So anyways, If you take the outer shell off this kind of camera (probably including Leicas and copies), remember to go very slow and make sure you don't lose the pressure plate, as pressing against the shutter crate is all that retains it and its two sheet-metal springs, which would be a pain to have to replace. Also remember that the screws are brass with cheap Soviet chrome sprayed on, as is the body--try not to scratch anything.
I did in fact fix the problem, which was a big old scratch in the metal of the film gate with a rough edge on it--no wonder it was scratching my film so much. I took two emory boards, one coarse and one fine, and sanded out the burrs--being sure to keep the shutter above the place where I was filing, so no grit or metal dust went in.
Now that's done... just to open it again and adjust the following curtain spring tension sometime-- 1/500th spreads out a little.