I have visited many sites regarding my SVT40, but I have never come across such a tremendous amount of important info in one spot. I want to personally thank you for this post,as it helps everyone who owns one or is thinking about getting one, fully understand the background.
Great summary, Ratnik!
Just my 2 cents - I think what you called "top barrel band" is normally called "top handguard" in English (equivalent of Ukrainian "цівка"). "Barrel bands" are pictured along with swivels in your summary and are equal to Ukrainian "кільця цівки". So what you called "swivels" technically are swivels plus barrel bands. That's how I understand English terminology, which is sometimes very different from what we've got used to, but I'll let native speakers correct me if I'm wrong.
Now, here's my question: do you find that all early handguards have flat top and all late handguards have raised profile with one step? Or the flat/stepped profile feature is not related to the 7 or 8 holes version?
Well, look at the date on the receiver and taking into account this "overwhelming" thread look and see if all parts are correct. With all our Canadian SVTs being refurbs it's hit and miss.
Well, as being said, pretty much all SVT in Canada are refurb but 1944 is quite a rare year so if you see one, grab it and if you come across a 1945 one, buy it and be very proud because its the rarest year, i am lucky enough to have one.
it is, my Izhevsk 1940 have the r but nones of my Tula have.
Makes me think of how opening a champagne bottle with a towel draped over it prevents the cork from going ballistic. Might be worthwhile to do the same with these rifles when disassembling
