6/5/18 - This is an excellent condition, all original, and all matching Russian SVT 40 rifle, made in 1941 at the Tula factory, just in time for the German invasion of Soviet Union in operation Barbarossa. Despite all the talk about German military might in the beginning of WWII, the SVT40 semi-auto rifle was way ahead of the German K98 bolt action rifle, rivaling the American M1 Garand, developed around the same time. Rugged and performing well in the severe weather conditions, it was captured in the beginning of the war in some numbers by the Germans and played a role in development of K41 and K43 rifles. This particular gun is all original vet bring back without import marks and with 70-80% of the original blue remaining with some uniform thinning to the receiver and barrel. Beautiful stock with all the cartouches intact and no cracks. Sharp markings on the receiver with all the correct proofmarks. Very good bore. It is almost impossible to find an original non-import SVT40 in this condition, as most have been either imported or reworked by the Finns.