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 willyp | Home > Soviet/Combloc Section > Soviet Union > Weapons > 
1938-40 SVT38/40 Tokarev (7.62x54r)
The Tokarev family of semi-auto rifles began w/the SVT38 which was mfg into 1940, saw action in the Russo-Finn war, redesign to correct deficiencies resulted in the SVT40 which was produced from 1940-1945. Both rifles were designed w/integral rails for an optical mount/scope & some were used as snipers rifles. illustrated in this album are both models, SVT 38 & SVT 40, including SVT40 variants, early/late & original snipers rifles.
Album by willyp. Photos by willyp. 1 - 61 of 61 Total. 27385 Visits.
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Enlarge photo 1

Side view of 2 SVT38's w/2 variant bayos
This pic shows 2 SVT38's w/the original SVT38 pattern bayonet, a long blade bayonet, steel scabbard w/integral leather or canvas hanger, 1 of the bayonets shown here has a polished finish, the other is blued. There is also a shorter blade variant, similiar to the SVT40 blade but w/the cutting edge up as are the SVT38 long bayonets

Enlarge photo 2

SVT38's w/long & short blade bayonet
Most of the SVT38 rifles in the US were imported from Finland in the 60's, a few may have been brought back as war trophies but very few as the SVT38 was withdrawn from service fairly early in WW2 & not provided to any other countries, Finland had a small number which were captures during the Russo-Finn war.

Enlarge photo 3

Action detail of 2 SVT38's
Here you can see the 2 pc stock, w/cleaning rod mounted on the side of the SVT38, the rod had a swivel head when removed from the groove which could be used as a handle, the SVT40 used a more standard rod mounted under the stock, here you can also see the SVT38 mag, again a bit different from the SVT40, the 38 also had differences within the parts of the trigger group.

Enlarge photo 4

2 SVT40's, 1 SVT38 w/bayonets
Here are 2 SVT40 models (top 2) w/shorter blade bayonets, 1 blued finish & 1 polished, on the bottom is an SVT38 w/the original 38 pattern long blade bayonet.

Enlarge photo 5

Closer view of the same rifles

Enlarge photo 6

3 SVT40's (top), SVT38 bottom
This is the same rifles as previous w/the addition of the top rifle which is another SVT40 variant, note the rear buttstock which has a Mosin-Nagant style stock slot rather than the usual metal sling swivel.

Enlarge photo 7

Buttstock view of 4 previous  rifles
here's a closer view to compare the buttstock details of the "slotted" stock SVT40 (commonly referred to as the Marine variant), 2 standard SVT40's & an SVT38 (bottom)

Enlarge photo 8

40 late, 40 early, 38 Muzzles
Here's a pic (T-B) SVT40 late (or AVT40, select fire SVT40) 4 port muzzle break, SVT40 early, 12 port muzzle break (another difference between early/late guns was the early guns had a 2pc front swivel on the left of the band, later guns had a fixed loop as part of the band), also note the different stock/cleaning rod & metal covers on the 38 versus 40's.

Enlarge photo 9

40 late, 40 early, 38 W/bayos affixed
Here's a closer view of the bayonet mountings on the 3 different rifles. Interstingly on the 2 38's & 7 40's I've had, the SVT40 bayonets will not fit the 38's, the "tongue" of the bayonet lug appears to be a bit too wide, I'm not sure if this is indicative of all or just w/these 2.

Enlarge photo 10

3 SVT model bayonets
Top is the standard SVT40 bayonet, short blade, cutting edge on bottom, fullers angled slightly up, shown w/later wartime scabbard)
Middle is the late 38, early 40 style w/short blade, cutting edge on top & fullers angled down (as in the long 38 pattern), shown w/the early style scabbard.
Bottom is the SVT38 polished long blade bayonet.
Bottom


Enlarge photo 11

SVT38-40 bayonets left view
Here are the 2 short blade variants alng w/2 SVT38 long blade models, 1 polished, 1 blued. The SVT40 bayonets are also found polished or blued although the blued blade 40's are generally thought to have been blued during arsenal refurb, original production having been polished. The long 38 pattern is questionable to me though as the 38 rifles were taken out of service fairly quickly & none have ever shown up in arsenal refurb condition (compared to the SVT40 refurbs which were imported in fair numbers to the US a few years back), unless the 38 bayonets were done haphazardly w/the 40's.

Enlarge photo 12

Same bayonets w/different scabbards
Here are the scabbard variants to be found w/SVT bayonets,
top: standard production SVT40 bayonet, late scabbard, stamped folded over (compare to next one down)
Second-top: Early pattern scabbard, better quality mfg w/ball finial on end
Bottom two: long SVT38 pattern, basically the same as the early pattern 40 but longer.


Enlarge photo 13

Scabbards, same order as previous pic
Here you can see the (in this case) leather hangers which are an integral part of the scabbard.

Enlarge photo 14

SVT 38 (left), 40 (right) mags
The 38 & 40 used mags with different mfg features, 38 used a cup style floor plate, also note the small"hole" on the side compared to the 40 mag on the right, both the mags are interchangeable between the rifles though.

Enlarge photo 15

Rear (spine) of 38 (left), 40 (right) mags

Enlarge photo 16

SVT38 cleaning rod head
this is the head of the cleaning rod as folded when affixed to the stock slot of the rifle.

Enlarge photo 17

SVT38 rod head open

Enlarge photo 18

SVT38 rod head open side view

Enlarge photo 19

SVT40 sniper rifle
The SVT38-40 has always been a fairly rare item in the US (especially the 38), the only ones in the US until the 90's were the few guns from Finland (not all the Finn guns were SA mkd), in the 90's there were a fair number of SVT40's imported, these were arsenal refurbed guns, some of the distinguishing features are:
1/ importers mkgs, usually very small & on the side of the recvr, along w/an importer serial (usually begins w/t1xxxx8 etc) on the recvr.
2/ most bolts were a "plum" color
3/ most parts are pencil etched matching (all original guns had bright bolts & the full serial, including crylic prefixes were stamped on the recvr, trigger guard, bolt carrier, bolt & stock)
4/ Most had mixes of early/late features, bands, muzzle breaks, stocks etc.


Enlarge photo 20

SVT40 sniper set
Included in the imports were a few (reportedly around a 100) original snipers rifles which have a small "notch" on the top rear of tlocks the mount to the receiver in addtion to the scope rails. Most SVT40's were mfg w/scope rails as part of the design (although there are some found that don't have them) so the rails alone DO NOT id the rifle as a snipers rifle.                             Here's the rifle w/scope/mount, action cover & leather lens covers. This particular rifle is a 1941 Tula, has a correct "notch", proper early style stock, narrow wrist w/safety groove only on left, early 2 piece moveable front swivel, 12 port break & all parts that have an arsenal mark visible are Tula star marked. Typical of the refurbs it is etched matching & has the "plum" colored bolt.

Enlarge photo 21

41 Tula sniper w/o scope/mount

Enlarge photo 22

Rearsenaled sniper, butt right side
On this rifle there are no markings on the right side (it's been rearsenaled & probably removed then), originally there would be a Soviet acceptance stamp on the right buttstock, a Star/date for Tula rifles & a concentric circle w/crylic markings within for Ishevsk. You will also find stocks stamped w/a large A which is a later stock mfg for the select fire version of this rifle the AVT40.

Enlarge photo 23

Importer serial & "notch" location

Enlarge photo 24

Right side action

Enlarge photo 25

Action right w/scope/mount removed
Here the scope/mount areshown removed from the rifle. Not the odd configuration of the mount, it has 2 horizontal "rails" that slide into the rooves on the receiver, there is an opening in the rear of the mount to allow use of the iron sights when the scpe is fitted.

Enlarge photo 26

Field action cover

Enlarge photo 27

Receiver mkgs right side
various proof/insoectors mkgs, also note crylic S (C) stamped facing rear

Enlarge photo 28

Forend, right side

Enlarge photo 29

Muzzle detail right side
Note small t-shaped fitting on side of bayonet lug which is the release for the cleaning rod & the gas regulator, small protrusion at front of upper vented metal handguard.

Enlarge photo 30

Muzzle deail left.
The SVT40 cleaning rod is very similiar to the Mosin Nagant rod except it has a collar a few inches down from the tip that catches on the rlease in the bayonet lug.

Enlarge photo 31

Forend detail left

Enlarge photo 32

Bottom of forend, marking
This marking, A (or possibly V) is on the bottom of the forend half way between front/rear.

Enlarge photo 33

SVT40 rear sight

Enlarge photo 34

Bolt carrier etched number
Here is the electric pencil etched number markings found on the arsenal refurbed guns, also note the remains of the Tula star stamp on the carrier handle.

Enlarge photo 35

Scope mount & scope markings.
hammer/scicyle, date 1941 & serial.

Enlarge photo 36

Bolt etched number
The number etched on the bolt, the bolt numbers on the SVT rifles is visible through the bottom of the mag well w/the mag removed.

Enlarge photo 37

Recvr marking from the top
Here it's Tula (star), date of 1941, Ishevsk rifles would have a triangle w/an arrow within.

Enlarge photo 38

Receiver marking left side.

Enlarge photo 39

Action, left side w/lens covers on
Note lever behind trigger, this is the safety, it manually blocks the trigger from moving far enough to the rear to release the hammer. On the semi-auto guns it would only rotate to the left (fire) where it would lie in the groove visible. On AVT40's there is another groove on the right side of the stock & the safety lever would rotate to the right for the full auto position. There are a few rifles around where the full auto safety was used & it will rotate to the right but these guns ARE NOT auto, there are other differences in the trigger groups.

Enlarge photo 40

Left action, w/scope/mount removed

Enlarge photo 41

Left action w/field cover

Enlarge photo 42

Left side action

Enlarge photo 43

Wrist area from bottom
This view shows the single groove alongside the trigger group for the safety lever & the thinner wrist area on the earlier rifles. There are also 2 different trigger guard styles found, this one, in the pic, is the "thicker" version, the width of the trigger guard loop is the same as the base, the "narrow" version has the loop a bit thinner than the base.

Enlarge photo 44

Triggerguard etched number

Enlarge photo 45

Markings, bottom of stock-rear
Note again the crylic S (C) which apperas to be the same font & size as the 1 on the right of the receiver.

Enlarge photo 46

Same markings as previous
This is a "wider" shot of the markings in the previous pic to illustrate their location on the stock.

Enlarge photo 47

Stock number
Number is stamped in buttstock on left side.

Enlarge photo 48

Stock marking, top of comb
This marking, a 2 is stamped on top of the comb just in front of the buttplate.

Enlarge photo 49

Buttstock left view

Enlarge photo 50

Buttplate
Flat w/o doors, on some of the SVT40 refurbs I've seen the rifle number (just the numbers, no crylic prefixes) is stamped in the wood under the buttplate.

Enlarge photo 51

SVT40 sniper left view

Enlarge photo 52

Left view w/scope/mount removed

Enlarge photo 53

Scope & mount
Scope is very similiar to the Mosin PU scope, actually it's the forerunner of the PU, mechanics & optics appear to be identical the only apparent physical difference is the rear of the tube is a slightly larger diameter whereas the PU is the same all the way thru. The SVT? scope will fit in a PU mount but a PU scope will not fit in a Tokarev mount.

Enlarge photo 54

Scope marking

Enlarge photo 55

Scope marking
This is a repair facility marking (thanks VicT & gunboards members).

Enlarge photo 56

Mount Bare
Here's the mount w/the scope removed, note the hinged U clamps, also note the transverse hole in the upright body of the mount, this is for the "key" that locks the mount onto the receiver by sliding thru the rear receiver notch.

Enlarge photo 57

Another view of the mount
This is an original Soviet mount, there are also decent repros available so be careful when paying for one of these, don't pay original prices for a repro!

Enlarge photo 58

Mount inside top

Enlarge photo 59

Mount markings

Enlarge photo 60

Inner mount markings
These markings are found on the inside of the mount looking through the bottom.

Enlarge photo 61

Lens Covers
Scope lens covers, these would be the same as covers used w/PU scopes, these covers have stitched seams & are a tan leather but I have covers that are riveted & in different colors, dk brown, black, reddish etc.

 
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