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M/44 Tikkakoski submachine gun (Finland)

M44 Tikkakoski submachine gun with 71-round drum magazine originally designed for Suomi SMG

Caliber	9x19mm Luger / Parabellum
Weight	2,9 kg empty
Length (stock closed/open)	620 / 830 mm
Barrel length	250 mm
Rate of fire	650 rounds per minute
Magazine capacity	20 or 36 rounds box or 71 rounds drum
Effective range	150-200 meters

This submachine gun was developed during 1943-44 at Tikkakoski OY, Finnish arms-making company, as a less expensive alternative to excellent but overly costly Suomi submachine gun. This weapon in fact was a reverse-engineered copy of Soviet Sudaev PPS-43 submachine gun, adapted to 9x19 ammunition and used Suomi submachine gun magazines. Significatn numbers of M/44 submachine guns were manufactured at Tikkakoski factory during 1944 and 45, and these guns sreved with Finnish army for several decates after the war. It must be noted that the chief designer of M44, someone Willi Daughs, has left Finland soon after the war, and during early 1950s landed in Spain, along with manufacturing documentation for M44. There he managed to find manufacturing facilities, and a copy of M44 was produced in Spain as Dux M53. Small numbers of 9mm Dux M53 submachine guns were subsequently sold to West German Border Guard (Bundesgrenzshutz).

Tikkakosky KP M44 submachine gun is blowback operated, full automatic only weapon. It fires from open bolt. receiver and barrel jacket are made from single piece of sheet steel, cut, bent and welded to shape. Trigger unit is of simple design, copied from Sudaev PPS-43, with similar sliding manual safety, located in front of trigger guard. The magazine housing is designed to accept all types of magazines, originally developed for Suomi submachine gun, including 20- and 50-round box magazines and 40- and 71-round drum magazines. During ealry fifties M44 submachine guns were slightly modified so it was possible to use new and highly reliable 36-round box magazines from Swedish M45 Carl Gustaf submachine guns (compatibility with older Suomi magazines was retained). Standard sights were of open type, with protetcetd front and L-shaped flip-up rear, marked for 100- and 200-meters range. Metallic butt was of top-folding design.

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