OK so here's the thing - SVT thing that is.

[eighteenninetytwo]

Having been into nice bolt action lee Enfields for a long time I started checking out this website and checking all the pictures of nice C&R rifles. So without knowing it I've been corupted I guess, because when I was at the Cow Palace gunshow this weekend I couldn't resist looking at them thar Tokarev SVT 40 rifles. SO that being said, a couple of questions. Caliber - 7.72 X 54 I assume... What should I look for in one of these rifles, where are the serial numbers, what are potential issues and how much should I pay? I'm sure there are some experts out there.

[Pthfndr]

Read this first: http://www.mosinnagant.net/USSR/SVTsection.asp

I've seen prices range from $400 to $1200 depending on variant, import marked, bore condition, buyers desire to get one, etc.

[Double G]

762x54R, cheap ammo (for now) The SVT 40 is an awsome rifle, the cheapest one I seen was $700, it was snapped up in seconds! They are $1000+ if you find one. Basic good working accurite battle rifles, I have one, and am always looking for another! Most are re-arsenelled by the Russians, so electro pencil all over, I have only seen one original one. Get one while you still can.

[oaklander]

I want one too!!!

[berg]

It's funny but I remember not that long ago they were everywhere for $250 and didn't sell all that well. Then *bam* at some point everyone wanted one and their value skyrocketed.

It's funny but it seems when a rifle is valued low, plenty of people criticize freely about various details of them (unreliable, inaccurate, not a rare enough version, parts weak, etc).

As soon as people start to want to give up to $1000 for something all criticism fades and all you hear is how badly people want it and how awesome they are to shoot (no matter what it is).

[dustoff31]

It's funny but I remember not that long ago they were everywhere for $250 and didn't sell all that well. Then *bam* at some point everyone wanted one and their value skyrocketed.

It's funny but it seems when a rifle is valued low, plenty of people criticize freely about various details of them (unreliable, inaccurate, not a rare enough version, parts weak, etc).

As soon as people start to want to give up to $1000 for something all criticism fades and all you hear is how badly people want it and how awesome they are to shoot (no matter what it is).

Yep. Several years ago my BIL had an FFL and gave me an SVT for a birthday present. I think he said it cost him about $175.00.

IIRC, one of the stories going around at that time was that the SVTs had a habit of eating firing pins or something like that.

[glennsche]

tip:

go to "riverofguns.com" and enter in svt as your search param. study the results on that site and on gunbroker.com for a few weeks and verify, that these seem to go for 800-1100 in the west, with low exceptions in the fly over states.

also note: the svt 40 variants which have the "marine" stock, which is to say the sling goes through a hole cut into the stock and not thru a metal loop attached thereto, tend to go for more.

the factory refurb ones have a plumb colored bolt cover. almost every one you'll see looks like this. the few that dont are going to be expensive if they're authentic "GI carry backs".

i've been on the look for a marine stock one <1k for about a month now, and then suddenly my "side gig" 1k a month dried up, so there goes the gunbudget and i'm no longer actively searching.

if you can get one for <1K, you're doing well. if you pay <1150, youre market. if you pay >1150, i'd say at this point you really wanted it, or it was a marine variant with scope plus ammo plus yadda....


gl