Discussion Section
As seen in the picture above, the rifle is undated and stamped on the top of the barrel shank in a similar manner as an early Tikka M91 or a Tikka M27. The serial number exhibited here is within the same number range as the early Tikka M27 production or within the range of Tikka M28 production though it is not clear whether the serial number for this particular rifle is a part of either production series.
There is a number on the left side of the barrel shank, possibly the barrel's original serial number, that is crossed out. Assuming that the number is a serial number, it would be in the correct location for an M28's serial number and of the same style of a Tikka M28's. However, if it is a serial number, it would be in the same range as SIG M28 production, not Tikka. No other tell tale evidence is present anywhere else on the barrel to indicate it originally being a SIG produced M28 barrel. Both this number as well as the barrel's current serial number on the top of the barrel shank are too low to be contiguous with standard M28/30 production.
The butt plate is stamped with the last two digits of the number on the left side of the barrel shank which indicates that the stock and the barrel could be original to each other. The last two digits of the serial number being stamped on the butt plate was a convention for M28's and M28/30's.
The right side of the barrel shank is stamped with a civil Guard district number and is the same font or very close to the same font as the number stamped on the left side of the barrel shank. All three Civil Guard district numbers stamped on the rifle are from the Vaasa district. The others are on the left side of the receiver and the right side of the butt.
The stock is one piece and made from a cut down US produced M91 stock.
Save the indexing mark, there are no markings below the woodline on the barrel shank. This is inconsistent with a SIG M28 barrel. There is clear flow to the index mark, so that area at least has not been scrubbed since the mark was made.
The profile of the barrel is that of a standard M28 or M28/30 barrel.
The Trigger does not have an extra spring and is similar in configuration to an M28/30's or M39's.
The barrel has a the Aluminum sleeve found on most M28/30's to allow for more consistent pressure from the nose of the stock on the end of the barrel.
The magazine body has been modified with the extra divots to be a "jamb free" magazine as is found on M39's and M28/30's.
The front sight blade is stamped with the height of "68," but the barrel is stamped with the suggested height of "72."
Both the rear and front sight bases are marked with a SAKO gear logo, and the rear sight base is unnumbered. The rear sight base's protective ears are not beveled on the top of their inward facing sides. This is typical of very early M28/30 rear sight bases. Later ones typically have beveled ears. The rear sight ladder is marked on the top in the standard M28/30 manner, but has an additional two notches on the right side for 150m and 200m settings that are not usually found. The front sight is stamped with 8 indexing dots for windage adjustment on the left side. It is estimated that these dots were put on M28/30 sights starting some time during 1935, so the front sight at least might have been placed on the barrel sometime after that. These characteristics of the sights are consistent with most M28's updated to M28/30 configuration observed by the author.
The stock has also been modified in a manner consistent with many M28's upgraded to M28/30 configuration. The cleaning rod nut has been replaced with one similar to an M28/30's and it has been pillar bedded in the rear action screw hole.
The nose of the stock exhibits no reinforcement that is found on many M28/30's and it does not have any screw holes in the front that would be found if the two piece version of an M28 nose cape were ever fully installed.
The bolt knob is 'Finn matched' to the serial number on the top of the barrel shank.
And there you have it, a fairly unique rifle who's exact origin has perplexed collectors thus far.
Discussion Section