About that curtailed purchasing...

Okay, so I really didn't curtail it that much. But I did... a bit... honest... I can quit anytime I want. Stop laughing! I can quit!

Anyway, I started saving up for a major purchase a ways back. I mentioned it in this post back in May.

The following are pics of my brand new to me, FBI Thompson M1928A1 with original case, manual and drum magazines.

Except it looks a lot like a helicopter.

It's still in transit. The gentleman transporting it from Florida to me is being kind enough to store it temporarily till I can find a hanger here for it.  There's no way I'm going to even risk a chance of hail damage to it. I'm not saying I'm all school girl, jumping around, clapping, squealing excited right now... All those years flying fixed wing and jets and I still wanted to do this. Well, I'm gonna and mom and dad can't stop me now. If they ask, I'll just tell them I'm playing piano at a whore house.

I've lined up an instructor and contacts with several other owners in the area. So, the support network is starting at least.  Having time off is an issue.

Honest, it followed me home on it's own...

Can I keep it? Too late, I already am.

She's a 1941 Kovrov SVT-40. Has the SVT not AVT stock. (No cut out for the full auto flip on the safety switch.) Really in great shape for a 70+ year old gun.

Range report will follow when time allows.

I've heard this gun referred to as the Soviet Garand. I think it has a bit more in common with the US's M14 and would make it a more advanced rifle than the Garand. The notable feature being the detachable magazine. But as both the Garand and the SVT-40 were WW2 and the M14 was a development of a decade later, I can see why the one comparison and not the other.

This rifle was planned to be the replacement for the Mosin Nagant and be the primary MBR of the Soviet military but the timing of the war, vulnerability of the factories making these to the Nazi advance during Operation Barbarosa, and just the flat out critical need for millions of rifles NOW, meant the Mosin Nagant remained the primary rifle of the Soviets during WW2 and relatively few of these being produced in comparison.  And we all know the AK pretty much eclipsed anything else coming before it after the war.

I'm thinking about naming her Ivana Onnatop.