Amateur treasure hunters uncover 200 wartime rifles in Asikkala, Finland

On Sunday, amateur treasure hunters discovered a stash of approximately 200 wartime rifles in Asikkala, a village in the Päijät-Häme region of Finland. The find was made by members of the Kanta-Häme Historical Seekers group who were searching for ancient artifacts when Mikko Mäkelä decided to investigate the corner of a forest mound. There, he found an indentation that suggested human activity.

Using a metal detector, Mäkelä uncovered a rifle trigger mechanism just ten centimeters below the surface, prompting him to call his fellow seekers. “I carefully pulled the rifle out, unsure of what else might be there. I immediately saw another rifle, and then a third, and so on,” he recounted, highlighting how discoveries often occur just as they were preparing to leave.

Fearing potential explosive materials, the team contacted emergency services for guidance and ceased digging. An hour later, a police officer trained in explosives arrived. With their oversight, the Kanta-Häme Historical Seekers continued to excavate, eventually unearthing around 100 rifles. The police then requested assistance from the Defense Forces due to the scale of the find.

Ultimately, around 200 rifles were excavated, along with damaged parts and broken weapons. These m/28-30 rifles, commonly referred to as “pystykorva” in Finnish, are poor condition and are likely to be destroyed, as they hold no value even for museums. Police confirmed that nothing dangerous, such as functional weapons or explosives, was found in the area during a thorough search. The location of the stash remains undisclosed to the public.