The serial number is in D 5000 – D 15.999 series. Concerning the SA.CO name under the barrel: American Import companies must mark the guns they imported, with Company name and production country. The holster that comes with it, seems to be a m/40 pattern holster, plain black cowhide with 2 mag pockets under flap, when closed. Lahti M40 Serial Numbers. Truly excellent condition 4 34 barrel Comes with 2nd mag, loading tool, screwdriver and cleaning rod in its black l for sale by GunrunnersTactical on. Enjoy this Swedish version of the 'LAHTI' pistol. Known in Swedish service as the M-40 & a scarce box of Swedish M-39b 9mm Ammo. In 1945 the Danish Brigade which was in.
Swedish Pistol m/1940
made by Husqvarna Gun Factory
Text by O. Janson
updated 2010-07-15
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| Page 3 | Different magazines and equipment for m/40. |
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Different series and foreign pistols.
There are different types of serial numbers found on these pistols.
Assembled spare part pistols put together by gun dealers outside Sweden with their own numbers: Numbers starting with VP: A Danish company Victor Pabst & Co which were put together of spare parts in Denmark by the stamped their pistols with VP1-19 and VP 100-101. They also stamped the pistols with MADE IN SWEDEN or only Sweden or m/40S. These stamps are not made in Sweden. Numbers starting with PS: Another company in Switzerland Paul Schafrodt did the same and tose pistols are stamped with PS 1-20. |
Due to demand of pistols some of H-marked went to the army. |
Inspector marks The most common inspector marks which are found a the rear end of the frame are
These regular inspection marks were stamped on the pistols in Sweden. Sometimes you will find one to three triangular marks underneath the barrel. |
Danish pistol m/40S
Altogether 13 500 pistols were sold to Denmark. 10 000 of these were intended for the Danish police normally with prefix D. These pistols are often found with black holsters. The pistol was called m/40S in Denmark The serial numbers range from 31501-32000. There are Swedish military m/40 pistols with the same numbers as these “Neutral”. There are however reported specimens outside this range of 500 pistols and it is known that these pistols and submachine guns were made in batches of 500 each. 1943 the Swedish government started to give military training to selected refugees from Norway and Denmark. It went faster to establish something called “Police units” from Norway due to the connections with the Norwegian exile government in London. These units were equipped with handguns like Submachine gun m/37-39 and pistols m/40 without any marks. The Danish Brigade was trained in secrete from 1944 until spring 1945 and it was equipped with pistol m/40 which were taken directly from Swedish Military stores. The Danish brigade was equipped in Sweden with 1 000 of ordinary Swedish military pistols m/40 with SS inspector stamp. 1944 Danish exile authorities had ordered 2000 pistols. These pistols were delivered and marked by inspection officer Cpt Sten Stenmo (SS). These pistol serial numbers range from 67 000 – 69 202 but there are some also in 64 000 – 74 000 range. Another 2 500 pieces are known to be sold to the Danish inspected by Swedish inspectors. The Danish General Lund who was Commanding Quartermaster officer for the Danish Brigade 1944 has confirmed that all together some 13 000 pistols came to Denmark. 10 000 pistols m/40 were ordered for the police force. All marked with “D” like Denmark in front of the serial number. They range from D 5001 – D 16000 all with inspection mark Crown over “HV” which means “Haerens Vapenarsenal” (Army Armory). Responsible inspection officer at the factory was a Danish called Captain-Lieutenant J. Gundelach. Pistol m/40 was designated Pistol m/40S in Denmark. Some of these pistols are extra marked on the side with “Rigspoliti” or 'Rplt. S' with serial number, which is marking of the Danish Police. All Danish pistols were later sold as surplus in a single batch. |
| Here is one of these Danish police pistols marked with police mark “Rplt.” (Rigspoliti) Note: Swedish military SS inspector stamp from Cpt. Sten Stenmo |
| Danish Crown over HV |
| Index for the homepage of Pistol m/1940. | |
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| Page 3 | Different magazines and equipment for m/40. |
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References: Jimmy Johansson |
| Gothia Arms Historical Society in English |
| Pistol m/1907 |
| Gothia Arms Historical Society in Swedish |
| Overview of all Swedish Military pistols and revolvers |
Pistol Pistol m/40 “Lahti” Manufacturer Husqvarna Vapenfabriks Cartridge 9x19mm Overall Length 9.6″ Action Short Recoil Barrel Length 4.2″ Magazine 8 rounds vertical Weight 2.64 lbs Sweden’s delay to recognize the oncoming war sent them scrambling to their neighbor Finland for a sidearm. While they copied the best cold weather sidearm of the time, local production had a few issues to overcome.
During the interwar period, the Swedish government was convinced, like many other neutral nations, that there would never be another Great War. It was not until very late in the 1930’s they realized what was coming. At the time their military was primarily armed with a Browning 1903 licensed copy. The Swedish m/1907 was a WWI leftover being produced domestically by Husqvarna. It chambered the 9x20mm semi-rimmed cartridge with somewhat lackluster ballistics and stopping power.
The military wished to move to the 9x19mm round common in Europe then and now. The aim was to standardize their sidearms on an acceptable submachine gun cartridge. At first they meant to adopt the German made Walther HP, a pistol that became the P38, but sufficient numbers were not available for import as the war began. Over 8,000 Swedish volunteers served in the Finnish Winter War and as they returned so did a high opinion of the Finnish Lahti L-35 pistol.
Lahti M40 Serial Numbers List
The 9x19mm pistol was a good fit with a fine reputation and so a production license was acquired and Husqvarna Vapenfabriks began production in 1942 with a total run around 80,000. The Lahti pistols feature the steep grip angles of the Luger and Nambu pistols, consequently sharing their natural point of aim and minimizing the strain of recoil. Lahti actions are a clear descendent of the Bergmann-Bayard M1910, using roughly the same breech-block system. All variations chamber the same 9x19mm cartridge. Their eight round capacity detachable magazine is retained by a heel catch in the European standard of the time. The sights, while nothing fancy from a modern standpoint, are excellent for the period.
The front sight is very tall and the rear notch deep, making for a very legible sight picture. There is a provision at the rear of the frame for a detachable stock but this was rarely used. The Lahti is loaded by inserting a removable magazine and pulling back on the exposed rear of the bolt and releasing. As the bolt is drawn back it cocks the internal hammer back and as it returns forward strips a round from the magazine and chambers it. When the trigger is pulled the hammer strikes the rear of the firing pin in the of the bolt, forcing it into the primer of the chambered cartridge and discharging the weapon.
The recoil force drives the bolt and mantle back, initially locked together. This is achieved by a yoke that fits a notch on the top of the bolt (the locking block). J dilla drum kit digital tuzman. When lowered the locking block fixes the bolt to the mantle and therefore the barrel.
Lahti M40 Serial Numbers Lookup
As the mantle travels backwards the locking block’s guide lugs run down grooves set inside the frame. After several millimeters of travel the grooves direct the locking block upwards, releasing the bolt which carries on after the mantle is stopped by impacting the frame. As the bolt travels rearward the embedded extractor pulls the spent casing free of the chamber and into the ejector, throwing it out to the right.
The bolt is returned forward by the recoil spring, again stripping off a fresh round from the magazine and shoving the mantle forward. The locking block is guided forward and down, locking the action back up and readying the gun to be fired again. At low temperatures combustion in the cartridge is weakened. Additionally, icy conditions in Scandinavia might freeze the action shut. In order to guarantee proper function the Lahti was fitted with an accelerator component. When the mantle stops it slams a semi-circular piece of metal against the inside of the frame.
This piece pivots as it slides over a pin in the mantle and the other side strikes the front of the bolt violently. This assures that the bolt will have enough kinetic force to be driven fully rearward, completing ejection of the spent casing and on the return picking up a new round with enough force to chamber properly. Lahti m/40 pistols can be divided into four variations based on the mantle used. Type I is nearly identical to the Finnish Lahti.
Most notably it had a loaded chamber indicator and a notch along the mantle in front of the accelerator. Unlike Finland, Sweden skimped on the steel for their mantles and used molybdenum to make up for it. Cracks began to show and so the loaded chamber indicators were ground off and welded up.
If you see the remnants of the indicator, know that your gun is still considered a first type. Type II pistols were created without the indicator and had three holes setup for the accelerator. Type III ditched the notch in front of the accelerator and has a reinforcing ridge to help strengthen the mantle.
You can see this ridge as the raised metal in front of the ejector. Type IV mantles were made by Carl Gustaf postwar. These are made much stronger than the earlier production and have slightly more reinforcing material at the rear tabs. They lack the Husqvarna stamp on the left side. The mantle variations are the most prominent but other adjustments were made during production.
Minor changes to soften the internal angles were common and need not be discussed in detail. Perhaps more telling is that the barrels were changed to include an external nut at the base to ease removal and reassembly. At the same time the stepped front sight was replaced with a simpler boxed base one. The original black bakelite grips turned red as materials shuffled during the war. Pistols marked with a “D” prefix were used by the Danish police. Standard accessories include a leather holster with flap which seats two spare magazines, a cleaning rod, and a tool to assist reloading. Because of concerns over proper feeding of rounds through such a steep magazine well, the Lahti pistol has an extremely strong magazine spring.
Lahti M40 Serial Numbers List
Hand loading is a tremendous effort and so the tool was made and included. You simply slip the tool over the magazine and use it to depress the magazine spring before inserting the ammunition. Lahti pistols are not entirely common and carry a good value for collectors. We would certainly recommend acquiring such a piece if given the opportunity as they are an incredible cold weather pistol with a good history to tell.
Be wary however and make sure you look the gun over well before purchasing. Go ahead and memorize the simple field stripping instructions and ask any seller to let you inspect the inside of the frame and mantle for cracking.
This is common because of a high powered Swedish SMG cartridge in 9x19mm finding its way into many pistols due to carelessness at the range. As always a visit to the gunsmith is recommended when shooting these old firearms but more so with the Lahti given its history of accidental abuse on its components. Gentlemen I acquired a Swedish Lathi, serial # D8XXX, in the 1970s.
It came with a green canvas holster, extra mag, cleaning rod, and tool. The gun is in wonderful condition. I had recently come across it and began looking into it’s past. There are two small indentations on the backstrap of the pistol grip, approximately two thirds up from the stock slots and one third down from the top.
Can any one tell me the significance of these two marks. They look as though they were made with a punch.
Serial Numbers Microsoft
Enjoy this Swedish version of the 'LAHTI' pistol. Known in Swedish service as the M-40 & a scarce box of Swedish M-39b 9mm Ammo. In 1945 the Danish Brigade which was in exile in Sweden left to go back to Denmark they were armed with 1000 Swedish M-40 pistols, all these pistols carried Swedish Army acceptance stamps of SS for Inspector Captian Sten Stenmo. After WW2 these pistols were given to the Danish police and marked Rplt. (RIGSPOLITI).:::As my pistol is marked::. After the war additional batchs of M-40 pistols were delievered to the Danish police; approx. 10,000, these had a 'D' prefix in the serial number for Denmark, and too were marked Rplt.Again enjoy this well made and well traveled pistol.BILL.
Back in the 1980:s the M 40 guns started to report cracks in the frames. It resulted in at least a temporary stop of their use within the swedish armed forces. The problem was thought to come from the M-39 B 9mm ammo with its heavier pressure/charge. My humble recommendation would be to feed your M 40:s ammo with less pressure than Swedish M-39 B ammo. Only downside to this gun in my opinion is that you need quite big hands to get a proper grip on the gun, my hands are to small.
Best regards Laplander.