Deciphering the 7.62x54R Globe Firearms Co. 555 Mohawk

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Deciphering the 7.62x54R Globe Firearms Co. 555 Mohawk 1/3


Few people would have been aware that there was a version of the 555 Mohawk rifle – produced by Globe Firearms Company – in 7.62 X 54 R. In fact, I certainly didn't know this was the case until I saw such a gun sitting on a table at a gun show – a gun which I quickly purchased. Compared to the widely-known 555 Mohawk, in 303 British, the 7.62X54R variant has two big things going for it – at least in today’s terms. It shoots the same 7.62x54R ammo is its SVT-40 parent gun (now cheap and in plentiful supply; in both corrosive factory original form and in modern, boxer primed formats) and it is fed from common SVT-40 magazines. The 7.62x54R variant also has a slightly shorter barrel. Overall, the 7.62X54R gun is the much more desirable of the two.

More significantly, however, the discovery of this apparently-rare version of the Mohawk may fill-in one of the blanks regarding the history of this rugged but handsome mil-spec based hunting rifle; a gun which I see as sort of a 1960’s version of the Valmet Hunter concept.

Here’s how I see the relevant family tree (and its related roots).

We know that the Globe Firearms Company was incorporated in the 1960s to be engaged in the business of importing distributing and re-manufacturing, ex-military firearms from Europe. Their head office and manufacturing facility was located in the East End of Ottawa.

People who make dismissive comments – about the Mohawk and other Globco-branded products – referring to these as “a bubba conversion of a perfectly good SVT-40” don’t have their facts right. These aren’t basement cut-ups or the product of someone’s gun shop. They are factory-grade conversions. Globe Firearms Co. was a full commercial operation with specific product models, marketing channels mainstream advertising activities and even a US branch.

It is clear that Globe Firearms Company must have committed to the purchase of many thousands of ex-military firearms, left over from the second World War. These can be considered as – what were at the time – unwanted guns. That is, today, everybody seems to want to have a military-pattern firearm, but in the 60’s and early seventies, few in Canada would have wanted to own and SVT-40 or a weirdo 1889 Schmidt Rubin, etc. – especially since these fired ammo that no one had heard of and no one could buy.

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Deciphering the 7.62x54R Globe Firearms Co. 555 Mohawk 2/3

These were surplus guns which would have been in storage for at least 20 years at the time. In the case of the SVT38 and SVT 40 guns, these also would have been captured guns – probably subjected to rough battlefield treatment, then stored without cleaning; probably in unheated facilities without moisture controls. Therefore, what Globco would have bought would be a mixed inventory of guns – including some good guns that had been captured or otherwise obtained, without having seen hard warfare – and which might have been captured without having been fired, since their previous cleaning. For each one of these nice guns there probably were many more with broken stocks, rotted bores and maybe missing parts.

It is pretty clear that Globe Firearms Company did its best to sell the clean models – without conversion.

The picture from a 1960’s era ad shows where Globco tried to do so – playing up the advantages of the SVT-40 – while attempted to photograph the gun from an angle; foreshortening its oddly long shape. Globco also avoids noting that this gun was made and used by what had – in the 1960s –become America’s Cold War foe. They also used a US address, offered a money back guarantee and provided a source of ammo for these guns.

We don't know how Globco’s efforts to sell these clean, stock SVT-40s worked-out, but we do know that – by 1968 – a US law had been passed which prohibited the importation of foreign-sourced ex-military firearms (i.e. the Gun Control Act of 1968)

So it is that the first member of the 555 Mohawk family tree would have been the SVT-40 itself. I think that the 7.62X54R Mohawk that I came across – and purchased – MAY have been the second member of this tree; and a short-lived one at that.

As shown in the accompanying photographs this gun has an original SVT-40 barrel which has been shortened to 20.25 inches – exactly the length that you would get if you cut off the original barrel at the gas takeoff hole.

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Deciphering the 7.62x54R Globe Firearms Co. 555 Mohawk 3/3

As shown in the photo in the post above, the gas system, has been moved back and the original one-piece recoil suppressor, front sight gas block assembly has been adapted to retain only the gas block. Since moving the gas black back – toward the chamber area – has re- located the gas block in an area, of the tapered barrel, where its diameter is greater than it was (in the original location) it had not been possible to reattached the gas block by holding it in-place with the sleeve or band around the barrel. Instead, it looks like the gas block is held in place only by the staking key (although it is possible that it may also be silver soldered onto the barrel, in its new location).

The gas port take-off is a mere 8 inches from the breach, in the case of the 555 Mohawk (in either 7.62x54R or the more-common pattern); whereas the take-off is 20.25” from the breach for the parent SVT-40 guns. It still works fine there and any necessary tweeking can be done using the gas adjustment system.

The repositioned gas block – and the entire barrel assembly and action – has been professionally re-blued. The gas system gas nut (gas regulator) – as well as the gas piston and cup are bone stock, mil spec items (putting the flimsy gas system of the Remington 7400 to shame, in this department) but the op rod has been shortened.

The 7.62x54R Mohawk has a 20.25 barrel, as noted; indicating that the barrel was shorten to a length coincident with where the original gas take-off hole had been. SVT-40s have a 24.6” inch barrel with a recoil suppressor adding about 2.5’’ to the length of this already really long gun.

The 7.62x54R Mohawk gun in the photos has had the original serial number and all original military factory markings removed. In place of the original serial no. – near the breach – is an elaborate Globco logo. Could this have been done to get around the US Gun Control Act of 1968?

The only marking is on the barrel “cal 7.62 Russ.” This could have been some sort of a prototype gun or dealer sample of a pattern – which was never put into production.

I know of only one other Mohawk reported to be in 7.62x54R and the fellow who posted about his referred to it as a “555a Mohawk”. I do not know, for sure, that two of these guns exist – as the date of that guy's post was such that he could have easily been the previous owner of what is now my gun.

As far as I can tell, this 7.62x54R Mohawk may have just been a stepping stone for the final, commercial pattern of the 555 Mohawk. These .303 British guns are like my 7.62x54R Mohawk BUT the factory barrel has been replaced by a mil-surp Lee Enfiled no. 1 Mark III* unit.

This modification isn’t a bubba, screw-in mod – but rather, the part of the barrel, forward of the chamber has been reprofiled to be identical to that of the original barrel. There are no original markings on the added L-E barrel and lining-up an original L-E barrel with its counterpart – installed on a Mohawk – reveals that most or all of the original chamber has been cut-out, and the chamber has been recut. Specifically, I would say that about 0.700 has been cut from the chamber-end of the L-E barrel – which seems to be exactly the length of the original threads. This is presumably good news; since No. 1 Mark III* barrels were known to have intentionally-oversized chambers – to deal with the out of spec ammo of the day (in WW1).

As noted, the gas block on the 303 Brit Mohawk is located 8” from the breach – as with the 7.62x54R Mohawk. However, the L-E barrels have a diameter of about .6865 at that point (versus about 0.700 for the 7.62x54R gun) so that the barrel band, associated with retaining the gas block on the barrel (on the .303 gun) can just fit around the barrel, in the new location. However, the band is paper-thin and one assumes that most of the work of retaining the gas block in-place is being done by the staking key. Since new barrel is installed on these guns – which had no former gas hole – the designers, of the 555 Mohawk, could pick any barrel length that they felt like. The choice seems to have been to go with goldilocks length of 22”

Both the 7.62x54R and .303 British versions of the Mohawk shipped with bright blue, shortened 5 round mags. The caliber on the 303 British mag is marked. No caliber markings are found on the 7.62x54R 5 rounder. The 7.62x54R Mohawk can use original Soviet or aftermarket SVT-38 and 40 mags – just not in Canada. Pity.

The stock work is classier on the 303 Brit Mohawk – compared to that of the 7.62X54R gun – and the wood from one doesn’t fit the other. Anybody who dismisses the Mohawk as a “hack job” would have to have a pretty profound blind spot when it comes to this stock work. The latter is about as good as custom stock making gets.

I understand that about 2,700 Mohawks were made. Many are in pretty rough shape now suffering – not from Bubba manufacturing, but rather from Bubba ownership. The rough ones have been fired a few times – using surplus corrosive ammo, then thrown in a cupboard uncleaned.

I don't think anyone can legitimately own one of these guns unless they also own the gas system adjustment tool and knows how to use it. In fact, if you don't own one of these tools, it is basically impossible to properly clean the gun.

As I mentioned above, I like my 7.62X54R Mohawk for the same reason as I previously liked my 308 Valmet Hunter. Nothing wussy about either. As with the SVT-40, you can treat your Mohawk to a recommended stainless steel gas cup and piston and they are easy to scope. Unlike the SVT 40 you can hunt all day with one of these and expect good results, when you put it into action.

 

[SHELL SHUCKER]

Nice write-up on the Globco Mohawk. Neat stuff to know on these obscure units. I've shot a few of the .303 ones over the years & some were decent shooters whilst a couple were not, due mostly by their owners neglect of maintenance & ammo selection. Most of my gun cronies back then & some now still call the Globco 555's "Crapco".

I feel as you do that these folks just had no real interest in the Tokarev action nor the tools and proper maintenance methods for the beasties. Globco was a neat piece of Canadian firearms history, but nothing near as well known as Cooey.

 

[steelgray]

It got up to 11 degrees and rainy at my local range so time to shoot my semi-auto 555 Mohawk, in 303 British. The ammo used was a part box of early 1960’s CIL Dominion “Super Clean” 303 British SP 180 gr. bullets - with the price tag from a long-gone local hardware store on the corner of the box showing that these twenty rounds cost $5.10.

I shot with the iron sights, but have since added the cool scope mount set-up shown in the photos. The sights on these guns consist of the original SVT40-type range adjustable ramp at the back and a sporter style front post. I don’t shoot open sights well, so my groups size meant nothing, but the group was well centered and there were no keyholes, etc. I’ll check for accuracy another day with the scope.

There were zero mis-feds out of maybe 16 rounds fired. I shot the gun using each of the lowest of the three gas settings and all worked fine. On the lowest setting, the brass was thrown a little shorter distance then on the medium setting, so things are behaving there as expected. The gun generally tosses brass with about the same force and randomness as you get these days with an M305 or 305a, Troy 102, etc. In all cases, you wouldn't want to be in the path of those ejected hulls. I know that more recent commercial loadings of 303 British are milder, but figured that these would still function fine in this gun; maybe with a little less drama.

People on the web talk about these guns ripping the heads off cases and say that they had spacing is way off, etc. Such posters never say what gas setting they were on, so I presume these are brain dead folks who don't even know that the gas system is adjustable - and probably were using the highest setting with a dirty chamber. The 303 Globeco Mohawks were made using NOS surplus Lee Enfield Mk. I no. 3 barrels and I don't know if the chambers are re-cut or not. If they weren't then, of course, they will have the same oversized chambers as came with the barrel and will be subject to the same problems with cases being stressed a lot more than if the chamber was the right size.

Beyond that, 303 British ammo is prone to case head separation because they are isn't adequate material in the base of the case and all of the stresses are focused in one area where the base meets the side of the case. That’s where you get those shiny rings. IMO, the fault is really the design of the 303 Brit case – lacking web where it needs it. Oversized chambers just add to the grief. The 7.62x54R Mohawk should be the answer.

You shouldn't be allowed to shoot a Globeco Mohawk - or an SVT-XX - if you don’t own the gas system adjustment tool. You can’t adjust the gas system or clean the gun properly without. If you shoot corrosive and have no way to clean the gun you will ruin it. Something that has already happened to many of these otherwise well made guns.

Nice write-up on the Globco Mohawk. Neat stuff to know on these obscure units. I've shot a few of the .303 ones over the years & some were decent shooters whilst a couple were not, due mostly by their owners neglect of maintenance & ammo selection. Most of my gun cronies back then & some now still call the Globco 555's "Crapco".

I feel as you do that these folks just had no real interest in the Tokarev action nor the tools and proper maintenance methods for the beasties. Globco was a neat piece of Canadian firearms history, but nothing near as well known as Cooey.

 

[tiriaq]

140 St. Paul Street, Vanier, ON.
Nondescript smaller commercial type building with side yard enclosed by chain link fencing. Large stack of rifle crates up against the building. Large pile of chopped off SVT muzzle units rusting in the weather.

 

[tiriaq]

Speaking of sporting Tokarevs, the Italian 12ga shotgun written up elsewhere on CGN really looks as if the design was based on the SVT.

 

[Biloba]

2 days ago, I got a 7,62x54r Globco. I know the 303 version since many years. Got few of these. But it was the first time I heard of a original caliber one. There is no Globe marking like yours on the receiver, but it’s marked 7,62 Russ on the barrel and under the mag. Will post few pictures

 

[Biloba]

 

[Biloba]

 

[Biloba]

 

[steelgray]

Nice gun. Thanks for sharing!

 

[Biloba]

Thanks.

 

[The Kurgan]

Informative write-up worthy of a sticky. Thanks

 

[gunrunner100]

As a gun addicted teenager in the mid 70's, getting hold of a catalogue from Globeco was equivalent to Playboy.

 

[kjohn]

Great writeup and good info! Thanks for taking the time to put it together and share.

 

[nick237]

great writeup and good info! Thanks for taking the time to put it together and share.

x2.

 

[steelgray]

Here's an interesting post from another forum, years ago. It included some good historic information on the Mohawk and about Globe Firearms - including stuff about some of their models besides the 555 Mohawk - stuff I personally didn't know.

Mohawks were made (converted) in 303 British as well as some guns that were still in the original 7.62x54R. "...its common for that cheese grater handguard in front of the chamber to fly off when you shoot. They really aren't built well, but are an awesome piece of Canadian bubba history. Same goes for Globe Co's Model 777 (Norwegian Krag put in a sporter stock and converted to 308), Model 888 (Swedish Mauser in a Globe Co stock, cut down as well with Winchester leaf sights), and the Model M-SR1 (a Swiss K11 converted to 30-30 with a cut down stock and barrel). Yeah! All those 30-30 K11s and K31s are Globe Co's doing. You can blame them, but when bubba is done on mass scale in a specific pattern ending up with thousands of the same pattern, is it bubba? Or is it a new model?

Anyway, besides bolt action conversions or the ultra rare Farqhuar Hill, the Mohawk is one of the only semi auto 303 rifles you can get, let alone one of the only ones ever made. Its very interesting."

 

[tiriaq]

I remember going past their shop in Ottawa. Stack of rifle crates in the yard, along with a pile of SVT muzzle units, quietly rusting.
The .30-30 conversions used a chamber sleeve. I've never heard of one coming out. I think some of the .30-30s were made on 1889 rifles. Don't know that they were working on K-31s then; the rifles were still issue.
The SVT conversion is an ambitious one. Just rebarreling the SVT with a SMLE barrel is quite a step.

 

[maple_leaf_eh]

140 St. Paul Street, Vanier, ON.
Nondescript smaller commercial type building with side yard enclosed by chain link fencing. Large stack of rifle crates up against the building. Large pile of chopped off SVT muzzle units rusting in the weather.

My friend Ed Storey grew up in Ottawa and gave a similar description of the place.