A Rare FINNISH M/32-33 MAXIM
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Our time machine is taking us forward for our fourth post in the series ‘MACHINE GUNS OF WWI & WWII’. We are once more discussing a Maxim machine gun, albeit of a modified design. The star of today’s study is a Finnish-made ‘7,62 mm Maxim M/32-33’ made in 1939/40 and used in the Winter War (30 November 1939 to 13 March 1940) and again in the Continuation War (25 June 1941 to 19 September 1944), in which Finland took on the might of the Soviet juggernaut. Read on for another LSB journey in firearms history…
In yesterday’s post we covered Sir Hiram Maxim’s machine gun design and its use by several countries. Tsarist Russia acquired its first Maxim guns from the German DWM factory in 1899. Starting in 1905, Russia started producing its own version of the Maxim. The design was again slightly modified in 1910. These two guns were designated ‘Пулемёт Максима образца 1905 года’ and ‘Пулемёт Максима образца 1910 года’ (Maxim's machine gun model 1905/model 1910), or simply M1905 and M1910.
The Grand Duchy of Finland, which had been an autonomous region of the Russian Empire since 1809, declared independence on 6 December 1917. The revolution in neighbouring Russia had spread to Finland and a civil war erupted between the communist Red Guards and the royalist White Guards. By 1918, the latter had gained the upper hand, thanks to support from Germany. Relations with Western countries improved steadily once the country’s politics stabilised. However, relations with Soviet Russia remained strained.
Finnish troops were equipped with Russian weapons while the Duchy was part of the Empire. After independence, these weapons formed the arsenal of the early Finnish Army. At the time, Finland did not have its own arms industry. The Russian weapons were refurbished and modified to keep them serviceable. Eventually, Finland would start manufacturing its own versions of these weapons alongside home-grown designs.
The Finnish Army inventory of 1 January 1919 lists a quantity of 439 m/1905 and m/1910 machine guns complete with Sokolov mounts, and a further 47 m/1905 on large wheeled mounts. These models were collectively renamed M/09. A refurbishment programme was initiated in the 1920s to make sure that these machine guns were serviceable and that parts were interchangeable. The modified gun was then designated M/09-21. An additional 200 new guns were manufactured at the Tikkakoski factory between 1924 and 1928. The M/09-21 was now equipped with a tripod, based on a German design, rather than the old and cumbersome Sokolov mount.
In 1931, the famous designer Aimo Lahti was tasked with developing a new metal ammunition belt to replace the old cloth belt, which was limited to 250 rounds and slowed down the gun’s rate of fire. Lahti went further and improved the gun itself beyond his remit. The result was possibly the best Maxim design ever, the M/32, which had a rate of fire of 850 rounds per minute. The gun was mounted on a new tripod designated M/33. Hence, the designation for the gun and tripod was M/32-33.
Around 300 older Maxims were converted to the new configuration between 1933 and 1935. This work was carried out by Asevarikko 1 (Weapons Depot 1). Starting from 1936, both Asevarikko 1 and Tikkakoski began producing new M/32-33 guns, but only around 900 had been produced by the end of the Continuation War in 1944. As a result of the heavy losses sustained in the two wars, only 563 surviving M/32-33 machine guns were listed in the 1951 army inventory. These guns are today considered rare by any standard.
The impressive example that we are offering today was made at the Tikkakoski factory in 1940. The gun is in remarkably good, complete condition, with all its original finish. It is marked with the ‘SA’ acceptance stamp of the Finnish Army. When one considers the low production figured compared to the Russian M1910, which was produced in the hundreds of thousands, the Finnish M/32-33 is a very desirable addition to a serious collection.
If you wish to own this rare and interesting firearm, please send us a private message or phone us on 99471091. It will be reserved for the first client who pays a deposit by Mobile or Online bank transfer. Police applications will be filled in after we receive the deposit and a scan/photo of the client's 2020 Collector Licence A Special.
While our photos are as detailed as possible and do not hide any flaws, you have the option of examining the firearm physically, by appointment. Do not take any risks with overseas online auctions when you have the chance of knowing what you are buying. LSB’s knowledge and experience in historical firearms assures you of a good investment. We offer a lifetime guarantee on the genuineness of the pieces in our vast inventory so that you may buy in full confidence.
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