CODE – 02-036-926

NAME – Suomi Model 1926

NAME (NATIVE) – Konipistooli Osakeyhtio, 7.65 KP/26

COMMON NAMES Suomi M/26

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN – Finland

DATE OF MANUFACTURE – 1925-1926

CALIBER – 7.65x21mm (.30 Luger)

OVERALL LENGTH – 91.4 cm (36.5 in)

BARREL LENGTH – 35.2 cm (13.85 in)

RIFLING (TYPE & TWIST) – 6 groove, Right hand twist

BULLET DIAMETER – 7.65 mm (.308 in)

BULLET WEIGHT – 6.03 g (93 grains)

MUZZLE VELOCITY – 381 m/s (1250 fps)

MUZZLE ENERGY – 438 j (323 ft/lb)

WEIGHT (EMPTY) – 3.12 kg (6 lb 14 oz)

WEIGHT (LOADED) – 3.76 kg (8 lb 4.6 oz)

SIGHTS – Blade front sight, Tangent V-notch rear adjustable from 100 to 500 meters (109 to 587 yards) in 100 meter (109 yard) increments

EFFECTIVE RANGE – 200 m (218 yds)

OPERATION – Blowback, fires from open bolt

TYPE OF FIRE – Selective, Semi and Full automatic

RATE OF FIRE – 40 rpm Semi, 120 rpm Auto

CYCLIC ROF – User variable 600 to 750 rpm

FEED DEVICE – 36 round curved box magazine

FEED DEVICE WEIGHT (EMPTY) – 0.27 kg (9.5 oz)

FEED DEVICE WEIGHT (LOADED) – 0.64 kg (1 lb 6.7 oz)

BASIC AMMUNITION LOAD – 4 – 36 round magazines (144 rounds)

LOAD WEIGHT – 2.66 kg (5 lb 13.8 oz)

MANUFACTURER – Oy Tikkakoski Ab, Finland

STATUS – Obsolete

SERVICE – Finnish military

     This was among the first of what would be a very successful and influential line of submachineguns from the Finnish manufacturer Oy Tikkakosky Ab. The name that it is often known by is Suomi, the native name for Finland. Designed by Johannes Lahti, a prolific Finnish weapons designer, the Model 1926 was not a commercial success, but established a developing line of weapons that did prove very successful. One of the noticeable characteristics of the Model 1926 is a result of the caliber it was chambered for. The 7.62x21mm (.30 Luger) round has a very tapered case when compared to the later 9mm version of the round. The taper resulted in a very curved box magazine for the Model 1926. Three of the curved magazines laid end-to-end, make a complete circle.

      Other characteristics of the Model 1926 is that it is the first submachinegun to have a user removable barrel. Additionally, the buffer at the rear of the receiver can be adjusted by the user which changes the rate of fire as well as the felt recoil, which is already light for this class of weapon. The internal complexity of the design helped prevent it from being as successful as it could be, but the designer used it for an immediate step into another weapon, the Model 1931/Model 1932. Only about 100 specimens of the Model 1926 were ever produced.

 

The left side of a Suomi Model 1926. The label on the rear of the stock is mis-printed and this is the 7.62x21mm (.30 Luger) version of the weapon, very obvious by the highly curved magazine. The tangent sight, adjustable for range, is at the top center of the receiver. The small hook-shaped piece at the bottom of the receiver, behind the magazine, is the magazine catch. The catch is spring loaded with the rear portion being pushed forward and down to release the magazine. PHOTO CREDIT: US ARMY
The left side of a Suomi Model 1926. The label on the rear of the stock is mis-printed and this is the 7.62x21mm (.30 Luger) version of the weapon, very obvious by the highly curved magazine. The tangent sight, adjustable for range, is at the top center of the receiver. The small hook-shaped piece at the bottom of the receiver, behind the magazine, is the magazine catch. The catch is spring loaded with the rear portion being pushed forward and down to release the magazine. PHOTO CREDIT: US ARMY
The right-side of a Suomi 1926 with the curved magazine locked in place. The curvature of the magazine is due to the taper of the 7.62x21mm (.30 Luger) round that the weapon is chambered for. The large lever just ahead of the top of the magazine well is the clamp used to secure the barrel jacket from rotation. By loosening the clamp and rotating the barrel jacket, the jacket can be pulled off the weapon. With the jacket off, the barrel can then be easily removed. The selector lever at the center portion of the stock it pointing to the “VT” position for semiautomatic fire. At the rear position is marked “KT” for full automatic fire. With the lever pointing straight up, the weapon is on safe. The cocking lever is the L-shaped rod with the round knob sticking out of the right rear of the receiver, underneath the receiver cap. The handle is spring loaded and returns to the forward position when the bolt is drawn back to full cock. The small knurled dick on the upper position of the receiver cap is the rate adjuster for the buffer system. Rotating the disk through its four marked position sets the amount of air that can flow though the buffer system as the weapon is fired. The more air that can flow, the faster the weapon will cycle. The knob is easily adjusted by the user to give them their most comfortable cyclic rate. PHOTO CREDIT: US ARMY
The right-side of a Suomi 1926 with the curved magazine locked in place. The curvature of the magazine is due to the taper of the 7.62x21mm (.30 Luger) round that the weapon is chambered for. The large lever just ahead of the top of the magazine well is the clamp used to secure the barrel jacket from rotation. By loosening the clamp and rotating the barrel jacket, the jacket can be pulled off the weapon. With the jacket off, the barrel can then be easily removed. The selector lever at the center portion of the stock it pointing to the “VT” position for semiautomatic fire. At the rear position is marked “KT” for full automatic fire. With the lever pointing straight up, the weapon is on safe. The cocking lever is the L-shaped rod with the round knob sticking out of the right rear of the receiver, underneath the receiver cap. The handle is spring loaded and returns to the forward position when the bolt is drawn back to full cock. The small knurled dick on the upper position of the receiver cap is the rate adjuster for the buffer system. Rotating the disk through its four marked position sets the amount of air that can flow though the buffer system as the weapon is fired. The more air that can flow, the faster the weapon will cycle. The knob is easily adjusted by the user to give them their most comfortable cyclic rate. PHOTO CREDIT: US ARMY