M/61

M/61 3rd type from lunageek520's collection

Preceded by	Succeeded by
M/38	M/95

Filter connection
60mm

Made in

Finland

Period

1960s-1990s

Issued to

Puolustusvoimat (Finnish Army)

Spanish Cuerpo Nacional de Policía (National police force)

Manufacturer

Nokia

The M/61 is a Finnish gas mask manufactured by Nokia since the 1960s up to 1971. It was the standard issue gas mask for the Finnish Defense Forces. It is a side loading mask (meaning the filter attaches to the side), and takes 60mm filters. Alongside the mask and filter, the kit contains the following: gauze, anti-fog wipes, an instructional pamphlet, and decontamination powder.

Overview[]

The M61 gas mask was manufactured in Finland by the Suomen Kumitehdas Nokia (rubber factory). This factory, was integrated with other firms to form the Nokia corporation in 1967. The filters were manufactured by the Kemira Oy. firm (now part of Scott Health & Safety, in turn part of Tyco International).

The M61 was a copy of the US M9 gas mask with a few alterations. Most noticeably, the color of the M9A1 was a whitish-greenish mix while this mask was of a greyish-greenish or bluish-grey color.

There were three issued types of the M61.

Model 1 - Most similar to the U.S. M9. The only changes were the Nokia manufacture mark on the filter side, and 'SA' (Finnish: Suomen Asevoimat "Finnish Military") replacing 'US' at the top.
Model 2 - This version has a longer outlet valve cover, and a peripheral seal was added. The 'SA' marking was removed, and the watchtower of the Finnish Defence Forces was added on the opposite side to the filter.
Model 3 - The most common model. The rubber exhalation assembly was replaced by a black plastic assembly, incorporating a voice diaphragm, and the cover featured the distinctive watchtower of the Finnish Defence Forces.

History[]

The mask was initially produced and used in Finland by the Puolustusvoimat (Finnish Defence Forces).

A number of first model M/61 masks were purchased and used by the Spanish Cuerpo Nacional de Policía (National police force).

After getting out of service, these masks became quite common on the surplus market, and they are often seen on the faces of protesters from all over the world.