The following text is in no way an effort to publish a technical treatise on the M39, but is an effort to describe some of the history, characteristics, markings, data, and features of this fine bolt action rifle. When I went to get my first one I was armed with only a few facts, yet lucked into an almost perfect Sako SK.Y. I hope that this paper will give the novice, potential buyer, and new collector some basis to select a rifle they will enjoy for a long time. The sources cited at the end of the text are responsible for this wealth of information, and I am grateful for their time and assistance.
HISTORY
The M39 Mosin Nagant was the last of the Finnish Mosin Nagant military bolt action rifles. Like the rest of the Finnish bolts, the M39’s were made from captured and bought Russian M91/30 and M1891 rifles. Most were built from 1940 through 1945. The Finns restocked, rebarreled, and repaired these Russian rifles and made what is generally considered to be some of the best shooting military bolt action rifles in the world. The Finns never made any receivers of their own for these rifles. All M39’s had to shoot a three shot group of three centimeters (1.5”) or less at 150 meters or they were not released into service. Although the M39 is extremely accurate, the Finnish M28/30 with it’s heavier barrel is considered by most to be the most accurate of the Finnish military bolt action rifles.
MANUFACTURERS
M39’s come in five different variations (manufacturers). Below is a chart taken from Doug Bowser’s book “Rifles of the Snow”, with modifications by Doug and myself, which gives the known and estimated serial number ranges for the five variations. These marks are found on the barrel of the rifles just ahead of the receiver.
Barrel Markings
SAKO = Suojeluskuntain Ase ja Konepaja (Civil Guard gun and machinery shop)
SAKO SK.Y = Suojeluskuntain Yileskunnan (Committee of the Civil Guard)
VKT = Valtion Kivaari Tehdas (Government Rifle Factory)
B = Most likely Belgium barrels installed at VKT
TIKKA = Tikkakoski (Government Rifle Factory)
Manufacturer Serial Numbers Numbers produced
SAKO 200,000 - 259,278 59,278
SK.Y 500,000 - 510,588 10,588
VKT 28,690 - 67,680 48,990
“B” 35,814 - 48,703? 3,000
TIKKA same range as VKT ?
SAKO 300,880 - 306,051 (observed numbers of guns made in
1967-1970)
(note: I personally own a VKT with the serial number 25,XXX, and a “B” rifle with a serial number of 23,XXX has recently been reported by a member of the Curios and Relics group, so use the ranges in the chart as guidelines and not as absolutes).
The “B” rifles are rare and were probably produced at VKT with Belgium barrels (hence the “B” nomenclature). The “B” barrels have a reddish hue due to the high nickel content in the steel. Both the “B” and Tikka rifle’s serial numbers fall within the range of the VKT ones, but there is no guarantee that they were consecutive or inclusive. As you can see, since Doug’s book was published last year, two rifles outside of the given ranges have shown up in the possession of members of the Curios and Relics internet mail list. Doug’s book is a must if you are interested in Finnish rifles. He is working on the third edition now. Ordering information is included in the credits at the end of this paper.
AMMUNITION
The M39 used the tried and true 7.62X54R rimmed cartridge. You will sometimes also see this advertised as 7.62X53R (this is the Finnish designation). There is currently an abundance of this ammo available through mail order and gun shows. Most of this surplus is loaded with 147 or 181 grain bullets and is Russian, Eastern block, or Chinese. There still rages a debate on whether any of the surplus is truly non-corrosive, so my assumption is that all of it is corrosive. There are two brands of current manufacture, Norma and Lapua, that are non-corrosive, boxer primed, and reloadable. They are also fairly expensive ($25 - $30 per box of twenty). Doug Bowser cautions to stay away from green boxed Russian LVE soft point ammunition as it is highly corrosive and could ruin your rifle if not careful.
M39’s are as easy to clean as any other bolt gun, and a hot soapy bore scrubbing followed up by normal procedures with oil based products is all that is needed to protect your rifle from the effects of corrosive ammo. It is also prudent to clean the chamber and bolt face the same way.
STOCKS
The feature that readily distinguishes the M39 from other Finnish rifles is the pistol grip stock. Reports are that some early rifles did not have this feature and are considered rare and not the norm. The standard stocks were made of birch, but it has been reported (RA) that custom stocks of walnut and maple were also used, especially on guns that were the private property of the Civil Guard members (they were allowed to buy their own guns). Most stocks are lacquered, but some have an oil finish.
Almost all M39 stocks have been finger-jointed just ahead of the grip grooves. The finger-joints can be round, square, or pointed. This was done to strengthen and sometimes shorten the original Russian stocks. Some may also be patched with wood and/or a type of putty.
SERIAL NUMBERS AND MARKINGS
Serial numbers can be found on the rifle in four places. One is the top of the barrel just ahead of the receiver. The second is on the left side of the receiver just above the wood line. Early imported (1986-1990) M39’s may not have this receiver number, as the BATF required importers to add these numbers after that. The third is on the bottom of the magazine. Since all M39s were built from Russian rifles, it is not unusual to see the original serial number on the magazine bottom struck through or ground off, with the new number stamped over or next to it. The final number is found on the bolt handle or on the bolt next to the handle, and is the last four digits of the whole serial number. I have seen several with a mismatched or no magazine numbers. Risto Alanko reports seeing M39’s with the serial numbers 000001 and 999999. These were made by the Finnish armorers for their own personal use from parts. Again, remember, all of these rifles were made from parts of other!
Another set of numbers on the M39’s are found stamped on top of the front sight blade and on the barrel just behind the front sight blade. These should match and tell you how high the front sight blade is (i.e. 82 is equal to 8.2 mm). Numbers 63 through 88 have been observed (DH). It has also been reported that some rifles are unmarked in this area or may be struck through and restamped (DH). This was done to prohibit the troops from “trimming“ (filing) down the front sights in the field (RA). My guess is that if the factory armorers went to such measures to produce three centimeter or less accuracy at 150 meters before they were released, they didn’t want every green recruit taking a file to the sights when their marksmanship skills didn’t measure up to the capabilities of the rifle!
All M39’s are built on the hexagonal receiver. You may notice either a small oval grind mark or flat grinding on the top of the receiver close to the barrel. This is where the Finns ground off the Russian markings.
SIGHTS
The M39 is an unusual military rifle in the fact that the front sights are adjustable for windage. There is a steel or brass screw on either side of the front sight “wings”. On the left wing there are graduation marks around the screw. Each one of these marks represents a change in point of aim of 8 cm (3”) at 100 yards. Doug Bowser has done extensive testing on this point with a similar sights on a M28/30. I have been told the proper way to adjust the sights is to loosen the side you want the sight to go toward and tighten the opposite side. I don’t think it is a push/pull thing, only a loosen for some room and then tighten to push toward the available room. I have also been advised to use some blue loctite (not red) on the screw threads after you get the front sight dialed in, to avoid any movement.
ACCESSORIES
There is only one bayonet available for the SK.Y M39’s, and they are scarce, in Finland as well as the US. It was made by “Veljekset Kulmala” (Kulmala Brothers). It is a short bladed hunting knife style with a round grip, and goes in a green-gray leather scabbard. The scabbard has a metal edge attached with rivets, a carrying strap, and a safety strap attached with a metal stud (RA). A limited number of M28-30 bayonets were adapted for use with the M39’s, and are extremely rare (DH). Other bayonets that fit are the model 27 and 35. They were used on the SAKO and VKT army rifles.
The M39 was made to load with stripper clips. They can be found made of steel (Russian) and brass (probably Chinese). They are the same ones that you use on the Russian Mosin Nagants. Discussions in rec.guns suggest that the brass ones do not hold up. Buy the steel, but take care of them because they rust easily.
Other accessories include a carrying sling made of gray leather with a square buckle, a muzzle cap/cleaning rod guide made of brass, and a round slide rule type “sighting in calculator” (RA).
CONCLUSION
The M39 is one of the best built, reliable, and accurate of the WW II bolt action military rifles, and are available today at extremely reasonable prices (< $100). These are excellent shooters. Don’t pass by this opportunity to add one of these fine pieces of military history to your collection.
SOURCES
“Military Small Arms in Finland 1918-1988”, Volumes I-III, Markku Palokangas. ISBN 951-25-0508-8 (written in Finnish)
“Rifles of the Snow”, Second Edition, 1996, Camelia City Military Publications, P O Box 7358, McComb, MS, 39648. $16.45 (incudes postage) Doug Bowser and Powers Dunaway
“Small Arms of the World”, 12th Edition, 1993, Barnes and Noble Books, E. D. Ezell
(RA) Risto Alanko - Finnish arms collector.
(DH) Dick Hobbs - US M39 owner and collector