SA Marked Finnish Mosin Nagants

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The Finnish SA property mark stands for Suomen Armeija, or Finnish Army, and is one of the most recognizable marks on Mosin Nagants.  It came into use in late 1942 and replaced the "Puolustuslaitos" mark for obvious reasons.  Although it is common, it is by no means universal on Finnish built Mosin Nagants and it's location, size, and orientation varies greatly.  It is nearly always on the barrel shank and the most common location is the left rear at the woodline.  In later production it is usually found on the forward top of the barrel shank.  This page illustrates the SA mark, or lack thereof, on 57 different Finnish Mosin Nagants from all eras, models, and makers.   Civil Guard rifles are included because they were incorporated into the Army stocks during the Continuation War and most received the SA mark as they came back through the depots for repair or storage.  It must be understood that this sample is relatively small and "firm conclusions" cannot be drawn from it.  The purpose is to give an overview showing typical placement of the SA mark on Finnish built rifles along with a few atypical examples.  For Finnish marks on purchased or captured Mosin Nagants, see the Finnish Marked Russian and Soviet Mosin Nagants page.

Summary of Locations
Mark location Number Percentage
Left rear woodline, does not include multiple marks 21 35.0 %
Approximately left rear woodline, high or forward 5 8.3 %
Top, across bore 18 30.0 %
Top, with bore 2 3.3 %
Other, does not include multiple marks 4 6.7 %
Multiple, with one mark at left rear woodline 4 6.7 %
None 6 10.0 %
Total 60 100 %

M24, originally Civil Guard rifles  Size and location is inconsistent among these.

1.  Small mark at left rear woodline 2.  Large mark at left rear above woodline
SA004.JPG (20239 bytes) SA005.JPG (22078 bytes)
3.  Large mark at left rear woodline 4.  Mark forward on right above woodline
courtesy of "GregCandR"
SA006.JPG (18599 bytes) SA032.jpg (47987 bytes)

P-Series  The small sample of two rifles show consistency.

Mark at left rear woodline
2 rifles like this

SA003.JPG (21819 bytes)

1920s Tikka M91  It is relatively uncommon to find two SA marks on one rifle such as the 2nd and 3rd ones here.

1.  One mark slightly forward at left woodline
1926
2.  Two marks at left woodline
1926
SA007.JPG (26523 bytes) SA008.JPG (14234 bytes)
3.  Two marks, one at left rear woodline and one forward on right above woodline
1927 (this is one rifle)
SA009a.JPG (18189 bytes) SA009b.JPG (22245 bytes)

M27  These are relatively consistent with the majority in the "typical" location.

1.  Mark inverted right side center above woodline
1928 Tikka
2.  Mark at left rear woodline (4 like this)
1928 Tikka, 1933 Tikka (2), 1932 VKT
3.  Mark at left rear above woodline (2 like this)
1932 Tikka, 1933 Tikka
SA015.JPG (25368 bytes) SA016.JPG (20919 bytes) SA017.JPG (25036 bytes)

M28, originally Civil Guard rifles  These are relatively inconsistent in regards to size and placement.

1.  Mark at left rear woodline
SIG barrel
2.  Mark at left rear above woodline
SIG barrel
SA018.JPG (17285 bytes) SA019.JPG (27061 bytes)
3.  Small mark at left rear woodline
Tikka barrel
4.  Mark at top across bore
Tikka barrel
SA020.JPG (16860 bytes) SA021.JPG (21572 bytes)

M28/30, originally Civil Guard rifles  With the small sample it is difficult to determine what is "typical" although M28/30s often follow patterns established with M28s.

1.  Mark at left rear woodline
1938
2.  No mark
1938

3. No mark
1940

SA022.JPG (17240 bytes)

M39  The VKT and B barrels seem to be consistent with more variation in the Sako, Sk.Y, and post-war rifles.

1.  Large mark at left rear woodline (2 like this)
1941 Sako, 1926 Tikka
2.  Small mark at left rear woodline
1941 Sako
3.  Mark at top across bore
1945 Sako
SA025.JPG (15141 bytes) SA026.JPG (15975 bytes) SA027.JPG (23302 bytes)
4.  Two marks at left rear woodline, one high
1944 Sako courtesy of "Stewie"
5.  Mark at forward left above woodline
1943 Sk.Y.
6.  Six marks on left side and top
1942 SK.Y. courtesy of "GregCandR"
SA033.jpg (85047 bytes) SA028.JPG (17663 bytes) SA031.jpg (17731 bytes)
7.  Mark at top across bore
1943 Sk.Y.
8.  Mark at top across bore (4 like this)
1942 VKT (2), 1944 VKT (2)
9.  Mark at top across bore
1942 B (2 like this)
SA034.JPG (149099 bytes) SA024.jpg (16076 bytes) SA023.jpg (15783 bytes)
10.  Small mark at left rear woodline
1941 Tikka
11.  Small mark at left forward woodline
"48" no date
12.  No mark
1967 no maker

13.  No mark
No maker, no date

SA029.JPG (19481 bytes) SA030.JPG (16305 bytes)

1940s M91  Although the VKT, VKT/B, and B are each different, they are relatively consistent within the variations.  Tikka, on the other hand, varies in placement.

1.  Mark at left rear woodline
1941 VKT (3 like this)
2.  Mark at top with bore
1942 VKT/B (2 like this)
3.  Mark at top across bore
1942 B (4 like this)
SA014.JPG (13767 bytes) SA012.JPG (22392 bytes) SA013.JPG (24955 bytes)
4.  Mark at left rear woodline
1941 Tikka
5.  Mark at top across bore
1941 Tikka
6.  No mark
1940 VKT

7.  No mark
1943 Tikka

SA010.JPG (20790 bytes) SA011.JPG (18641 bytes)

M91/30  The three 1944 Tikkas are essentially identical in placement of the SA mark with the small "T" for Taisteluvälinehallinto, or "Ordnance Department".

1.  Mark at left rear woodline
1943 Tikka (2 like this)
2.  Mark at top across bore, with "T"
1944 Tikka (4 like this)
SA001.JPG (22377 bytes) SA002.JPG (15040 bytes)

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