomi M-31 SMG
The Suomi KP/-31 was a submachine gun of Finnish design that was in service during World War II. It was a descendant of the M-22 prototype and the KP/-26 production model, which was revealed to the public in 1925...
. Other well-known weapon designs include the Lahti-Saloranta M/26
Lahti-Saloranta M/26
The Lahti-Saloranta M/26 is a light machine gun which was designed by Aimo Lahti and Arvo Saloranta in 1926. The weapon was able to fire in both full automatic and semi-automatic modes...
LMG, Lahti L-35
Lahti L-35
Lahti L-35 is a semi-automatic pistol designed by Finnish Aimo Lahti that was produced between 1935 and 1952. About 9000 pistols were made in four production series....
pistol and Lahti L-39 anti-tank rifle. Lahti also designed the 7,62 ITKK 31 VKT
7,62 ITKK 31 VKT
7,62 ITKK 31 VKT or 7,62 mm VKT anti-aircraft machine gun was the primary anti-aircraft machine gun of the Finnish Army during World War II. The weapon was designed by the Finnish gunsmith Aimo Lahti...
anti-aircraft machine gun and the 20 ITK 40 VKT
20 ITK 40 VKT
20 ItK 40 VKT or 20 mm dual anti-aircraft cannon model 1940 manufactured by VKT was a Finnish light anti-aircraft gun designed by the Finnish gunsmith Aimo Lahti. As the only multi-barrel 20 mm anti-aircraft gun 20 ItK 40 VKT was the most effective 20 mm air defence weapon used by the Finnish Army...
anti-aircraft cannon.
His work is considered decisive in defending Finnish independence and increasing trust in the reliability of domestic weapons produced there.
Early years
Aimo Lahti was born in ViialaViiala
Viiala is a former municipality of Finland. On 1 January 2007, it was consolidated with Toijala to form the town of Akaa.Viiala is located in the province of Western Finland and is part of the Pirkanmaa region. The municipality had a population of 5,329 and covered an area of 56.78 km2 of which...
in 1896, to a family of five. He had a safe and somewhat wild childhood. Lahti did not enjoy school and left after the 6th year of elementary school. He started working in the Viiala glass factory when he was 14 years old. In the same year, he bought his first weapon, a Berdan rifle
Berdan rifle
The Berdan rifle is a Russian rifle created by famous American firearms expert and inventor Hiram Berdan in 1868. Standard issue in the Russian army from 1869-1891, the Berdan was replaced by the Mosin-Nagant rifle...
, with five marks
Finnish mark
The Finnish markka was the currency of Finland from 1860 until 28 February 2002, when it ceased to be legal tender. The markka was replaced by the euro , which had been introduced, in cash form, on 1 January 2002....
he had earned in the factory. Lahti was fascinated by the rifle’s mechanism and visited local gunsmith Säteri with whom he examined the weapon closely. Aimo Lahti visited him several times, becoming familiar with weapon mechanisms. He served his conscription in central Finland’s regiment during 1918 and 1919. On October 20, 1919 he married his wife, Ida, with whom he had his only child. His son, Olavi Johannes Lahti, was later a pilot in the Finnish Air Force
Finnish Air Force
The Finnish Air Force is one of the branches of the Finnish Defence Forces. Its peacetime tasks are airspace surveillance, identification flights, and production of readiness formations for wartime conditions...
and died in 1944.
Master Armorer in the Finnish Army
After working for the railway; he joined the Finnish ArmyFinnish Army
The Finnish Army is the land forces branch of the Finnish Defence Forces.Today's Army is divided into six branches: the infantry , field artillery, anti-aircraft artillery, engineers, signals, and materiel troops.-History of the Finnish Army:Between 1809 and 1917 Finland was an autonomous part of...
as a Master Armorer in 1921. He was influenced in this decision by Captain Rosenholm. In 1922 - he started to design the Suomi M-31 SMG
Suomi M-31 SMG
The Suomi KP/-31 was a submachine gun of Finnish design that was in service during World War II. It was a descendant of the M-22 prototype and the KP/-26 production model, which was revealed to the public in 1925...
after examining the Bergmann MP18
MP18
The MP18.1 manufactured by Theodor Bergmann Waffenbau Abteilung was the first practical submachine gun used in combat. It was introduced into service in 1918 by the German Army during World War I as the primary weapon of the Stosstruppen, assault groups specialized in trench combat...
, which had many design problems as well as being expensive. The new design was revolutionary because the reliability, accuracy and the rate of fire were excellent. The first 200 Suomi SMGs were produced in 1922. After the prototypes were made, he was ordered to work under the control of the Ministry of Defence and to design a light machine gun, which eventually would be the Lahti-Saloranta M/26
Lahti-Saloranta M/26
The Lahti-Saloranta M/26 is a light machine gun which was designed by Aimo Lahti and Arvo Saloranta in 1926. The weapon was able to fire in both full automatic and semi-automatic modes...
. He then improved the Mosin Nagant rifle by designing the M/27 "Pystykorva" ("Spitz
Spitz
Spitz-type dogs are a type of dog, characterized by long, thick, and often white fur, and pointed ears and muzzles...
"), which later was issued to the Finnish Army as their service rifle.
In 1932 Lahti and the Ministry of Defence signed two important agreements about Lahti's earnings and other economic benefits. It also gave the government rights to use and sell his designs. In the same year, he got an offer to move to an American weapon company. He was offered a check for 3 million marks and a 5% commission on the weapons that would have been produced in the USA. On the same day the Ministry reformed his older contract. Lahti received more benefits and rights to his inventions and therefore did not feel that moving to the USA was a better offer.
Aimo Lahti continued to design weapons until the end of the Continuation War
Continuation War
The Continuation War was the second of two wars fought between Finland and the Soviet Union during World War II.At the time of the war, the Finnish side used the name to make clear its perceived relationship to the preceding Winter War...
when the Allied Control Commission questioned him about the lost 30 "assault rifle
Assault rifle
An assault rifle is a selective fire rifle that uses an intermediate cartridge and a detachable magazine. Assault rifles are the standard infantry weapons in most modern armies...
s" that he was designing and other topics. The commission made a decision that he would not be allowed to work as a weapon designer anymore. He enjoyed a Finnish Army’s Major General
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
’s pension
Pension
In general, a pension is an arrangement to provide people with an income when they are no longer earning a regular income from employment. Pensions should not be confused with severance pay; the former is paid in regular installments, while the latter is paid in one lump sum.The terms retirement...
for 50 years, until his death in 1970 in Jyväskylä
Jyväskylä
Jyväskylä is the capital of Central Finland and the largest city on the Finnish Lakeland, north-east of Tampere and north of Helsinki, on northern coast of lake Päijänne. The city has been continuously one of the most rapidly growing cities in Finland since World War II. The city is surrounded...
at the age of 74.