Forged in Snow: Finnish Small Arms, 1917 – 2025 is a reference guide to military firearms manufactured and modified in Finland. Intended for collectors and historians alike, it covers the full scope of Finland's small arms from pistols to anti-tank rifles and from independence in 1917 to the present day. This book is the first English-language work to comprehensively cover the subject, and includes all major models:
Pistols: Ahlberg, Luger, Lahti, and more,
Mosin-Nagants: Standard, Cavalry, Trainers, Snipers, and more,
Anti-tank Rifles,
Kalashnikov Variants: from rk/58 trials through the rk/95 and Modernized rk/62,
Submachine Guns: Lindelof, Suomi, M44, and Jatimatic,
Light Machine Guns: LS26 and KvKK/62, and
Bayonets.
Chapters include a history of each weapon’s development and intended use, along with information concerning known variants, production numbers, markings, mechanical operation, and a history of deployment and combat use.
Finland's path of military development after its independence, followed by two wars with its eastern neighbor and then a delicate balancing act between East and West through the Cold War, created a fascinating and unique history of small arms development. Many of Finland's early small arms are now in the United States, and this book is a must-have for anyone wishing to collect Mosin-Nagants, Lugers, and Lahti pistols from Finland, as well as those who are interested in the military history of this fiercely independent Nordic nation.