Finnish M91

During the Winter War, at least half of the Finnish army's rifles were of the old M91 pattern. Because they had already standardized on this pattern, new barrels were again produced, starting in 1940. These barrels were produced domestically by Tikkakoski and VKT. Some barrels were also acquired from Belgium, and those have a large 'B' marking on the barrel shank.

Many of these M91s were produced using recycled receivers taken from rifles which were captured by the Austro-Hungarian empire during WWI. Because of this, it is fairly common to see an 'AZF' marking stamped on the receivers of these rifles, helping to emphasize their fascinating history.

Production Quantity:

Finland's Ghost Army takes a breather

"After the successful Finnish attack in which the Russians were thrown back thirty miles, it is now reported that 40,000 crack Russian troops have been sent to the Salla Front. Photo shows Finnish soldiers resting in a trench during an expedition on the Salla front in Finland". This is an original press photo from England

Artillery on the march. Training at Niinisalo

Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

Finnish soldier with dog & M91

1939. Thérèse Bonney © The Regents of the University of California, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley. This work is made available under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license.

Finnish Civil Guard sentry at night during 1940

Thérèse Bonney © The Regents of the University of California, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley. This work is made available under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license.

Finnish soldiers walking down the road to Heinola

Finnish Soldiers: Road to Heinola - 1939

Finnish soldier tending barbed wire cart

Wise "Laija" the dog

Mänttä, Maintenance Training Center. Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

Horse column on the way Food Replenishment From place to unit

Mänttä, Maintenance Training Center. Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

Off-road vehicles on a school trip

Mänttä, maintenance training center. Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

Stacks of M91 rifles at 15th Regiment Weapons Workshop

Palkeala, Viisijoki. Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

Karhumäki has new owners

Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

Aunukse landscapes from Nurmoila on a sunny frosty day: Guard

Notice the M91 with Austro-Hungarian sling swivel and stock with no escutcheons. Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

Boys from Jalasjärvi returning from clearing work in no man's land

The photo shows the barbed wire barriers of the Finns. Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

Boys from Jalasjärvi clearing work on no-man's land

Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

A dugout on the front line of a Southern Ostrobothnian army

Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

Boys from Southern Ostrobothnia at an outpost on the shores of Lake Ladoga

Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

Kk-colony. Machine gun nests at Syväri, Segesa peninsula

Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

Fighting trench at Syväri, Segesa Cape

Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

Korsu at Suurniemi with some of the brave hunters who resisted the 5-day attack on 6. 11/1.1942.

Suurniemi. Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

Sighting in M91 rifles at the 2nd Weapon Repair Shop in Nurmoila

Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

Pictures of the AK's weapons repair shop (2nd Weapon Repair Shop), Jv-puoli

Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

AK's weapons repair shop activities (2.weapons repair shop.K): Test shooting range: Rifles are being sighted in

Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

Frontline men's activities. Jv.men in a combat grave

Kiestinki-Louhi intermediate terrain. Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

2nd capture of Jyvälahti: Troops prepare for the attack

Vuokkiniemi-Jyvälähti. Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

2.AutoK. "olalle vie" phase 1

Mänttä, Maintenance Training Center. Notice the rifles on the left have Austro-Hungarian sling swivels

6.AutoK. rifle inspection

Mänttä, Maintenance Training Center. Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

6.AutoK. interior view of the crew tent

Cleaning rifles during downtime. Mänttä, Maintenance Training Center. Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

Gunner at Lumbusi during 1941

Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

Christmas in the dugout of Viena during 1941

Viena, Uhtua direction. Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

Double guard at the intersection of the highway and the railway at Karhumäki on Christmas Eve

Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

Colonel Wallden's staff

From left to right Captain J.Maristo, Lieutenant Colonel J.Wallden, Lieutenant O.Ylirisku, Medical Major M.J.Lapola, Captain A.Risku, writer Anelma Wuorio, TK front correspondent Lieutenant Veli Siikala, (Back row) military officer TK correspondent K.Varoma, Lieutenant Olavi Helasti, Lieutenant Vilho Seppänen, Lieutenant P.Gundersen, TK correspondent Tauno Koivukoski.
Viena, Uhtuan suunta. Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

A Finnish soldier on post during Christmas night with an M91 on the Karelian Isthmus

(Outpost in the outermost line at Viisijoki). Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

The Christmas tree of the fell watcher

Voittotunturi. Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

Mass grave on the front line near Aleksandrovka

Aleksandrovka, Ahijärvi, Karvala.

Russian destroyed blockade devices at Stalin's Channel

Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

Scouting in the Rukajärvi region

Little noticed, sometimes even invisible, the patrols in snowsuits roam the Karelian countryside. After a break, we continue our journey through the snowy wilderness, our eyes and ears alert. Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

Captured anti-tank gun at Kiestinki-Louhi

Kiestinki-Louhi. Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

Finnish sentry in a dugout near Rukajärvi

Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

Smoke grenade launchers in position at Ontajoki

Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

II R Pr commander Lieutenant Colonel Nordlund inspects the troops at Käkisalmi

Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

Finnish T-28 assault tank arrives at Karhumäki. (It was the first of the assault tanks.)

Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

Drawing by P.K.Stucke: Finnish soldier with rifle

Tuntsa-Pesioiva. Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

Daily routine in the bunker - sewing

Huhti, Kiviniemi, Viisjoki. Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

Submachine gunner at Syväri power plant village

Syväri power plant village. Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

Perch catch from the winter hunt (30 perches in the fell)

Orijärvi-Tuntsa. Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

A fallen Russian soldier in the Hanko harbor

Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

Men in a firing trench at "Halo"

Öby, Hanko Front. Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

New snowsuits are being distributed at Karhumäki

Karhumäki, 3.5km northwest. Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

From the stations (war booty per month)

Jandeba block. Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

When leaving for work in the morning, the men of the fortification battalion take their rifles with them

When they stop for work, the weapon is always in the immediate vicinity. After all, a hunting rifle can appear at any time. Kannas. Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

A courier reads a letter he received on the front lines

Kiestinki, Louhi. Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

War booty captured from the enemy, machine guns in the foreground

East side of the Kiestinjoki River. Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

War booty taken from the enemy on the East side of the Kiestinjoki River

Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

A couple of comrades-in-arms have met each other in the Helsinki rail station lobby

Notice the soldier on the left has a M91 produced in America by New England Westinghouse

Korsu buildings for the coming winter

The materials for these are taken from the Russian railway station Lempalovo, Vaskelovo, Russian Korsun and bunkers. Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

Loading LS-26 Magazines

Viena. Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

Colonel Puromaa, nicknamed by his boys as "The Rommel of the North", with his staff

From the east of Kiesting. Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

Making coffee by the campfire, from the east of Kiesting

Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

A guard on the bridge at Paatene

Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

A man from Jalasjärvi shaves his beard in front of a dugout a couple of hundred meters from the Russian lines

Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

The ammunition load is leaving

Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

Sound truck in action

Sirkiänsaari. Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

The field bishop happily chatting with the men

Uutujärvi. Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

A guard at the motor pier in Äänislinna-Vehkaoja

Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

Even on the front line, people eat

Boys carefree while eating. Ontojoki, Katkskomantie. Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

The happy elk hunters (Remes' company) return over Kilis

Kilistunturi. Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

Inspecting rifles at Sirkiänsaari

Sirkiänsaari. Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

Cannons and motorboats are unloaded from the wagons at Kutisma station

Kutisma. Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

Karelian boy dressed as a soldier

Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

Laatokan Maritime Defense: Cannon and watchman

Polvana. Notice the Austro-Hungarian sling swivel on the stock. Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

"Pole Monkeys" in a burnt telephone pole

Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

The bright wire line is pulled, the coils on a horse-drawn cart

Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

Ansamines are set on the front line

Terrain of Karvala. Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

Ansamines (pipe mines) are set on the front line

Terrain of Karvala. Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

The train is unloaded on the Kiesting track

Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

From the pit site, where e.g. In 2 shifts, 400 prisoners in each

The prisoners are divided into work groups. Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

Honor guard with flags at the command post of Captain Grafström's Swedish volunteer battalion

Entertainment tour of the Tampere Workers' Theater

We follow the progress of the show with satisfaction. Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

Spoils of war at Alakurtti

Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

Pastori Rantamaa

Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

Reverend Rantamaa and the burning attack wagon

Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

The troops cross the Rajajoki and water their horses

Drink and rest on its banks on their march to St. Petersburg. Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

Leväaho and Kolehmainen try to get the captured Russian tank running

Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

Finnish soldiers posing for the camera in Säkkijärvi

Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

The mortar is directed. Staged!

Notice the battle damage to the handguard of the soldier's rifle on the left. Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

The Lahti has splattered dirt and soot

Hanko front, a battalion of Swedish volunteers. Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

A Finnish soldier with his captured JoK near the Russian dugout

Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

Forward guard. Sons of Kotka and Viipur

Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

A man with a beard shot a machine gun down from a tree two feet away

Notice the soldier inspecting a captured Tula PEM sniper rifle. Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

Destroyed tank at Suojoki

A destroyed tank of a rut, which drove at a speed of 60 km an hour far from the rear of our troops, colliding with Finnish cars, horses, ambulances and even pst cannons on the way. Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

5 Russians surrender. Left corporal Hautalamimi, right Hermanni Pihlajamäki

Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

Lapatossu leaving for the Muurmanni beach road

Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

Train locomotives bombed by Stukas on the Kiesting and Louhe track

Notice the AVS-36 with PE Scope. Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

Finnish troops during an honors ceremony

Notice the soldier on the right has an Austro-Hungarian M91 with an early finger rest. Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

After the fight, the weapons are cleaned

Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

Spoils of war in Ontrosenvaara

Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

Mannerheim receives the guard announcement

Rätykylä. Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

Spoils of war in Helylä

Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

Lieutenant Raivola leads the attack from the north from his command post

Puikkola Public School. Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

Finns & Germans burning Russian propaganda

The posters dropped by the Russians from the plane, which were dropped at the same time as the bombs on Kiestink, get such a reception and treatment. Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

Rifle cleaning

At the Message Training Center. Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

The ferry is ready to cross the strait

Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

Molotov's picture is being studied

Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

A sleeping soldier in the village of Pajari

Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

Gun repair shop men at work in the Repola garrison building

The building is a former ryss club apartment. Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

An armored train, spotter on the roof

Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

"forest suits" received from Ryss in Finnish use

A Finnish take on the ghillie suit. Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

Transportation to the front line

Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

Two Finnish bridge guards during 1941

Tenho Miikki, Imatra Mellunkylä, 14 years old (was involved in the previous war at the age of 12). Guards the Imatra bridge together with old Aaro Ruusu, from Imatra. At this time, the Ryssi were still in possession of Enso and bombarded Imatra with grenades. On the bridge, they had a direct view of Enso. Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

Ruined M91, but the owner was unharmed

Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

The landing of the gunboat sailors and the motes on the shore of Lunkula, spoils of war

Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

A pioneer group on terrain reconnaissance

The picture shows the path usually used by Russian patrols. Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

A moment of rest

Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

A cobbler in the army

Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

Captain Korhonen in front of the tent

Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

Training young people to be soldiers

Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

Looking for paratroopers in Kirkkonummi

Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

After the speech, the rifle is scattered and the face is sad

Finnish M91 with broken stock. During the battles of Okamäki. Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

Kk Maxim machine gun in the outpost

Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

The company commander negotiates with the chief fire chief

Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

Young people are being trained as riflemen

Boys from the fire department in Nurme. Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

In Tolvajärvi, the frontline men spend a little time before the start of the hard battle

Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

Finnish outpost

Notice the LS-26 on the left. Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

Spoils of war east of Omelia

Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

Spoils of war

Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

KK Maxim on the front lines

Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

Finnish PST cannon in action

Taken in Kiteenlahti village. Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

"Taupakkatauko" on the Kivijoki bridge

On the almost 30 km long wilderness trail between Miinoa and Luvajärvi village. Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

The attack has stopped for a moment

A crash in a grenade pit is welcome. Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

Intelligence Department Perttuli's second team

(Vänrikki Hauru) on the Repola-Virta road immediately after returning from an adventurous trip at 12:45. Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

81 Krh fires directly at enemy settlements

Finnish mortar crew with M91 rifles. Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

Impressing the ladies with a Finnish M91

Notice the soldier's M91 has the swivel going straight through the wood with no escutcheon. This indicates the stock was used by the Austro-Hungarian empire during WW1. Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

2 captured Soviets are brought from Ristilahti moti

Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

Capture of the bunker of the Pioneer strike group. Taking over the bunker!

Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

Ambulances in Kivivaara are put in an air shelter

Notice this soldier has an early M91 stock with a finger rest, as well as an Austro-Hungarian rear sling swivel at the 6 o'clock position

Finnish security guard at the border in Kivivaara

Notice this soldier has an M91 with an Austro-Hungarian stock. It has the rear sling swivel on the bottom of the stock at the 6 o'clock position

The staff moves closer to the firing lines

Notice the soldier in the middle has an M91 with an Austro-Hungarian stock. The rear swivel is on the bottom of the stock, and there is no rear escutcheon. Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

Lost in the previous war, now recaptured

Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

In the trench waiting for a new order!

Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

Mortar company crawling during training

Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

Mortar company training march

Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

Patrol Metsäkylä (JR 50)

About 2 km north of Kaustajärvi. Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

Finnish soldier with 91/30 rifle headed to the front

Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

Three Finnish soldiers with M91 rifles headed to the front

Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

Finnish troops preparing for a night patrol

Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

Finnish soldiers chatting with an old timer

Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

A Karelian mother with her children. 10 boys, 7 girls

On the way across two borders to Kiimasvaara. Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

Staff scribe

Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

Troops on the march on Sulkava road near Savonlinna

Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

Finnish soldiers share cigarettes with Soviet POWs

Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

10/ERP soldier with M91 skiing at Öllölä

Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

10/ERP on a march break at the Omevanjoki road junction

Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

10/ERP Ski Troopers on the march to Öllölä

Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

10/ERP on the way to Öllölä

Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

The troops board the train at Käkisalmi station

Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

Reindeer patrol in Jäniskoski

Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

III AK region. 6/II/JR 19 chief res.ltn.

Rasinmäki among his men. Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

Finnish troops on leave in Helsinki

Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

Silvo's patrol from Sassali is just on its way

Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

The base in Telkä has just finished exchanging shots

The guns are still hot. Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

Counterboring a M91 at an armory

Armory in Rovaniemi. Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

In front of the Ministry of Defense. Air alert

It is not common to see a Finnish M91 with the bayonet attached. Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

Replenishment forces at Kuhmo's Saunajärvi

Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

Finnish ski trooper in shooting position

In the terrain of Saija. Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

A hillock in the Nautsi region

Pohja's boys ready to go on guard duty. Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

The barracks of the advance guard in Märkäjärvi

Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

The namesake's house destroyed in the Heinola bombings

The soldier on the left has an M91 rifle. Notice that the handguard is missing. Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

The entrance to the Pioneer dugout in Saarijoki

Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

Finnish patrol with FN Model D

Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

Finnish anti-tank crew with captured gun

Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

3 lost soldiers returned to the front

These three men wandered for 14 days on the side of the battle, where they got lost right at the beginning of the war. In the picture, the men have just been brought to Loimola

Right after the battle stopped, the base in Telkä

Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

A moment of rest during the battle on the front lines in Kollaanjoki

Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

Finnish migrants on a train

Migrants on the train as interviewed by Pekka Tiilikainen. On the left, reserve military official Ensio Sevón, mother and child, at the far end Kojo and reserve military official radio announcer Pekka Tiilikainen. Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

Surrendering Soviet soldier

This soldier has a Finnish M91, as evident by the escutcheons in the stock. This implies that this soldier had previously captured this rifle from Finland, or that this photo was staged. Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

Res.ltn. Toiviainen 5/JR.34 from the forest battle of Artohuhta

Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

Tyk. K/JR 11. Johannes-Keskijärvi

Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

Finnish crew in a camouflaged IT battery in Herttoniemessä

Notice the stock disk present on the rifle, which is located on the right. Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva

Finnish Ski Patrol

The M28 rifle is commonly associated with Finnish Ski Troopers, but they would use other variants as well. Here they are using the much longer M91 rifle. Photo courtesy of SA-Kuva