PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: A grouping consisting of a tunic, breeches, field cap, belt, holster, helmet and dog tags. A grey wool tunic with a single-breasted, six button front closure leading up to a stand-and-fall collar with dual hooks and eyes at the throat. The top button is still with the tunic but no longer attached. There is a pleated patch pocket with a button-down, scalloped pocket flap to each breast, and saddlebag pockets with similar flaps to each hip. The integral shoulder straps are buttoned near the neck. The 4 1/2" tall slashes to each cuff are each fixed by two olive drab bakelite buttons under a French fly. Another bakelite button is beyond those hidden by the fly to each cuff. All of the exposed, convex buttons are, grey painted, vertically ribbed and have the crowned, Finnish lion, wielding a sword and standing upon a scimitar, embossed to them. The buttons retain about 40-70% of the grey with wear mostly to the highlights. Sewn to either side of the collar are green tabs, being the arm-of-service color for the Infantry, both edged with a light grey, machine embroidered border, and with one golden alloy rosette pinned to each of them, representing the rank of 2nd Lieutenant. Some light wear is evident to their borders. To each shoulder strap is pinned a golden alloy crossed skiis over a bicycle wheel device, representing cyclists. Age darkening and wear to their highlights may be seen to all of these devices. The interior is partially lined in brown rayon, with the sleeves lined in the same material. A vertical slash seam pocket is to the interior left breast and a horizontal slash pouch pocket to the left waist with a single button closure. Stamped to the left breast interior, in an olive ink, are the markings "54", "B", "SA" within a rectangle, "Int" over "43" and in black "Tiklas, Valmiste". Of Note: Finnish Army, and/or captured equipment is marked "SA" for Suomen Army. Suomi is Finnish for Finland. Although the interior is worn and has a couple of hole and tears, mostly to the collar area, and has age fading and a few small wear holes to the exterior the tunic exhibits only typical nap wear with no discernable moth nips. Approximately a size 38. A pair of medium grey wool-synthetic blend service breeches, with a four button french fly and an extra button at the waist. Diagonal slash pockets are to each forward side, a watch pocket is along the seam beneath the left forward waistband, and two horizontal slash pockets, each with a button and button-hole, are to the rear. There were four buttons to either side and four buttons to the rear along the exterior waistband, for suspenders, although one button to the left front and one to the rear are missing. The breeches flare at the thighs and taper below the knees, with one leg having a 15" long strap, with dual button-holes to its free end, descending from one side of their cuff, which mates with one of the two buttons sewn to the other side of the cuff. The other cuff has a 7" part of the strap remaining with some hand stitches to the end where it may have been repaired at one time. All of the buttons are in black bakelite, and all appear to have their original stitching. The interior fly, crotch, and waistband are in lined inlight brown cotton, and the pocket bags are in same material. Stamped to the right interior waist are the markings "52", "B", "SA" within a rectangle, "Int" over "42" and what appears to be "YPU". The breeches appear to have been piped in green, which has been removed, although the remnants of it can be found at the top and bottom of each leg. Extremely light nap wear and age soiling is evident, and there are a few splits to the leg seam by the cuffs, but the breeches are otherwise in excellent condition. Approximately a 34" waist. A medium grey wool peaked cap, which features fold-down side panels buttoned in the front with two buttons. Both of the convex, dark olive drab bakelite buttons have a vertically ribbed background with the crowned Finnish lion, wielding a sword and standing upon a scimitar, embossed to them. Pinned to the front of the cap is a convex, 13/16" diameter, red enamel device with a golden-colored alloy base and a similarly colored Finnish lion affixed to its surface. This device distinguishes the cap as having belonged to an officer. Its short visor is un-stiffened. To the interior is a light grey colored pigskin sweatband, with the remainder lined in grey rayon. Ink stamped to the interior crown is "Int," "42," "M" within a circle, alongside of which is "59," and what appears to be "Nappari o/y" and "Tampere." other than the noticeable cracks and a couple of breaks to the sweatband, and typical light nap wear and age soiling to the exterior wool the cap is in good condition. The stamped, sheet steel construction, Austro-Hungarian m/17, used by the Finnish Army, retains about 90% of its Finnish green over-paint with some spots of the original blue paint showing through. Both of the extended ventilation side lugs and both of the early dome headed chinstrap retaining rivets are all intact. The liner is held in by five split rivets though its leather retaining band. The three off-white liner pads each have two fingers, each with a hole for the adjustment string and the stitched closed padding bags to the back are all intact. The liner is nice and clean and fully intact with all fingers and its original tie string. The interior of the helmet has also been over-painted in the same paint and no markings are visible. The helmet comes complete with a brown leather chinstrap with a magnetic pronged roller buckle with a chin protector made from the same leather as the liner pads. Other than a flaw to the helmet where two of the liner rivets passes through the helmet it is in almost perfect condition with the liner being almost pristine and the chin straps still flexible and supple. Early pattern, smooth, molded, blackened leather construction, "hardshell" P 39 (t) pistol holster. The holster features a scalloped, fold over top flap with a horizontally stitched, hinged seam to the reverse top edge and a stitched on, vertical leather closure strap to the obverse. The obverse closure strap has a corresponding horizontally oval, rivetted on, sheet metal plate with a cut-out horizontal slot situated on the front of the fold over top flap with a corresponding, raised, horizontal steel bar on a horizontally oval sheet metal plate rivetted on the front body of the holster. For secure closure the raised steel bar on the body of the holster is inserted through the sheet metal slot on the oval plate of the top flap and the vertical strap is in turn inserted through the raised bar. The forward edge of the holster body has a vertical, stitched on extra magazine pocket. The reverse of the holster has two, slightly diagonally angled, rivetted on, leather belt loops. These belt loops are replacements and appear to be mabe from an adjustable strap. The reverse of the holster is well marked with the impressed manufacturers name "Joseph Moll Goch", the date "1940" and a waffen-amt stamp "WaA72". Stamped into the front of the flap is "SA" indicating the Finnish Army while to the interior is stamped in ink "P 39 (t)" which indicates that the holster was to be used for the Czech 9mm Pistole. The interior of the holster has a quick release strap stitched to both the top flap and the internal body. The holster is in overall good condition with a light to moderate surface scratching and chafe wear. The holster is still quite supple. The blackened leather belt, roughly, 1 11/16" wide x 43" long, has a grey painted open rectangular, dual claw, cast alloy construction belt buckle. The obverse of the belt has fine impressed lines near both the top and bottom edges and one end has a small section folded over and machine stitched to the reverse to secure the belt buckle while the other end comes to a pointed tip with seven pair of parallel, punched, length adjustment buckling eyelets. The belt has also a vertical, sliding, leather belt loop "keeper". The pebbled, buckle only retains almost all of its grey painted finish. The belt is in overall very good condition with light age and usage chafing, with a slight bend to the center. The leather is still quite supple. The belt would fit waist sizes ranging from roughly, 34" to 40". The dog tag is a roughly 3 1/8" long by 2" wide, horizontally oval stamped alloy construction identification tag. The tag has ten 1/4" long slits running down the centre lengthwise, to facilitate breaking it in half if necessary. The tag has two holes to the top and bottom section for securing the neck cord. Threaded through one side is a small ball chain with fastener.. The tag has identical stamps on either side of the central slits which consist of, "130472 S 30826". The stamps indicate the personal identification number of the soldier who was wearing them. The tag shows numerous surface scratches and usage bending. This is a very nice, fairly complete, grouping from an officer in the Finnish Infantry.

GRADE***1/2                                                         PRICE $2,856.00