State Rifle Factory, Industrial heritage site in Tourula, Jyväskylä, Finland.
The State Rifle Factory is a former weapons manufacturing complex in Jyväskylä comprising multiple buildings with distinct production areas. The facility was designed by architect Urho Åberg and initially relied on machinery imported from the United States.
The facility opened in 1926 and produced military weapons such as the Lahti-Saloranta M/26 light machine gun and the Lahti L-39 anti-tank rifle until 1946. Production ceased as Finland's political situation shifted after World War II.
The factory buildings reflect Finnish industrial design of the 1920s and show the country's role in military manufacturing during that era. They reveal how weapons production was woven into the nation's industrial identity.
The complex sits close to downtown Jyväskylä with the Tourujoki river creating a natural boundary between the site and the city center. The former factory buildings remain visible and accessible for viewing from the surrounding area.
Rather than closing after World War II, the factory was repurposed and later produced tractors and industrial machines under the Valmet corporation name. This transformation reveals how Finnish industry reinvented itself and shifted manufacturing toward peacetime production.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
