Lahti L-35
Encyclopedia
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.
The weapon had a bolt accelerator to improve reliability in cold conditions or when fouled. This kind of system was rare for pistols. It also resembled the German
Luger P08 pistol.
The Finnish army used the L-35 in the Winter War
and the Continuation War
, and it was the official service pistol
until the 1980s when it was replaced by the FN HP-DA
pistol. (9.00 PIST 80 / 9.00 PIST 80-91)
in 1940. The official Swedish military designation for this pistol was Pistol m/40 but it is also known as the Husqvarna m/40 after the manufacturer, Husqvarna
who produced almost 100 000 of them between 1940 and 1946.
Due to poor quality steel used in manufacturing and the use of SMG 9 mm cartridge adapted in the 1960s (m/39B), the bolts
of Pistol m/40s started to crack in the 1980s. As a temporary replacement the retired FN Model 1903
(Pistol m/07) pistols were brought back into service until the switch to the new Glock pistols was complete. The switch was done during the 1990s when the Glock 17 (Pistol 88) was adopted by the Swedish Army
, and the Glock 19 (Pistol 88B) by the Swedish Air Force
.
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
Aimo Lahti
Aimo Lahti
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...
that was produced between 1935 and 1952. About 9000 pistols were made in four production series.
The weapon had a bolt accelerator to improve reliability in cold conditions or when fouled. This kind of system was rare for pistols. It also resembled the German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
Luger P08 pistol.
The Finnish army used the L-35 in the Winter War
Winter War
The Winter War was a military conflict between the Soviet Union and Finland. It began with a Soviet offensive on 30 November 1939 – three months after the start of World War II and the Soviet invasion of Poland – and ended on 13 March 1940 with the Moscow Peace Treaty...
and 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...
, and it was the official service pistol
Service pistol
A service pistol is any handgun issued to military personnel.Typically service pistols are revolvers or semi-automatic pistols issued to officers, non-commissioned officers and rear-echelon support personnel for self defense, though service pistols may also be issued to special forces as a backup...
until the 1980s when it was replaced by the FN HP-DA
Browning BDA
The Browning BDA is a 9mm semi-automatic pistol developed in the early 1980s at the Belgian Fabrique Nationale arms factory in Herstal. The pistol was conceived in 1983 to compete in the U.S...
pistol. (9.00 PIST 80 / 9.00 PIST 80-91)
Pistol m/40
A simplified and somewhat less reliable version of the L-35 was built in Sweden under license and was adopted for service by the Swedish Armed ForcesSwedish Armed Forces
The Swedish Armed Forces is a Swedish Government Agency responsible for the operation of the armed forces of the Realm. The primary task of the agency is to train, organize and to deploy military forces, domestically and abroad, while maintaining the long-term ability to defend the Realm in the...
in 1940. The official Swedish military designation for this pistol was Pistol m/40 but it is also known as the Husqvarna m/40 after the manufacturer, Husqvarna
Husqvarna
Husqvarna , originally a military arsenal founded in 1689 to produce muskets for the Swedish Army.The company Husqvarna has since grown, and its production has changed from weapons, sewing machines, kitchen equipment, bicycles and motorcycles to lawn mowers, chainsaws and construction products. The...
who produced almost 100 000 of them between 1940 and 1946.
Due to poor quality steel used in manufacturing and the use of SMG 9 mm cartridge adapted in the 1960s (m/39B), the bolts
Bolt (firearm)
A bolt is a mechanical part of a firearm that blocks the rear of the chamber while the propellant burns.In manually-operated firearms, such as bolt-action, lever-action, and pump-action rifles and shotguns, the bolt is held fixed by its locking lugs during firing, forcing all the expanding gas...
of Pistol m/40s started to crack in the 1980s. As a temporary replacement the retired FN Model 1903
FN Model 1903
The FN Model 1903 , or Browning No.2 was a self-loading semi-automatic pistol engineered by John Browning and made by Belgian arms manufacturer Fabrique Nationale. It was introduced in 1903 and fired the 9 x 20 mm SR Browning Long cartridge...
(Pistol m/07) pistols were brought back into service until the switch to the new Glock pistols was complete. The switch was done during the 1990s when the Glock 17 (Pistol 88) was adopted by the Swedish Army
Swedish Army
The Swedish Army is one of the oldest standing armies in the world and a branch of the Swedish Armed Forces; it is in charge of land operations. General Sverker Göranson is the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Army.- Organization :...
, and the Glock 19 (Pistol 88B) by the Swedish Air Force
Swedish Air Force
The Swedish Air Force is the air force branch of the Swedish Armed Forces.-History:The Swedish Air Force was created on July 1, 1926 when the aircraft units of the Army and Navy were merged. Because of the escalating international tension during the 1930s the Air Force was reorganized and expanded...
.
External links
- Jaeger Platoon: Finnish army 1918-1945 revolvers & pistols part 1
- Lahti L-35 and Husqvarna M/40 - Modern Firearms & Ammunition
- Lahti L-35 pistol - The Finnish Weapons Series