SVT-40 Bayonets

[agentcq]

I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't have enough bayonets for every rifle. Many WWII photos rarely show a bayonet mounted on a rifle and quite often they are not even seen on their belts.

I am sure additional bayonets were lost during the war.

As far as mags go, they sell original and repro mags in the US but maybe no one has taken the time to pin and import them into Canada. I know this can be quite the problem. I spoke to John at Marstar regarding this problem, there are several mags he would like to import but finding someone who wants to take the extra step of modifying them is a different issue.

Sadly I think if you find a bayo it will be re-finished like the rifle and will cost about $200-300. I have one in my collection and I think it cost $250.

It goes to say with lots of WWII kit, where did it all go? Most was probably destroyed or is waiting to be discovered. G43 leather pouches were very rare and expensive, but there was a find of un-issued pouches in the Ukraine and now they are common and can be had for $100-150 with the right sources.

My biggest question is where are all the G/K43 ZF4 mounts? You can find a scope for $500-1200 but the mounts alone cost $1500 and up and are like hens teeth.

I wish they find a cache of MP44 and MP40 pouches within my lifetime.

 

[Desert_Fox]

...My biggest question is where are all the G/K43 ZF4 mounts? You can find a scope for $500-1200 but the mounts alone cost $1500 and up and are like hens teeth...

I believe Darrin even mentioned in "Hitlers Garands" that they made MANY more ZF4 scopes than they did mounts for the G43...

Hitler had great ideas of turning many of their rifles and carbines into "marksman" and "sniper" rifles... kinda like the Canadian military does with the Elcan...

They had the K98 "swept back" mount that utilized the ZF4... Then there is the FG42 which used the ZF4 but with a different mount as well (as you know )

The StG series used a couple variations, which is said to include the standard G43 mount, but of course there is the different ZF4 fur kurz patrone...

I think the whole idea of a bunch of snipers/designated marksmen in the ranks didn't pan out for a couple reasons.

- Semi autos, especially with the light barrels, didn't give the necessary accuracy needed.
- Poor fit and function of many late war rifles, mounts, scopes.
- Transportation and supply.
- The need for just basic weapons and ammo to arm the troops finally did override the need for new weapons platforms

... and yet, somehow, they still decided to keep the trains running....

Perhaps someday, there will be the super duper awesome WW2 German militaria find in the former Yugoslavia somewhere stuffed full of more cool junk that John@Marstar hasn't dug up yet!

 

[guess_kto]

What happened to all the original SVT-40 bayonets? At one time, there must have been one for ever gun, no. And the clips, oops, sorry, magazines, can't seem to find them, either.

SVT-40 bayo were issued to army all the way until 70s to the MPs and troops in charge, as well as symbolic weapon. For example, if your unit had a flag, it supposed to be guarded, so the guard would get SVT-40 bayo. However, I suspect lots of those claimed "SVT-40" bayos were in turn AK first model bayos.

During the war SVT bayo was unofficial scout knife, e.g. if you have to go beyond enimy lines, you would take SVT bayo to kill Germans quietly. Lot's of SVT bayos were set aside for that purpose (Mosin bayo was useless for that purpose, as you can guess). Finally, They were a nice all purpose knife.

Also, you have to remember that SVT was made only between 1940 and 1943. I was surprised that any of them survived at all. I've got 2 for me mostly as hard to get collector item.

However, why mags are gun, is a surprise for me. I suspect there should be a pile of them somewhere.

 

[agentcq]

I am sure that in the early days that bayo production in 1941 and 1942 wasn't on the top of the list for the Russians, they had other things to worry about.

I remember when the SVT's first came to Canada I was a fool and bought one for $550 from Milarm, now if you keep your eyes out, you can get a nice one for $350.
I am sure they will eventually go back up in price.

Back to the ZF4 question, I believe Darrin Weaver is right, in that they made more scopes than mount (armour kits, and for all around marksman use) but the same goes for SVT scopes. I have one with the notched top cover (ex-sniper) and can find orignal SVT scopes easily but original mounts are hard to find.

On another topic, I sadly know a friend that was in Yugoslavia and saw crates of K98's submitted to the authorities for destruction. The Canadians kept finding them stored in caves etc. I am sure some were Yugo versions of the Mausers but he remembers that many of the crates has original German markings and appeared un-oppened.

 

[ArtyMan]

They were melted down to make more modern firearms, tanks, etc...

Kind of like all the cleaning rods, sight hoods, locking screws, and bayonets of the K98's they captured!

This is my understanding aswell. Post war SVTs/Mosins/TTs were returned to a serviceable condition (refurb) and any extra parts deemed unneccessary (spare mags, spare tools, bayonets etc...) were scrapped for metal. The rifles were stored as a "last ditch" attempt in the event of a war with the west. Perhaps Mosin bayonets were considered "essential/EIS" and as such were kept, whereby the SVT bayonets were not. Of course many of these have found their way to conflicts worldwide since. That and our gun safes

 

[JP]

"Also, you have to remember that SVT was made only between 1940 and 1943."

SVT-40's were made to at least 1945, because I seen a couple of 1945 dated ones over the years.