WWII Tokarev Tula Arsenal SVT-40 7.62x54R Semi-Automatic Rifle MFD 1941 C&R
SOLD FOR: $2525
LSB#: 211002NI43
Make: Soviet, Tula Arsenal Factory No. 314 NKV
Model: SVT-40
Serial#: LK3243 (romanized from cyrillic)
Year of Manufacture: 1941
Caliber: 7.62x54mmR
Action Type: Semi-Automatic Rifle fed by Detachable Magazine (no magazine included)
Markings: All the markings are in Cyrillic and have been romanized here. The top of the chamber ring is marked “1941” under a star (indicating the year of manufacture). The left side of the chamber ring features the stamped serial number “LK3243”. The right side of the chamber ring is marked with a “P” inside a circle (indicating the rifle was refurbished sometime after 1950), a “K” in a circle, 3 in a diamond and “O” in a circle. The bolt handle is marked with the serial number which has been applied with an electric pencil. The bottom of the bolt, visible through the chamber, also has the serial number which was applied by an electric pencil. The trigger guard features the serial number which has been stamped, an Izhevsk proof and the number “5”. The buttplate features the serial number which has been marked with an electric pencil. The front sight is marked with a faded proof mark and a star. The cleaning rod has an Izhevsk proof. The tangent leaf rear sight is marked “Kh” twice on its base and has faded proof marks. The left side of the butt is marked with the serial number, “P” in a circle (indicating the rifle was refurbished after 1950) and “Z”. The left side of the forend just beneath the grip is marked “Shcha”. The right side of the butt is marked “A” in a circle, “V”, “P” in a circle twice (indicating the rifle was refurbished after 1950), “M” in a circle, “S” in a circle, “K” in a circle and has a few more faded proof marks. The bottom of the wrist features a faded proof mark from a repair depot.
Barrel Length: 27”
Sights/ Optics: The front sight is a dovetailed post on a ramp with a protective hood. The rear sight is a tangent leaf with a “U”-notch which is graduated in meters 1-15, inclusive. There is also a scope attached to the receiver. The scope’s base is mounted on rails that are integral to the receiver and it is held by two rings integral to the base which are screwed to hold the scope. The scope is not serial matched to the rifle and was applied to it after production, this is not a factory SVT-40 Sniper. The mount has no visible markings. The scope itself is marked with a star above the hammer and sickle, “1942” (indicating the year the scope was manufactured), the serial number “A-03622”, a box with an “X” inside it (indicating the scope was refurbished at Arsenal No. 2 in Kyiv) next to “L.” above “19” next to a box with an “X” inside it adjacent to “67g.” (indicating the scope was refurbished in Arsenal No.2 in Kyiv in 1967 (g. is an abbreviation for the Russian word Goda or year). The scope is adjustable for windage and elevation and has a “German” style reticle. The glass on the scope is clear and the reticle is sharp. The scope has some handling marks and scratches on its surface but it remains in Very Good condition.
Stock Configuration & Condition/ Grip: The stocks are 4-pieces featuring ventilated metal upper and lower piston covers, a wood ventilated handguard, a wood forend and butt, a barrel band with a sling swivel on the left side, a through bolt, a semi-pistol grip, slightly curved comb, sling swivel on the belly and metal buttplate. The stocks have some handling marks, scratches, nicks and scuffs. Notably, there is a backward L shaped crack on the left side of the forend, a patch repair on the right side of the forend, a patch repair on the top of the wrist, a patch repair on the bottom of the wrist and a small crack on the right side of the forend under the handguard. There are no chips. The LOP is 13.25” from the trigger to the rear end of the buttplate. The buttplate has some finish loss around its leading edges and more general handling marks. Overall, the arsenal refurbished stocks are in Very Good condition.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: Original to Arsenal Refurbishment
Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright and the rifling is sharp. There is some minor erosion in the bore concentrated in the grooves.
Overall Condition: The rifle retains about 90% of its metal finish. There are some handling marks, scratches and nicks on the metal parts of the rifle. The bolt has developed a brown hue, a result from the refurbishment done at Soviet repair depots. Some proof marks have faded but the majority of the markings are clear. The screwheads are serviceable. Overall, this arsenal refurbished rifle is in Very Good condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We did not fire this rifle. As with all previously owned firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box Paperwork and Accessories: There is an attached scope which has been described above.
Our Assessment: This Tula Arsenal, Factory No. 314 NKV SVT-40 is a semi-automatic rifle that is fed by detachable magazines and takes 7.62x54mmR rounds. The SVT-40 was designed by Fyodor Vasilievich Tokarev, one of the preeminent Soviet weapon designers. The precursor to the SVT-40 was the SVT-38 which proved unpopular among Soviet soldiers during the Winter War of 1940. The design was improved and by 1941 the SVT-40 began to enter service. The automatic rifle saw extensive use by the Red Army during WWII across all fronts. The rifle proved its worth in the hands of some of the most accomplished snipers to emerge from the war. The highest scoring female sniper in history Lyudmila Mikhailovna Pavlichenko scored 309 kills primarily using the SVT-40. This rifle, despite being equipped with a scope, is not a sniper variant of the SVT-40. The actual sniper variants had a limited serial range, their scope mounts were serial matched to the rifle and they had a cyrillic “S” on the right side of the chamber ring (it lacks all three items). The scope was refurbished in the 1960s which indicates that it was likely converted to carry a scope long after it was retired from military service. With that said the rifle is still an aesthetically pleasing and mechanically sound WWII era SVT-40. The rifle lacks a magazine, but otherwise is ready for action. This is one WWII-vintage rifle you do not want to miss out on.