Tikka M55

Lore & Background

The Tikka M55 originated from Tikkakoski's renewed focus on firearms after the company was purchased from Soviet ownership in 1957 by Finnish businessmen. Prototypes of a repeating centerfire rifle were made in 1967, and production began in 1968 under the name M76, derived from reversing the digits of 1967. The rifle was renamed LSA55 in 1969 for export to the United States, where Ithaca Gun Company handled import and marketing. In 1972 the name and receiver markings were changed to M55.

The action is loosely based on the Mauser design, with a milled receiver of special steel and a 90° rotating two-lug cylindrical bolt. The bolt handle serves as a safety lug. The short action cannot house cartridges larger than .308 Winchester or eject cases longer than 55 mm. Barrels are cut rifled with six grooves and available in three lengths. The trigger pull is adjustable between 1 kg and 3 kg via a screw inside the magazine well, though setting it too light can cause unintentional discharges. The magazine is a single-stack, single-feed stamped steel unit holding 3, 5, or 10 rounds, with a maximum cartridge overall length of 73–74 mm. Sporter variants have heavy walnut stocks with UIT rails; no synthetic materials were used.

Tikkakoski was bought by Nokia in 1974 and by SAKO in 1983. After the SAKO acquisition, a joint project called Tikka M551 (also Sako L581, nicknamed 'Satikka') produced 1,777 rifles in 1982–1983, but a newer prototype, the Tikka M555, was never put into production. The Tikkakoski factory was closed in 1987, its machinery destroyed, and production moved to SAKO's factory in Riihimäki. The last M55 rifles were assembled in 1989, and the model was superseded by the Tikka M558 of the M88 series in 1990.

Reader's Guide

The Tikka M55 holds significance as the first centerfire rifle action designed and produced entirely by Tikkakoski, marking the company's return to firearms manufacturing after a period of Soviet ownership and reduced production. Its development from the M76 through the LSA55 to the M55 reflects the evolution of a design that was exported to the United States and used by military and law enforcement units, including the Special Air Service Regiment of Australia and the Special Air Service of the United Kingdom. The rifle's legacy includes its influence on the long-action Tikka M65 and its eventual replacement by the Tikka M88 series. The M55's design, with its Mauser-inspired action, adjustable trigger, and free-floating barrel, established a foundation for later Tikka rifles. The closure of the Tikkakoski factory and the transfer of production to SAKO in Riihimäki marked the end of an era, but the M55 remains a notable example of Finnish rifle engineering from the late 20th century.

Did You Know?

• The Tikka M55 was originally named M76, derived from reversing the digits of the year 1967.
• The rifle was imported to the United States by Ithaca Gun Company under the name LSA55.
• A joint project between Tikkakoski and SAKO produced 1,777 rifles called Tikka M551 or Sako L581, nicknamed 'Satikka'.
• The Tikkakoski factory was closed in 1987 and all its machinery was destroyed.