Lahti L-35

Infobox Weapon
is_ranged=yes


name=Lahti L-35
type=Semi-automatic pistol
origin=flagcountry|Finland
era=World War II
designer=Aimo Lahti
design_date=1935
prod_design_date=1935-1952
serv_design_date=1935-1980
used_by=Finland, Sweden
wars=World War II
Winter War
Continuation War
spec_type=Pistol
caliber=
part_length=107 mm
cartridge=9x19mm Parabellum
feed=8-round detachable box magazine
action=
rate=
velocity=1,100 ft/s (335.3 m/s)
weight=1.2 kg
length=245 mm
variants=
number= 9000 L-35 + 100 000 Pistol m/40
range=

Lahti L-35 is a pistol designed by Finnish Aimo Lahti that was produced between 1935 and 1952. About 9000 pistols were made in four production series.

The weapon had a bolt accelerator to improve reliability in cold conditions or when fouled. This kind of system was rare for pistols.

The Finnish army used the L-35 in the Winter War and the Continuation War, and it was the official service pistol until the 1980s when it was replaced by the FN HP-DA pistol. (9.00 PIST 80 / 9.00 PIST 80-91)

Pistol m/40

A simplified and somewhat less reliable version of the L-35 was built in Sweden under license and was adopted for service by the Swedish Armed Forces in 1940. The official Swedish military designation for this pistol was Pistol m/40 but it is also known as the Husqvarna m/40 after the manufacturer, Husqvarna who produced almost 100 000 of them between 1940 and 1946.

Due to poor quality steel used in manufacturing and the use of SMG 9 mm cartridge adapted in the 1960s (m/39B), the bolts of Pistol m/40s started to crack in the 1980s. As a temporary replacement the retired FN Model 1903 (Pistol m/07) pistols were brought back into service until the switch to the new Glock pistols was complete. The switch was done during the 1990s and then Glock 17 (Pistol 88) was adopted by the Swedish Army, and Glock 19 (Pistol 88B) by the Swedish Air Force.

Bibliography

* The Lahti pistol explained (downloadable ebook) by Gerard HENROTIN (H&L Publishing & HLebooks.com 2006)

External links

* [http://www.jaegerplatoon.net/PISTOLS1.htm Jaeger Platoon: Finnish army 1918-1945 revolvers & pistols part 1]
* [http://world.guns.ru/handguns/hg96-e.htm Lahti L-35 and Husqvarna M/40] - Modern Firearms & Ammunition
* [http://www.saunalahti.fi/~ejuhola/7.62/lahti9mm.html Lahti L-35 pistol] - The Finnish Weapons Series