I grew up on a steady stream of books that contained not only really great information, but a lot of high-quality pictures. I could probably spend hours reading and looking at Stephen Biesty’s Incredible Cross-Sections.
These days, however, I’ve come to really appreciate the more historically oriented coffee table books that Headstamp Publishing has been putting out.
Their latest book, authored by Forgotten Weapons’ Ian McCollum, Forged in Snow: Finnish Small Arms 1917-2025, is available now through their Kickstarter campaign, which has already fulfilled its funding goal, a mere 6 hours into it.
Forged in Snow: Finnish Small Arms 1917 – 2025 is a reference guide to military firearms manufactured and modified in Finland. Intended for collectors and historians alike, it covers the full scope of Finland’s small arms from pistols to antitank rifles and from independence in 1917 to the present day. This book is the first English-language work to comprehensively cover the subject, and includes all major models :
- Pistols – Ahlberg, Luger, Lahti, and more
- Mosin Nagants – Standard, Cavalry, Trainers, Snipers, and more
- Antitank Rifles
- Kalashnikov Variants – from rk/58 trials through the rk/95 and modernized rk/62
- Submachine Guns – Lindelof, Suomi, M44, Jatimatic
- Light Machine Guns – LS26 and KvKK/62
- Bayonets
Each chapter includes a history of the weapon’s development and its intended use, along with information concerning known variants, production numbers, markings, mechanical operation, and a history of deployment and combat use.
Finland’s path of military development after independence, two wars with its eastern neighbor, and then a delicate balancing act between East and West through the Cold War created a fascinating and unique history of small arms development.
In addition, many of Finland’s early small arms are now in the United States. This book is a must-have for anyone wishing to collect Mosin Nagants, Lugers, and Lahti pistols from Finland, as well as those who are interested in the military history of a fiercely independent Nordic nation.
Ian McCollum is the founder, editor, and presenter of Forgotten Weapons, where he has documented firearms history for nearly 15 years. He is a member of the American Society of Arms Collectors and the author of five previous books, including Chassepot to FAMAS and Pistols of the Warlords, and a contributors to several Vickers Guide books.
Headstamp is offering several versions of Forged in Snow through their Kickstarter, starting with the $98 “Frozen” white-cover edition, a clean departure from their usual blue-and-gold design.
For those wanting a signed copy, the $118 Signed Kickstarter Edition nets you McCollum’s signature at a discount compared to post-campaign pricing, while the $250 Collector’s Limited Edition adds a clamshell presentation case for those looking for something to toss on the coffee table during the holidays.
Once the campaign is finished (at the time of writing 29 days from now), the standard Retail Edition with the classic blue-and-gold look will become available, featuring the same content—just a different finish.
Every copy backed during the campaign is marked as a First Edition, and Headstamp will keep supporters updated with exclusive behind-the-scenes content and progress as production moves forward.
Read the full article here