I don’t know where I should be posting this, so I’m putting copies everywhere I can think of, hoping for a source of expertise.

I recently bought a Globco 555 in .303 British. This is an autoloading rifle, which is a Russian Tokarev that was sporterized and re-chambered to .303 for the Canadian market in the 1960’s.

I originally bought this rifle for interest’s sake, but, I like the feel of it, and I've always enjoyed hunting with an autoloader. I’m hoping that if the action proves reliable, and it is a reasonable shooter, that I might carry it deer hunting this fall.

There are 2 grooves on opposite sides at the back of the receiver, where it appears that something was meant to slide onto the rifle. I’m wondering if this could possibly be for a scope mount, or if it might be possible to have a scope mount made that clamps onto the rifle at these points? Does anyone know of any original or aftermarket scope mounts for the Tokarev? I would only mount a red dot or Holosight on this rifle, so a mount wouldn’t have to be very high or be able to support some heavy high-magnification scope.

Also, does anyone know of a source of clips that would work in a Tokarev? I always like a spare. I would probably have to have one modified for it to be legal in Canada (5 shot rule).

10 round mags run $65.00 and up. Check the company that rechambered yours they may have them available. The only ones I've seen are 10's and I don't think you could import before it is altered. I was looking at altering Enfield mags for my SVT-40 then sold the Enfields.

Rick,

Spare magazines for the SVT-40 go for $75.00 and up here in the US. B-Square makes a mount to fit your rifle, which was orginally a sniper rifle. Who ever modified it should be flogged.

Regards,

Eric

The SVT-40 was a Russian battle rifle not a sniper rifle. It was their answer to the Garand. Until a few years ago they were cheap and not really special, the price has tripled in the past six years. Mostly due to the Clinton import ban.

It's "Tokarov" and not "Tokarev" . . .

But then I'm a linguistic jerk.


Tokarov refers to both rifles and handguns. Your post is pretty broad and general.

Sam,

The Russians developed the Samozaradnaya Vintovka Tokareva SVT-40 on their own, not in response to the Garand. They had been playing with the concept of the auto-loading rifle since before WW I.

Yes, it was developed as a replacement for the Mosin Nagant 1891 bolt gun. However it was too delicate and required greater maintenance than the average Russian Infantryman could provide, hence it was issued to NCO's and specialists with greater training and education. Rifles selected for accuracy were fitted with scopes for sniping. Any SVT-40 with grooves machined along the backside of the reciever was originally fitted with a scope for sniping, hence is more desireable than the average SVT-40.

Regards,

Eric

Thanks for the info on the 40. Every little bit helps. I'll have to check mine, but off of the top of my head no grooves.

More precisely , the SVT and AVT were a copy of french STA rifles developped 1919/1921. these rifles themselves were the last steps of many french semi automatic rifles. Clair brothers' rifle , 1888,Saint Etienne was the first one.
30 differents rifles were develloped between 1894 and 1912 by private companies and french arsenals.
in 1913, the Meunier A6 version is adopted and manufacturing must start in 1914 to replace a few millions 1886/93 Lebels , 1890 and 1892 Berthier carbines , 1907 Berthier rifles.
1013 Meunier were built when WW1 started, 834 were sent to battle field for final evaluation.the round was a 7 mm x 56.95 mm , rimless.
a few hundred millions rounds of 8 mm were produced every month and decision was taken to produce any new semi automatic rifle for the 8x50 mm R Lebel.
those rifles were built:
- Delaunay Belleville 1916 ( select fire )
- MAS 1917 ( 86 333 pieces )aka RSCG 1917 semi only
- CHAUCHAT LMG
- Chauchat-Rybeyrolles Firing Port Weapons
( used on FT 17 Renault tanks, full auto only )
- Delaunay-Belleville 1918 ( select fire )

and a very interesting piece:
- Ribeyrolles automatic rifle 1918 , first real assault rifle using an intermediate round 8x35 mm
that can be compared to the 7.92 x 33 Kurtz appearing 25 years later.
the ammo was based on an american Winchester SL brass case resized to accept the regular 8 mm ordnance bullet hence producing a ballistic similar to the J D Jones/ SSK ammo , 300 Whisper.

I have posted many infos there :

http://www.gunboards.com/forums/UltraBoard.cgi?action=Headlines&BID=14&SID=1759040

not many people knowing that the father of CETME and HK , Mr Vorgrimmler worked in France on many projects , one of them being the " carabine mitrailleuse , machine carbine, MaschinenKarabiner " a concept born in 1937.
between 1946 and 1950 , he worked with the team of AME in Mulhouse, Alasce province, France and finally joined CETME in Madrid , Spain.

[ 04-26-2003, 21:40: Message edited by: Edmond ]

Ed, a most interesting history lesson!!

Edmond,

my fellow firearms freak, just because one adopts a similar design (ergo the tipping bolt design), it does not necessarily mean a particular design is a copy.

Other than that particular feature, the SVT-40 and any French design (like the MAS 49/56) are entirely different weapons.

There have been many parallel designs throughout firearms history. And, while the French have made many significant contributions, they've made some clinkers too. Ergo the Fusil Mitrailleur Mle 15, (yea, I know it was also plagued with poor materials) a truly poor design.

Anyway, I disagree the SVT was a copy.

Regards,

Eric

Hi Eric,
happy to find someone knowing about the CRSG 1915, biggest problem was the 8x50 R cartridge in fact.
for french firearms , some knowledgeable people , here :
http://www.gunboards.com/forums/UltraBoard.cgi?action=Headlines&BID=14&SID=1759040
for the Tokarev , it is not a copy but inspired a lot by all the prototypes made in France between 1892 and 1922.
more later, it is early here.
Best regards,
Ed

[ 05-01-2003, 04:20: Message edited by: Edmond ]