Tula SVT-38 Help

[ngkdum]

Hello everyone, I hope you can help answer a question. I have recently acquired my fathers collection and included is a 1939 Tula SVT-38. My question is about the finish that it has on the bolt, receiver, barrel straps, guard and magazine. They are all chrome, not in white or blued. The rifle has been in my family for at least the last 50 years that I know of, but my grandfather may have brought it back with him from the war. I have not seen any other SVT rifle with this finish, any help would be greatly appreciated.

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[jond41403]

I'm no expert by any means, but that is a very nice looking rifle the way it is done, but that chrome finish definitely was not applied by any military arsenal. kind of reminds you of a presentation piece of some sort.hth

[ngkdum]

Do you think that the chrome will hurt the resale. I would love to hang it on my wall, but open display of firearms in CA in frowned upon.
I believe that I have the bayonet for it also, just a lot beat up. I don't know if this is the right forum, but any thoughts on value?

[Singer B]

The chrome parts will definitely affect resale. Many collectors want the rifle to be as original as possible. That said, I have seen a couple of chromed WW2 German pistols sell for pretty good money on auctions sites. Did your grandfather serve in Germany? I was recently reading (while researching the aforementioned pistols) that it was very easy and very cheap for American GIs to have guns chromed there after the war. If it were mine, I would keep it and continue to pass it along so your grandfather's service to our country will not be forgotten. Hope that helps!

[ngkdum]

Thank you for the response. My grandfather did serve in Germany during the war. You have a point, I think I might hang on to it and find a way to display the rifle. It is just too pretty to sit in a safe forever.

[AlexRod85]

Well, While most barrels are chrome-lined, you can also find stainless steel ... As the bolt carrier moves back.