Simo Häyhä’s M/28 Civil Guard Rifle: The White Death’s Formative Weapon

Simo Häyhä, nicknamed "The White Death," is remembered as one of the most effective military snipers in history. Born in 1905 in Rautjärvi, Finland, he joined the Finnish Civil Guard at 17 and honed his marksmanship in local competitions and hunting. During the 1939–1940 Winter War, Häyhä amassed over 500 confirmed kills with iron-sighted rifles, an astonishing tally that cemented his legend.

Figure 1: Close-up of the Leipzig Galleries’ Finnish Mosin–Nagant M/28 rifle (serial no. 12559 / Civil Guard no. S 65585).

Pre‑War Training and the M/28

Häyhä’s journey as a marksman began long before the Winter War. As a member of the Finnish Civil Guard, he practiced extensively with the M/28 rifle, the Finnish version of the Mosin–Nagant designed for accuracy. The M/28’s improved barrel bedding, two‑piece arctic birch stock and iron sights provided a stable platform for disciplined shooting. By the late 1930s, Häyhä had earned recognition for his precision in district‑level competitions. His trophies filled his parents’ farmhouse, testament to years of practice and careful skill development.

Figure 2: In the late 1990s, Simo Häyhä demonstrated his shooting technique with his M/28 rifle. The rifle’s fixed sights and stock profile match those used in his Civil Guard years.

From M/28 to the M/28‑30: The Wartime Rifle

In 1934, the Finnish Civil Guard introduced the M/28‑30, an evolution of the M/28. It retained the robust Mosin–Nagant action but added refined “Spitz” sights, a free‑floating barrel and a reinforced stock. Häyhä paid part of the cost to keep a personal M/28‑30 at home (serial no. 35281, Civil Guard no. S60974). When the Soviet Union invaded in November 1939, he took this rifle to war. The enhanced sights allowed quick target acquisition and windage adjustment, contributing to his 542 confirmed wartime kills during the 95 days he fought on the Kollaa front. In March 1940, he was seriously wounded by an exploding bullet, ending his combat days.

Figure 3: Häyhä during the Winter War, 1940. His iron‑sighted M/28‑30 was deadly accurate even in freezing temperatures and deep snow.

The Honorary M/28‑30

During the Winter War, Häyhä’s reputation grew nationally. In February 1940, Swedish businessman Eugen Johansson donated a Sako‑built M/28‑30 (serial no. 100781) to him as a token of gratitude. Colonel Svensson presented the rifle and a certificate on behalf of Johansson. The honorary rifle featured a silver plaque on the stock, honouring Häyhä’s wartime skill. After the war, Häyhä gifted this presentation rifle to the Karelia Jaeger Battalion’s Heritage Room. It later entered the Finnish Military Museum collection, where it remains today.

Figure 4: Simo Häyhä with his honorary M/28‑30 (serial no. 100781), presented in February 1940 and later donated to the Finnish Military Museum.

Figure 5: The Leipzig Galleries bespoke display of Simo Häyhä’s M/28 Civil Guard rifle. The custom mount preserves the rifle’s service patina and is accompanied by contextual photographs.

The Leipzig Galleries M/28

The centrepiece of this display is a Finnish Mosin–Nagant M/28 Civil Guard rifle, serial no. 12559 and Civil Guard no. S 65585. Unlike the later M/28‑30, this rifle retains the original Konovalov rear sight and fixed front blade. It bears the “SY” Civil Guard marking and the “SA” Finnish Army property stamp, showing its transition from Civil Guard issue to wartime service. Häyhä kept this rifle through his pre‑war training and competition years.

Conclusion

Simo Häyhä’s legacy is inseparable from the rifles he used. The M/28 honed his skills, the M/28‑30 amplified them in war, and the honorary M/28‑30 honoured his achievements. The Leipzig Galleries M/28—Civil Guard no. S 65585—bridges these stories. It connects the disciplined practice of a young Civil Guard marksman to the legend of the Winter War sniper and stands as a rare surviving artefact of one of history’s greatest shooters. Through careful preservation and detailed provenance, Leipzig Galleries celebrates the life and skill of Simo Häyhä for future generations.