The Soviet SVD is one of the most collectible military rifles out there, very few are in the US, probably less than 1000, there are some commercial variants, all Russian mfg, the California Armory guns, & the Tiger which is most numberous (although still rare), the CA guns & Tigers are not C&R eligible, the KBI & early military are. In this album are examples of an "early" SVD, 1983 Ishevsk, a later example, 1 of the KBI later production, & an early Chinese Type79/85 SVD, also shown are accessories, scopes, & Night Vision scopes used w/them, all the guns, scopes etc are described & pictured individually & then collectively to make direct photo comparions possible.
Date(s): 8/02/08 COMPLETE UPDATE!!!. Album by willyp. Photos by willyp. 1 - 48 of 184 Total. 3150 Visits.
Late mfg (KBI), 1983 Ishevsk & Chinese SVD comparison Top: '94 Ishevsk (KBI) Ctr: '83 Ishevsk Bttm: Chinese SVD (type79/85)
'83 Ishevsk w/early bayonet Original, early SVD, 1983 Ishevsk shown w/early style 1959 (6x3)AKM bayonet. The "early" guns are characterized by the rectangular cutout in the right receiver over the mag well, it's also equipped w/the original PSO1 style scope w/IR detector.
'83 Ishevsk w/later style AKM bayonet Same rifle fitted w/the later AKM/AK74 type bayonet (6x4), the rifle is also fitted w/the earlier "honey brown" finish laminate furniture.
'83 Ishevsk rght side view
Right view of laminate buttstock '83 Ishevsk w/honey brown colored laminate, also note the cheekpiece which is light brown color & is numbered on the inside to the rifles as issued. The metal bar in the rear acts a sling mount & has a loose metal sleeve around it.
'83 Ishevsk right action view View of the right side of the PSO1 scope & you can also see the rectangular "lightening" cut over the mag.
Closeup of the cutout This is the "normal" receiver on SVD's up into the late 80's early 90's, later guns (as the 94 KBI's) will be found w/o this cutout (as on commercial Tigers etc) once thought to indicate a commercial receiver it's been found that some (but apparently not all) military mfg SVD's were made w/o this cutout.
83 Ishevsk marking location Bottom of receiver in front of the mag well was the original location for SVD markings, Ishevsk mkg (arrow in triangle), date & serial. later guns w/o the cutout had the markings on the left side of the recvr.
'83 Ishevsk laminate forend There's a swivel lock lever on the front right side, swivel the lock down, push up on the front band, then depress the handguard toward the receiver (there's a spring in the rear handguard band to keep tension on the guards) to remove.
'83 Ishevsk muzzle/front sight/suppressor Here you can see the light, thin barrel, along w/the gas port which has an adjuster in it for pressure (lacking on the Tiger version) & the front assembly which consists of the front sight, bayonet lug, & muzzle break & is slid on & pinned to the barrel.
Soviet bayonets used w/the SVD Top: Model 6x3, AKM typeI from 1959 Ctr: Model 6x4, AKM/AK74 typeII approximately 1970 Bttm: Model 6x5, AK74, approximate late 80's (early examples of these were a plum color then black.
Soviet Bayos The 6x3 & 6x4 used the same blade & crossbar, the pommels were different as were the scabbards although there was a "transitional" version of the 6x3 utilizing the later plastic scabbard of the 6x4. the 6x5 is an entirely new design.
Left side view of the Soviet bayonets Top: Early 6x3 w/metal scabbard & blk/gray insulator. Ctr: Mid 6x4 w/plastic scabbard & square style pommel Bttm: Late 6x5 w/new blade & plastic scabbard
Soviet Bayos L Note the web wrist straps & "pebbled" leather hanger on the 6x3 & 6x4, the 6x5 did away w/the strap & uses black "pebbled" leather for the hanger assembly
Left view of muzzle w/mid 6x4 bayonet affixed
Left view of forend, 1983 Ishevsk Front sling attachment is via a small round ring machined into the gas tube assembly
'83 Ishevsk left action/scope view Here you can see the details on the PSO1 w/IR detector, the IR detector switch is the small switch at top center just below/front of the upper knob.
PSO1 scope markings
PSO1 scope IR detector "charging" window The small round "lens" was exposed to a light source, sunlight, & charged the element which would react to an IR emitter.
PSO1 scope detail Here you can see the IR detector switch & window, also behind the small "tab" (has 4 holes in it) is the switch for the reticule illuminating light. The battery compartment for this light is at the rear of the upright & is the round cap.
PSO1 scope w/battery warmer in place For extreme cold weather use the Soviets issued this battery warmer, you removed the scope battery cap, put the cap which was on the long end of the wire on the scope, the battery was placed in the battery compartment on the end of the wire, the cap from the scope was placed on that & the battery compartment was then hooked to the belt or inside the clothing to keep it warm.
Warmer cap in place on scope compartment The cap made full contact w/the compartment & basically moved the battery location to the other end of the wire where it could be placed inside something for warmth!
Battery warmer battery compartment Here's the "substitute" battery compartment, note the clip on the side so it could be clipped to the belt inside/under a coat.
Left view of receiver/stock join There will usually be a number stamped in the wood on the flat just over the grip, this number does not match the rifle, it should match the scope number.
Left view of buttstock Note the clamp on cheekpiece, this cheekpiece is perfect for use w/the PSO series scopes but interestingly must be removed to use the iron sights!
Left view w/early 6x3 bayonet
Left view w/mid 6x4 bayonet
KBI Import box This starts the later mfg, KBI import section. Reportedly 101 guns were imported by KBI in the early 90's, they came packaged in the above box.
Early cased Chinese SVD In comparison to the KBI Soviet import there is this leatherette, velour lined case, early Chinese SVD's which were imported came in these fitted cases w/all accessories.
KBI in Box As packaged & delivered, consisted of the rifle, scope, sling, mag pouch, 5 mags, bayonet/scabbard, tools, cleaning gear & cleaning rods. The KBI's came all matching w/scope numbered to rear stock, bayonet nuumbered to gun, they were sold here w/full laminate (later dk red) laminate stock & handguards.
View of the cased Chinese SVD for comparison Note the fancy velour & all the accesories fitted in their own individual cutouts.
Right view of KBI as sold w/laminate handguards When I was purchasing my KBI I got a chance to speak w/the gentleman who reportedly purchased them for KBI, he said when they originally went to pick them up they were fitted w/dk red laminate stocks & black polymer handguards, he told me he told the Russians they wanted all laminate wood & a couple days later the guns were delivered w/the handguards replaced!
KBI w/accs Note in this pic the rifle has been refitted w/the "original" black poly handguards. I have the matching poly stock but as far as I know they were originally fitted w/only the guards.
Right view of the KBI w/bayonet The KBI guns were of "later" mfg, just prior to/during the breakup of the Soviet Union, they apparently had made some changes, the lightening cut on the receiver side was dispensed with & some apparently were fitted w/the "new" black polymer handguards, these guns were also equipped w/the later PSO1M2 scope which deleted the IR detector as by that time active IR was not a major factor on the battlefield (or so goes the theory!)
Right view of buttstock, KBI Other than color of finish same as the early '83, note the cheekpiece on the KBI is black instead of brown, & it's numbered to the gun.
Right side action view Here's the KBI right side, note the lack of the "lightening" cut over the mag well & the placing of the arkings on this flat, the earlier guns had their markings on the bottom of the receiver just in front of the mag well.
KBI markings Here you can see the Ishevsk arsenal symbol & the importers markings
Polymer handguard, right side
KBI R Gas port
KBI Gas Port Top view of thew gas port adjuster, not the assembly is numbered to the rifle.
Muzzle w/6x5 bayonet attached The bayonet is etch matched to the rifle.
KBI PSO1M2 scope R View of the "inner" side of the PSO1M2, basically the same as the earlier PSO1 w/the deletion of the IR detector.
PSO1M2 knob markings
PSO1M2 top view Here you can see the area in front of the knob is solid, this is where the IR detector "window" was located in the earlier PSO1.
PSO1M2 marking Note the rubber lens protector which is permanently attached to the mount.
Some KBI accs The scope cover, PSO1M2 scope & cheekpiece.
SVD mag/accessory pouch The pouch has belt loops, holds 4 mags, tools, cleaning gear, cleaning rods, spare scope parts & has an inner pocket into which the scope can be stored when dismounted from the rifle.
KBI Accs Cloth-Lens Filter The lens cleaning cloth still in original wrap on left, the lens filter on the right.
