airbornetrooper
Active Member
Prior to a couple months ago there were only three known 1920's dated Tikka M39's (all 1926). Then one popped up at gun show in Ohio and I got lucky thanks to a friend of mine out there. All Tikka M39's are cut down Tikka M91's that were selected some time after WWII for upgrading by the Finns. Most sources state a few thousand were converted, but after nearly a decade of collecting serial numbers I am quite positive that the total number is far lower than that, probably in the hundreds. Here are the total numbers collected thus far.
1926: 4
1927: 0 (Fewer likely conversions due to heavy barrel stepped barrel production)
1940: 12
1941: 13
1942: 27
1943: 42
That is a total of 98 known examples out there. Assuming there are four unknown for every known example that gives a possible production run of about 500 barrels. The higher numbers for 1942 and 1943 are likely due to the better condition of barrels from those years after the war was over.
Here are some pictures of the 1926 that I recently acquired, as well as the 1940 that I already owned.
1926: 4
1927: 0 (Fewer likely conversions due to heavy barrel stepped barrel production)
1940: 12
1941: 13
1942: 27
1943: 42
That is a total of 98 known examples out there. Assuming there are four unknown for every known example that gives a possible production run of about 500 barrels. The higher numbers for 1942 and 1943 are likely due to the better condition of barrels from those years after the war was over.
Here are some pictures of the 1926 that I recently acquired, as well as the 1940 that I already owned.