SVT 40 US import opportunity

Hello Everyone,
I may have an opportunity and the resources to purchase almost 1,000 Russian SVT 40 rifles that have been sitting in a European country since the mid 1990s and would like to examine the possibility of putting the wheels in motion for import into the US

I know the SVT 40 is a touchy situation, but over 20 years parked in another country...these guns were manufactured in Russia, but the import permit will certainly list the Country of export origin as an entirely different country.

Any qualified insight is much appreciated....could be a lucky situation...

Thank you all for any helpful input!

BATF&E Imports Branch won't approve them.

I smell a rat....

1000 svt's lol yea sure there are lol, i got a few hundred in my closet along with a bridge ill sell ya in england lol. Cheap too lol.:madsmile:

Are you a licensed importer? Kind of unusual for a first time poser, uh I mean poster to post something like this. Send our payment to a Nigerian bank?

Thank you for the response Brian...but I've noticed something interesting...

The one redeeming fact that certainly looks to be worth the fight is the fact that I can open my C&R booklet, and there it is...Russian Tokarev semiautomatic carbine model 1940..I can purchase this rifle, I can own this rifle, and I can sell this rifle if I wish to unload that rifle to make room for something else in my collection....all legal, no problem....

What I DO NOT see listed in my C& R booklet are the Chinese SKS or the Chinese Type 53...That strikes me as very. very odd because China is in fact a proscribed country, and I just recently purchased both a Chinese SKS AND the Chinese Type 53..shipped to my door after I submitted my C&R to the retail gun dealer....Everyone talks about these guns being exported from Albania...wow..it worked for them, so I'm pretty confident we can export from a country in central EU.

Thanks in advance for any responses!

---------- Post added at 10:50 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:45 PM ----------

No..I'm not a licensed importer as of yet..simply doing some due diligence at this point...A nigerian bank isn't part of the dialogue...

---------- Post added at 10:53 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:50 PM ----------

A rat for what purpose? read my original post again please....Why so neurotic?

---------- Post added at 11:00 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:53 PM ----------

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Originally Posted by gtodan

Are you a licensed importer? Kind of unusual for a first time poser, uh I mean poster to post something like this. Send our payment to a Nigerian bank?

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No..I'm not a licensed importer as of yet..simply doing some due diligence at this point...A nigerian bank isn't part of the dialogue...

Buddy, take it down the road,, we're done with you.

Thank you Brian Dick for responding intelligently..I believe you're right about the BATF&E, but it never hurts to ask right?

Be well,

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I know the SVT 40 is a touchy situation, but over 20 years parked in another country...these guns were manufactured in Russia, but the import permit will certainly list the Country of export origin as an entirely different country.

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There's no "but." It doesn't matter where they are now or have been sitting. You are not going to get approval to import it or its parts.

It would be listed in ANNEX A of the VRA (Voluntary Restraint Agreement) if they were going to approve importation. The fact that it's not on the list tells you what your chances of getting approval are. ZERO!

You can't use logic or reasoning here. The bureaucrats have their list. Yes, licensed importers are bringing in ship loads of VEPR 54R rifles. That's ok because the VEPR is on their list.

There's a good market for the SVT40 here and the people who make their living importing guns know it,, and have for years. If there was a way to get them in, they would have done it by now. But feel free to send the BATFE a Form 6 and see what they say.

Thank you Vincent..this VRA is the one from 1996 correct? It lists the Mosins, etc.. I do appreciate your candor, and thank you for the response..this is helpful.

Yes, that's it.

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Certain restrictions apply to both ammunition and firearms (other than sporting shotguns) which are located or manufactured in Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgystan, Moldova, Russian Federation, Turkmenistan, Ukraine or Uzbekistan and any firearm or ammunition manufactured in the former Soviet Union located anywhere in the world.Only the following stipulated firearm models or parts for these models are importable under the present agreement. 27 CFR § 447.52.

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I highlighted the salient text from the BATFE page.

Firearms - Guides - Importation Verification of Firearms, Ammunition and Implements of War - Restricted Importation | ATF

Vincent pretty much has it. There were Russian SKS and SVT40 rifles imported from 1986 to 1988 but a ban on certain types of Russian and other self loading rifles was put in place then, (signed by Bush 41), and they haven't been legally imported since. Values of existing rifles in country remain high compared to values in Canada and other countries that are importing them and selling them now dirt cheap.

SVT 40 's and others can be found right next door in Canada at Marstar Canada - Main Page - the problem is our elected officials see it other wise, heck they even have 22 ammo by the boat load but it's not going to do us any good until things change in Washington.

Out of curiosity, what is the going price on a decent SVT in the US ?

Cronic

Over $1000...

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Originally Posted by warpig1976

over $1000...

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ouch!

Finally a reason to be happy to be Canadian with a SVT 40 <$300. Who would have thought.

I'll be fishing on that creek, you know,, the one on the border. Boy that creek is like 20' wide and 6" deep and that's ALL the separates our two great nations. Pretty wild to think an American and Canadian could shake hands in the middle and EXCHANGE PLEASANTRIES....;) did I ever mention I love Cuban cigars.??

the laws forbidding these from being imported are ridiculous. if i lived in a Canadian border state, i would have figured out a way (or found a friendly Canadian) to get SVTs across the border for $300.

Unfamilier with Canadian laws but don't all sales have to be registered? If so, that would make it tough for a Canadian to transfer it legally.

That would be illegal on both sides of the creek and violate numerous UN small arms treaties, AND the illegal rifles wouldn't be 922r compliant!! Tisk,Tisk Kar98.. Did I mention I like really FAT Cuban Cigars.??

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Originally Posted by Aragorn243

Unfamilier with Canadian laws but don't all sales have to be registered? If so, that would make it tough for a Canadian to transfer it legally.

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Not any longer for what are considered "non-restricted" firearms.

Registration is required for handguns and SBRs.

It is the US import laws that make this a non starter.