A number of new and even innovative weapons were designed and produced.
Even the later simplified mounts still weighed around 80 pounds.
It may have been ideal on flat open terrain, but it proved impractical in the woodlands of Finland.
The M/09-21 Maxim machine gun in use Häsälä during the Continuation War. The Finnish soldiers are wearing Swedish m/26 steel helmets. Image: SA-kuva
Even with the skis instead of wheels, it was found to be difficult to move in deep snow.
Instead, a more robust tripod was required.
Improving the Russian Maxim
The Finnish military didnt stop with just an improved or more compact tripod.
A Finnish train during the Continuation War with M/09-21 machine guns in an anti-aircraft role. Image: SA-kuva
The modified gun was then designated M/09-21.
Production began at the Tikkakoski factory, and several thousand were produced in the 1920s.
Gun historians have suggested that the result was possibly the best Maxim design ever.
Soviet Union troops with the PM1910 machine gun. Note the wheeled mount that is often called the Sokolov mount. Image: Library of Congress
It featured better-quality grips and upgraded rear sights.
It was also noted for an even further refined new tripod designated M/33.
Hence, the designation for the improved Maxim gun and tripod was M/32-33.
This snow sled was an attempt to create greater mobility for the PM1910 machine gun during the Winter War between the Finns and invading Soviet Union. Image: SA-kuva
The effectiveness of the light mounts was questionable at best.
That work was carried out by Asevarikko 1 (Weapons Depot 1).
As a result, fewer than 1,200 in total were manufactured between 1933 and 1944.
A Finnish soldier servicing an M/09-21 machine gun during the Continuation War agains the Soviet Union. Image: SA-kuva
A side view of the M/09-21 fed with the old-style cloth belt. It has the domestically manufactured tripod. Image: SA-kuva
A pair of M/09-21 Maxim water-cooled machine guns in a special truck-mount for anti-aircraft use. Image: SA-kuva
This Finnish M/32-33 machine gun is located in a bunker. Note that it is being fed from the redesigned metal ammunition belt. Image: SA-kuva
The Finnish M/32-33 on the specially designed anti-aircraft tripod. The Finnish soldiers are wearing a mix of German helmets from the First World War. Image: SA-kuva
