Ugly SVT 40 Stock...mess with it or leave it alone???

First time on the forum and wow is this great!

Under almost all circumstances I am very conservative about messing with military surplus firearms. I have never done anything to a stock other than wiping it down with a rag. I almost always would rather a historic piece stay in that been-there-done-that look. However, I just acquired an SVT 40 with a REALLY ugly stock.

SVT 40 former AVT 40 1943 Russian : Other Collectible Guns at GunBroker.com


It looks like maybe someone was part of the way through removing the old shellac. I don't know if I'll even be able to handle it without finish flaking off. There are several topics on this (really awesome) forum regarding removing old stuff with DA and using Garnet or Ruby shellac flakes to simulate an original Soviet finish...which is really beautiful imho.

Should I take a shot at making it pretty? Is the ugly stock preferred? For now, I've decided not to do anything that can't be undone and found SVT wood on eBay to put on it.

SVT 40 original AVT stock SVT40 tokarev

For a reasonable price I can use it for trips to the range so I don't have old shellac coming off on my hands. I figure I can put the original stock in storage for another time.

What would you do???

Looking through the gunbroker auction photos I see electropenciled force matching on the plum coloured bolt handle and a couple of arsenal rebuild marks on the action, so with that said I would do whatever makes you the most happy.

I have a similar example and upon purchase the shellac was sheeting off like discarded onion skin. I stripped the old finish with methyl-hydrate and did only the absolute minimal amount of wood prep with 0000 steel wool to preserve markings, then I refinished with a few light coats of a Minwax based product. The end result was an attractive low-lustre finish that offers water protection for when I am out in inclement weather. My finish could be easily stripped and shellac could be applied if my attitude changes in the future.

I will find some photos this evening for illustration.

As an aside, the SVT-40 market value in the US is staggeringly different than in Canada, that much I will say, our refurbished examples were running about $300 CDN, or about $205 USD at todays rate.

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Originally Posted by Sentryduty

Looking through the gunbroker auction photos I see electropenciled force matching on the plum coloured bolt handle and a couple of arsenal rebuild marks on the action, so with that said I would do whatever makes you the most happy.

As an aside, the SVT-40 market value in the US is staggeringly different than in Canada, that much I will say, our refurbished examples were running about $300 CDN, or about $205 USD at todays rate.

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Yes, it's certainly a shooter and nothing that could be confused for museum quality. I'm also aware of the price our neighbors to the North pay for these rifles, thanks for pointing that out. :surrender:

I must say I'm fairly jealous, but what are you going to do? At least I can import cheap parts I guess.

It all comes out in the wash, the US market does have a number advantages to the average firearms enthusiast, the SVT-40 is just one of the unusual market blips is all.

If you haven't shot an SVT-40 before, you will find they are pleasant to shoot, and recoil softly for the cartridge. Nearby shooters will be assaulted by blast from the muzzle brake, aggressive ejection may not win any friends either, but the rifles run well. I find that mine will group well enough but begin to string shots vertically somewhere around the 20 round point, letting it cool off settles it back down every time.

They are an interesting point of progression from the Mosin-Nagant which as we all know ended up being the main issue rifle for the Soviet forces during the Second World War.

I'd use a liquid strip and remove all old stock finish. Don't sand much or the stock will be white and you won't get it dark for anything. Then use a good spar varnish and cover carefully. Soon, the stock will be the best part.

Yes, we had a whole discussion about how cheap these are in Canada opposing the US market...just how it is.

Here is how mine turned out with the process I outlined above:

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Originally Posted by browningautorifle

Yes, we had a whole discussion about how cheap these are in Canada opposing the US market...just how it is.

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And I'm still waiting for someone willing to chuck one across a creek at the border. :madsmile:

A fellow would have to toss a lot of them to even begin to make it worth the risk, LOL.

What is the hangup with supply to the US on these rifles, are they blocked from import, or simply uncommon?

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Originally Posted by Sentryduty

Here is how mine turned out

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That looks pretty good...

Thanks Jim! That rifle has the sniper scope rail and mounting notch cut, I would like to add reproduction scope and mount but I have a hard time justifying the price. The Westrifle mount and combo is worth more than I paid for the whole rifle, and no one has really reviewed them in detail. It would be a shame to outlay that cash for garbage and then be left with the decision to keep it or sell with a conscience that it is junk .

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Originally Posted by Sentryduty

are they blocked from import

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This.....

[QUOTE=If you haven't shot an SVT-40 before, you will find they are pleasant to shoot, and recoil softly for the cartridge. Nearby shooters will be assaulted by blast from the muzzle brake, aggressive ejection may not win any friends either, but the rifles run well. I find that mine will group well enough but begin to string shots vertically somewhere around the 20 round point, letting it cool off settles it back down every time.[/QUOTE]

I'm definitely looking forward to range time!

I bought two of these years ago when they were importing them....glad I did...
Last summer I added a scope to the one I shoot... I really did not like the original scope mounts as they make the eyepiece way higher than the rifle and are uncomfortable for me to shoot.... so I bought a spare receiver cover and a steel scope rail and had a gunsmith mount the scope rail to the cover.... then mounted a Burris 5 power scope....what a neat package...it still requires a cheek pad but works fine... (I am old and can't see anymore)

My rifles came with the red varnish but was in like new condition....all the imports were electro-penciled... just have to live with that..

Joel
Kalifornia

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Originally Posted by BobcatAngler

Should I take a shot at making it pretty? Is the ugly stock preferred? For now, I've decided not to do anything that can't be undone and found SVT wood on eBay to put on it. SVT 40 original AVT stock SVT40 tokarev For a reasonable price I can use it for trips to the range so I don't have old shellac coming off on my hands. I figure I can put the original stock in storage for another time. What would you do???

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I think you did the right thing in getting a spare stock to use at least for the time being. Then you can take your time over the original stock. Read up all you can before doing anything irreversible.

There is no doubt that the present state of the surface can hardly be described as a "finish". It will all have to come off. I would use the jelly-like paint stripper that feels cool and then burns on your skin (is that the methyl-hydrate recommended by Sentryduty) but try and avoid using ANY abrasive.

Methylated spirits will also dissolve shellac, so you might be able to remove the present wrecked finish with meths alone. But the stock will also have waxy/greasy material in places, so the best bet is stripper followed by meths.

For refinishing I suggest one of 3 options.
a) Simply oil the stock inside and out with linseed oil. My preference. After all, Russian rifles also used oiled stocks, and I suspect that an awful lot of shellacked stocks are post-war reworks. And oiling does not prevent you applying a different finish later, should you so wish.

b) Simulate the original shellac finish (if it really was original), according to the recipes which you will be able to find elsewhere.

c) Although I have never used it myself, it seems that Tru-oil would provide a good finish, and be a lot easier to apply than a shellac finish.

But I would NOT use spar varnish. Too gooey and shiny. Messy to remove if you change your mind later.

Whatever you do, avoid soaking the stock with water at any stage. Or say goodbye to all the little stamps that you can probably find in various places on the stock.

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Originally Posted by Patrick Chadwick

(is that the methyl-hydrate recommended by Sentryduty) but try and avoid using ANY abrasive.

Methylated spirits will also dissolve shellac, so you might be able to remove the present wrecked finish with meths alone. But the stock will also have waxy/greasy material in places, so the best bet is stripper followed by meths.

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All the same stuff, my terminology is just a little different, a regional thing. "Methyl-hydrate" bottled as such and sold cheaply here in gallon jugs for use as a fuel system anti-freeze, I also use it in a variety of backpacking stoves as fuel. I believe meths is the English term, saying meth over here tends to draw police attention and cause people to distance themselves. LOL. Old shellac will gradually soften and strip away with MH/meths but some stubborn sections may require a bit of gel-based furniture stripper, your mileage may vary.

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Originally Posted by Sentryduty

That rifle has the sniper scope rail and mounting notch cut,

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I was looking at the complete snipers in P&D as new a while back. They might have an angle on something.

Just jumping in, Sorry guys. It looks Real Nice, but haven't seen one here in TX...All though the M44 are more Common to get down here in Texas I've asked Jim (BAR) before to come to my Ranch and use my M44 7.62 x 54R to come with us and Hunt some Nilgai. You should see what that M44 can you do to the Big Wild Boars.

Thats a nice AVT stock actually. I think I like it the way it is. The things I definately wouldn't do 1. Stain it, 2 sand it. If you really need to do something you could remove the shellac and mix up some red shellac to recoat it. I absolutely despise the look of these cleaned up SVT's and RC K98's etc with their new finishes.