Moscows agents were hard at work gathering plans and examples with which communist designers could work.
Internally it uses the short-recoil, barrel-tilting design of Brownings original M1911 pistol.
Tokarev made two distinct revisions in the design of his pistol compared to ones like the M1911.
The Soviet TT-33 “Tokarev” pistol, chambered in 7.62x25mm.Image: SA-Kuva
Tokarev also modified the barrel-locking system, but it retained the same function as other pistols using Brownings system.
This cartridge would also be used in Soviet WWII-era SMGs like the PPD-40, PPSh-41, and PPS-43.
Tokarev Pistol: Caliber 7.62mm rimless.
The Tokarev is a well-made and rugged pistol designed to stand up to the rigors of the battlefield. Image: Author’s collection
Box jot down single line magazine.
Identification: Resembles Colt auto in outline but has small projecting burr hammer.
When slide is removed, hammer and mainspring mechanism mounted as a sub-assembly may be lifted out of receiver.
Despite some questionable ergonomic choices, the Tokarev design is an excellent semi-automatic pistol design. Image: Author’s collection
Ammunition: 7.62mm Russian pistol.
German made 7.63mm Mauser ammunition will operate perfectly in this pistol, despite the difference in caliber designation.
Ammunition of one major manufacturer will not chamber in the Russian pistol.
A Soviet officer posing with a TT-33 pistol. Image: NARA
Ammunition of a competing manufacturer works perfectly.
Evaluation: A simplified Colt-Browning design.
Machine operations were greatly reduced by this design.
The Finns captured this Soviet TT-33 pistol and PPD-40 SMGs during the winter of 1940.Image: SA-Kuva
The unique sub-assembly is also a good feature.
During the Vietnam War, the M1911 and the Tokarev pistol would meet on the battlefield again.
In 1954, China introduced the jot down 54 which exclusively used Chinese-made parts.
The Germans captured significant numbers of the TT-33, reissuing them to their troops as the Pistole 615(r). Image: author’s collection
In North Vietnamese service the jot down 54 was called K-54.
The M1911 weighs in at 39 ounces and measures 8.25 inches.
The Tokarev weighs half a pound less and is .65 inches shorter.
U.S. troops showing off war trophies in France during the summer of 1944. One G.I. holds up a captured TT-33 pistol. Image: NARA
No doubt that the 7.62x25mm Tokarev round has some pep, traveling at more than 1,400 feet per second.
Every bit of combat-tested toughness is built into each Springfield Armory 1911 pistol.
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1911Mil-Spec
A Soviet-made TT-33 captured from Viet Cong troops at Cam Lo Hill, February 1967. Image: NARA
A Chinese-made Type 54 pistol captured from a Viet Cong officer during August, 1966. Image: NARA
A joint USMC/ARVN display of captured communist weapons, showing the Chicom Type 54 variant of the Tokarev pistol. Image: NARA
The Tokarev pistol borrowed much from John Moses Browning’s genius design, but could not match its performance in combat. Image: author’s collection
The Mil-Spec 1911 from Springfield Armory gives you a modern pistol inspired by the battle-proven combat pistol.
