Tokarev SVT-40. Identifying, collecting and FAQ.

All "parade" and "limited run reproductions" are outright fakes.
Yours is authentic bayonet.
SVTs remained in service some time after the war not just in USSR but also in Soviet occupied countries like Bulgaria and Poland, that's why we see sometimes not very common way of serializing. To support Eastern Europe theory - blade is not reblued and in USSR they reblued blades during refurbishing, scabbard is reblued though. Actually it seems that wooden grips are either replacement or just refinished differently.
 
I believe this bayonet was bought alongside a Bulgarian refurbed SVT originally as part of the early imports of them into Canada. So it makes sense if the bayonet was refurbed by the Bulgarians too. I'll leave that conjecture to the more informed, however.
 
Good question about the cleaning procedure on the SVT-40. How was it cleaned in the field? From the breech or the muzzle? And is there such thing as a SVT-40 muzzle guide?
 
M39MosinGoose said:
Good question about the cleaning procedure on the SVT-40. How was it cleaned in the field? From the breech or the muzzle? And is there such thing as a SVT-40 muzzle guide?
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There were several "field cleaning rules". On the training grounds - at least once each 10 days if rifle is not used. If used - clean the bore after shooting, the rest - later with 3-4 follow up cleanings. During the war - at least daily when there's a time. There are about 8 pages of manual describing all possible cases and cleaning options. Cleaning is from muzzle. No muzzle guide (why would you need one with muzzle brake?).
 
Horilka said:
There were several "field cleaning rules". On the training grounds - at least once each 10 days if rifle is not used. If used - clean the bore after shooting, the rest - later with 3-4 follow up cleanings. During the war - at least daily when there's a time. There are about 8 pages of manual describing all possible cases and cleaning options. Cleaning is from muzzle. No muzzle guide (why would you need one with muzzle brake?).
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The Mosin Nagant cleaning kit has a muzzle guide to protect the crown and rifling while cleaning the bore so I'd assume that maybe the SVT-40 would have one but I guess not. Also in general with soviet milsurp, is it safe to use an original cleaning rod with a muzzle guide?
 
M39MosinGoose said:
The Mosin Nagant cleaning kit has a muzzle guide to protect the crown and rifling while cleaning the bore so I'd assume that maybe the SVT-40 would have one but I guess not. Also in general with soviet milsurp, is it safe to use an original cleaning rod with a muzzle guide?
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Steel rod in steel bore is not good in long term. I mean we have advanced a lot - we have CLP instead of combination of solutions, we have brass rods, plastic and brass brushes. I would suggest taking a better care about your surplus rifle than 1940 manual suggests.
 
Horilka said:
Steel rod in steel bore is not good in long term. I mean we have advanced a lot - we have CLP instead of combination of solutions, we have brass rods, plastic and brass brushes. I would suggest taking a better care about your surplus rifle than 1940 manual suggests.
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But in an emergency it would probably be fine once or twice.
 
It would be fine hundreds of times. Just when you have a chance - use modern cleaning methods, preserve historical rifle for future generations.
 
I am getting a replacement firing pin made for my SVT-40 as the original ended up bending. The machinist that is making the new firing pin is concerned about the proper protrusion for the firing pin through the bolt face. He said he straightened the bent pin and it sticks out much farther than he thinks it should. Does anyone have a proper specification for the overall firing pin length or, even better, the spec for protrusion from the bolt face?
 
1942 repair manual suggests to use "Maxim MG gun army caliber N6", saying that pin protrusion should be touching 0".075 gap bottom, but not touching 0".095 gap bottom. Provided these are true imperial measurements we're talking about nominal protrusion of 1.905mm which seems to be true. Another way to verify is to use MN tool. It has "75" and "95" which I assume are short for 0".075 and 0".095.

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