The Finns increased their number of Maxim machine-gun by purchasing them from non-Russian sources during the 1920s, including Poland and Italy. A large number of the Finnish M/09-09s were modified to M/09-21. This remounted the Maxim machine-gun on a folding tri-pod roughly similar to that used by the Germans on the sMG-34 and sMG42.
The Finnish also manufactured spares for their growing arsenal of Maxim machine-guns at the Lindelöf metal workshop. They also began to standardise them from 1927 so all parts were of the same specification. The wheeled Sokolov M/09 mount (as well as the M/21 tripod mounts) remained in use during WWII, but the shield was removed to reduce the weight.
More Soviet Maxims were captured during the Winter War and were also pressed into action. These were mostly a newer improved m/1910 type, but older models were also captured.
Older heavier m/1905 types were usually issued to static defence troops, with the lighter M/09-09 (m/1910) and M/09-21 models being issued to mobile troops and for offensive operation where they were likely to be moved often.
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