Tokarev SVT-40 Rifle

This video takes a look at the World War II Soviet SVT-40 semi-automatic battle rifle. The SVT-40 is a refinement of the earlier SVT-38, both weapons designed by Fedor Vasilyevich Tokarev. The SVT series was the first mass produced and issued semi-automatic battle rifle, with over a million produced. The SVT was chambered for the full power 7.62x54R round.

The rifle in this video was manufactured at Tula Arsenal in 1940. The end of the war saw new and improved weapons entering the Soviet arsenal and SVT rifles like this one were taken from service, reconditioned and placed into war reserve.

The music accompanying is a popular WWII Russian song called "Katyusha".