Finnish Forces

The designer of Suomi SMG

Aimo Johannes Lahti (1896-1970) was a self taught Finnish weapons designer and the master armorer of the Finnish Army. His work is considered decisive in defending the independence of Finland. Lahti designed 50 different weapons, from which the best known is the Suomi M-31 SMG. Other well-known weapons that reached production were the Lahti-Saloranta M/26 LMG, Lahti L-35 pistol and Lahti L-39 anti-tank rifle. Lahti also designed the 7,62 ITKK 31 VKT anti-aircraft machine gun and the 20 ITK 40 VKT anti-aircraft cannon.