The pictures of the L-34 in the Lahti catalogue don’t look much like that. And there is a choice between a vertical box magazine and a flat pan, rather than a drum.
I never knew that Aimo Lahti was such a prolific designer. I kind of like the drum magazine, but I would think that a flat tray, or pan feeder would be trouble. (its hard enough loading the box magazine, even with the loading tool.) Is there any way to get an image of the L-34 scanned and posted? I would like to see it.
I found a video of an L-39, thats been converted to >50 BMG. this was a popular conversion for those rifles that were neutered by the Gov’t. they arent strong enough to handle much more than the .50 cal. This conversion was also used to legitimize contraband(unpapered after the 68’amnesty) guns by removing them from N.F.A. weapons status. Once permanently converted, to a bore diameter of less than .51 inches, the rifle becomes basically a deer rifle, and is subject only to the regulations of class one firearms.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPtvGCeE7zI
The pictures of the L-34 in the Lahti catalogue don’t look much like that. And there is a choice between a vertical box magazine and a flat pan, rather than a drum.
You mean that is a design different to the one refered earlier in 20x113mm?? :shock:
never knew that Aimo Lahti was such a prolific designer.
Jawhol, the guy had design for pistols, light machineguns and this antitank weapons.
I found a video of an L-39, thats been converted to >50 BMG.
A decaf Lahti 
"A decaf Lahti " Ha you’re killin’ me my friend, great play on words. Its the first one I’ve actually seen, the image quality is a bit low, so I cant tell if the Barrel has been altered, replaced or what, but the ventilated wood guard is missing. It looked as though the bolt slamming home had more energy than the recoil, On mine, when you let the bolt go, the receiver actually moves rearward a bit, till the bolt gets moving, then it pulls the receiver forward again.(very heavy two piece bolt.)
Yup, it seems like you said, too bad that such historical pìece must be altered in order to fullfill the tipical bureocratic crap. Aniway to get a suitable shooting range for that must be a little problematic, specially in Europe.
[SIZE=2]7,62 mm Lahti-Saloranta M/26:[/SIZE]
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[SIZE=2]After Aimo Lahti had developed M/22 submachinegun (prototype of Suomi submachinegun) General Heinricks suggested him designing light machinegun. Lahti got to work and the first blueprints were ready before end of 1923. October of 1924 a committee was named for choosing a new light machinegun for Finnish military. Another friend of Lahti, Hägglund, suggested adding Lahti’s light machinegun among weapons it would test. After this Lahti received orders to continue development work of his light machinegun design in Weapons Depot 1 (AV 1, in Helsinki) and (as he had no engineering degree) technical expert was sent to assist him. The technical expert was Lieutenant A. E. Saloranta, who had just returned from weapons-technical course held in Denmark. The first prototype was made between June and August of 1925 in Weapons Depot 1 (AV1) in Helsinki. It was in 7.92-mm calibre and used recoil-action (with short barrel-recoil) already used in older Chauchat and Madsen light machineguns.
First testing done during this had included 9 foreign designs, from these Colt-Browning was evaluated to be the best. However as many of the weapons were in some other calibre then 7.62 mm x 54 R (which had been decided as standard rifle calibre for Finnish military already earlier) new tests with only weapons in this calibre were required. A new prototype of Lahti-Saloranta light machineguns was made in 7.62 mm x 54 R and it participated to the new tests. It won the new tests while Vickers-Berthier came second, Hotchkiss third and Colt-Browning forth. However some improvements still had to be done before mass-production and Lahti made them immediately after the tests. After this additional two new Lahti-Saloranta test weapons were made and tested.
As mentioned Lahti-Saloranta M/26 was recoil-action weapon using short barrel-recoil. The weapon used 20-round arch-shaped magazines, which were inserted from below. Typically Finnish troops had 5 - 10 of these magazines per weapon. Finnish military had several loading tool designs for faster reloading of the magazines. As usual to light machineguns it had a bipod. The weapon also had flash hider, which was very much needed it had only 50-cm barrel. This light machinegun was select fire, meaning it was capable for both semiautomatic and full-automatic fire.
Spent cartridge cases were ejected to the right. Barrel had quick-change capacity, which allowed it to be replaced in some 25 - 30 seconds. The rear sight is fully adjustable and has settings 3 - 15 (300 - 1,500 meters). Safety switch is located in front part of the trigger guard. Selector switch is located right in front of it and has two positions: Forward position for full-automatic and back position for semiautomatic fire. With Lahti-Saloranta light machinegun its crew received variety of tools and spare parts (which contained also spare barrel) packed to leather pouches. However maybe the most important of these tools were loading tools - without loading tool filling the magazines of this weapon even close to full capacity is notably difficult because of really strong magazine springs. There were two versions of loading tools.
The larger version had bulk and needed to be attached to tree trunk for using it, but it was also very effective. The smaller version was small enough to fit palm of a hand, but it was not quite as fast to use as the larger version.
I have seen and held examples of the Lahti pistol, and Suomi smg, but never have seen the light machinegun . Heard of it tho,
If you keep digging so deep for info my friend, you’ll be needing to learn Chinese 
but dont let it stop you.
I’m working on it…the images aren’t good quality, since all I have is a photocopy of the catalogue.
According to Max Popenker (my co-author of our new book [b]Machine Gun[/b], due out in July) the M/26 wasn’t that successful in practice.
Inicdentally, an aircraft version of the gun, turned upside-down with a top-mounted pan magazine, was tested in .303 calibre for the British trials for a flexibly-mounted gun to replace the Lewis (won by the Vickers Class K or VGO, a version of the Berthier).
Thank you Tony, I do appreciate the effort. and, i’m really looking forward to seeing your book.
Thanks TG, there is more to come.
According to Max Popenker (my co-author of our new book [b]Machine Gun[/b], due out in July)
Dont forget my collaboration :mrgreen:
Check this one boys, supressed Lahti LS 26.
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[COLOR=black]Lahti-Saloranta LS-26 cal 7.62x53R LMG shown empty case just emerging. As a recoil-operated LMG, LS-26 is quite pleasant to shoot. During the wars, this well made weapon could even sugstitute a sniping rifle because of its good accuracy. Sound of a fired LS-26 is peculiar “whshBOOM”. When suppressed, the feeding sound “whsh” can be sensed easier from under the much softer muzzle report. The Reflex Suppressor used is model R12LS, which mounts in flash hider threads of the LMG.
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Super neat my friend, wonder if they have one for the L-39? As I recall, the U.S. had an anti tank rifle as well, though just a prototype I think, it was in .60 caliber, but I dont remember anything else about it.
There was a US design for an antitank rifle of 15,2 mm caliber, sadly I have no drawings of photos , maybe Tony.
I got Tony’s book in the mail today, so maybe it will be there, looks to be a great book too.
I have only one photo of the US 60" ATR, and that is a poor-quality photocopy. It was a big, gas-operated self-loading device designed for firing from a low tripod.
Gas operated ? Oh, I thought it was some like the MG-151/15 recoil actuated.
Interesting design of a heavy 13mm machinegun by Lahti, the cartrigde is not mentiones, I suppose is the french 13,2x99 Hotchkiss.
Nope - this is an extract from the ‘Updates to Rapid Fire’ page on my website:
More information has emerged about the the 13mm Lahti anti-tank rifle/HMG. Special high-velocity ammunition was developed for this weapon, measuring 13x118B (a beltless 13x113 and a slightly longer 13x120B were also developed experimentally). Projectile weight was 50 grams and muzzle velocity 950 m/s (less than the target 1,000 m/s). Various HMG prototypes were made for anti-tank and AA use with designations L34, L34, L35/6, L37 and L39, with the AT rifles being L38 and probably L39 (a version of the later 20mm gun). It could penetrate 15mm/300m/60 degrees, again less than the 22mm expected. Three of the prototype guns (including an ATR) did see action in the Winter War, but performed badly.
Nice info, thanks Tony.
Pretty neat video,He must be using reloads, there was not alot of recoil when he fired.