[SVD Tiger]

My 1884 Sestroyetsk has both sling swivles and a war emergancy swivles holes in the stock by some unknown country or soldier.

 

[SVD Tiger]

These are Austrian arsenal modifications, not Russian and not by a soldier.


The swivel is hooked to the upper band, i.e. it is removable and not permanently attached to the band.

Not by what JPS said to me through Email and PM's on here. He said these was way to crude to be anything the Austrian depots would turn out. His consensus was that this one was either Bulgarian captured and was done in the field for the M-90 sling. Or this was one of the Berdan's given to Serbia as war aid through the Russians along with the M-91's and so modded for a M-90 sling. There is no Berdendorf, AZF, or any other Austraian marks on this one.

Hence why I say unknown country I thought they was Austrian as well but when JPS told me what he thought that is what I am running with unless there is new info brought out on this rifle and where it came from. Everything on it matches except for the entire bolt it has a different serial #.

 

[SVD Tiger]

Hello Chris,

Your Berdan II is quite interesting. Nice find with the later pattern long range volley sights. They were added in the early 1880 after the experience gained during the Russo-Turkish War of 1877. Your rifle may or may not be an Austro-Hungarian capture. Generally, the Berdan's that were captured during WWI had the ersatz swivels added at a field depot or at an arsenal. Both depots and arsenals were well equipped and were swivels added to your rifle, the holes for the swivels would have been drilled round holes.

There is no question that your stock at some point in time had wire sling swivels added in place of the original Russian swivels, however the crude holes in your stock were not properly drilled. If they were Austro-Hungarian in origin they would be perfectly round. I'm guessing that this rifle was either Serbian or Bulgarian issued.



Warmest regards,

John


Here is the PM that you sent me I'll have to break out the camera and see what I can find on this rifle with what has been brought forth in this thread. I do know both sides of the butt stock has very faint round cartaches. Like I said I am not arguing just trying to find out how mine got this way and by whom????