[jkaler47]

Years ago I had a veteren tell me he met a Finnish Officer on a peace keeping mission in Cyprus who was carring a P38 pistol which he was allowed to handle so he is sure it was a P38. He of course did not remember if it was SA marked. Anyone know anything else about P38s
being used by the Finnish Army?
John

 

[jkaler47]

OK here is some evidence of P38 use by the Finnish Army
an SA marked 1940 German P38 holster. Just when did the Finns change over to the Castle marking from the SA mark I wonder?
John

Download Attachment: p38sa1.jpg
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Download Attachment: p38sa2.jpg
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Download Attachment: p38sa3.jpg
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Download Attachment: p38sa4.jpg
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[JTV]

quote:Originally posted by jkaler47

OK here is some evidence of P38 use by the Finnish Army
an SA marked 1940 German P38 holster.

Quite interesting item, but I would be very careful in making any theories. I checked what Palokangas writes about P-38 and P-1 in his "Military Small Arms in Finland 1918-1988" and according him only very few (likely less then a dozen) P-38 ended up to Finnish hands during WW2. The Finns never acquired any P-38 pistols and all weaponry captured from the Germans during Lapland War (1944 - 1945) had to be sent to Soviet Union. After WW2 Finland could not buy any German weapons either as it was especially forbidden in peace-treaty signed with the Soviets (Finnish Peacekeepers serving under UN being the exception to this).

Tuco was right about P-1 pistols being used by Finnish peacekeepers. Finnish authorities bought some P-1 pistols for Finnish UN Peacekeepers sometimes in late 1960's or early 1970's. The reason for this was that the Finnish standard sidearms of the time (Parabellum/Luger and Lahti L-35) were both already quite old-fashioned and P-1 was seen a good more modern alternative for them. P-1 pistols in use of Finnish peacekeepers were replaced with M/80 (FN HP DA) pistol in early 1980's. Lately Finnish peacekeepers have also been issued some Sig-Sauer 226.

 

[tomknoxjr]

Greetings Gents,

I'm with Vic on this one. My understanding is that the P.38 holsters were used for the CZ 38 pistols and not for actual P.38s.

Further, I agree with Brent that the only mention of P.38s used by Finnish forces were post war and were actually P1 pistols (allow framed). Even so, the one referrenced in the book has an allow frame, but is marked P.38. These are not uncommon, in fact, I got on when I ordered a P1 from the places currently importing them. Just lucked out I suppose.

A few years back I did hear a rumor from a fellow Finn collector in Illinois that there were, indeed, P1s with the Castle marking in Canada and to keep an eye out for them trickling over the border. However, I haven't ever run across one.

In fact, the only think I have with the castle/tower mark is a Valmet magazine.

Tom Jr