Picked up a numbers matching Swede at the Calgary show. 1920 Beech wood non-threaded barrel variety. This is an SA stamped gun and I wonder if anyone can provide some information on these stamped guns...I know they were sent to the Finns but no idea of when this may have occurred. Thanks
Swedish Mauser
- Thread starter teamchevelle
- Start date
Before and during the Finnish Civil War with Russia, (1917-1918) approximately 1000 m/96 rifles were sent largely by private individuals to Finland. They were not really used because of the ammunition difference. Afterward, there were 1390 rifles transferred to the Finnish Civil Guard, mostly to Swedish speaking areas of Southern and Western Finland. By 1924, the Civil Guard and it's members had 1913 weapons.
The largest influx of Swedish weapons was made during the Winter War, (1939-1940) when the Finnish Cabinet decided to buy 77,000 rifles, along with accessories and ammunition from Sweden. 52,000 rifles and 12.2 million rounds of ammunition were shipped in January, 1940; 15,000 rifles and 5 million cartridges in February, 1940; and 10,000 rifles and 2 million cartridges in March, 1940. When this war ended, the last lots of rifles still had not been unpacked.
These rifles were used mainly by troops on the Northern Front, anti-aircraft units, Costal Artillery units, and Home Guard troops. In addition, approximately 8,000 Swedish Volunteers brought their privately purchased rifles with them, and when they returned to Sweden, they left 7897 Rifles and about 250 Carbines behind in Finland.
The Swedish rifles were also used during the "Continuation War" and the Army had 52,063 rifles - 8.2% of the entire Army inventory - on the books. The Navy had 17,800 and the Civil Guard had 24,800 in 1944. These rifles were also used during the "Lapland War" of 1944 and 1945 where the Germans were forced to leave Finland. Rifles used by the Finnish Army (Suomen Armeija) were stamped with the "SA" inside a rectangular box that has rounded corners.
The Swedish rifles and carbines were declared surplus in 1951 and were sold in several lots between 1951 and 1953. Most of these rifles went back to Sweden.
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"Crown Jewels - The Mauser in Sweden" is the best reference book for the Swedish Mauser rifles. Unfortunately, it is now out of print.
With a projected production of 517,000 Swedish Mauser rifles made, it would appear that more than 10% of them were used by the Finnish Army and were stamped with the "SA" markings.
.
The largest influx of Swedish weapons was made during the Winter War, (1939-1940) when the Finnish Cabinet decided to buy 77,000 rifles, along with accessories and ammunition from Sweden. 52,000 rifles and 12.2 million rounds of ammunition were shipped in January, 1940; 15,000 rifles and 5 million cartridges in February, 1940; and 10,000 rifles and 2 million cartridges in March, 1940. When this war ended, the last lots of rifles still had not been unpacked.
These rifles were used mainly by troops on the Northern Front, anti-aircraft units, Costal Artillery units, and Home Guard troops. In addition, approximately 8,000 Swedish Volunteers brought their privately purchased rifles with them, and when they returned to Sweden, they left 7897 Rifles and about 250 Carbines behind in Finland.
The Swedish rifles were also used during the "Continuation War" and the Army had 52,063 rifles - 8.2% of the entire Army inventory - on the books. The Navy had 17,800 and the Civil Guard had 24,800 in 1944. These rifles were also used during the "Lapland War" of 1944 and 1945 where the Germans were forced to leave Finland. Rifles used by the Finnish Army (Suomen Armeija) were stamped with the "SA" inside a rectangular box that has rounded corners.
The Swedish rifles and carbines were declared surplus in 1951 and were sold in several lots between 1951 and 1953. Most of these rifles went back to Sweden.
.
"Crown Jewels - The Mauser in Sweden" is the best reference book for the Swedish Mauser rifles. Unfortunately, it is now out of print.
With a projected production of 517,000 Swedish Mauser rifles made, it would appear that more than 10% of them were used by the Finnish Army and were stamped with the "SA" markings.
.
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