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TT pistol

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"TT33" redirects here. For the Theban tomb, see TT33 (tomb).
TT (Tula Tokarev)
TT-33
TypeSemi-automatic pistol
Place of originSoviet Union
Service history
In service1930–present
Used bySee Users
WarsSee Conflicts
Production history
DesignerFedor Tokarev
Designed1930
ManufacturerTula Arms Plant, Izhevsk Arsenal, Norinco, Femaru, FB Radom, Cugir Arsenal, Zastava Arms, FÉG
Produced1930–1955 (in Soviet Union)[1]
No. built1,330,000
VariantsTT-30, TT-33, TTC, M48, M48 Tokagypt, M57, M70, M70, R-3, Type 51, Type 54, Type 68, K-14
Specifications
Mass854 g (30.1 oz)[2]
Length195 mm (7.7 in)[2]
Barrel length116 mm (4.6 in)[2]
Height134 mm (5.3 in)
Cartridge7.62×25mm Tokarev
9×19mm Parabellum
ActionShort recoil actuated, locked breech, single action
Muzzle velocity420 m/s (1,378 ft/s)[2]
Effective firing range50 m
Feed system8-round detachable box magazine or 9-round detachable box magazine compatible with Zastava M57
SightsFront blade, rear notch
156 mm (6.1 in) sight radius

The TT-30,[a] commonly known simply as the Tokarev, is a Soviet semi-automatic pistol. It was developed during the late 1920s by Fedor Tokarev as a service pistol for the Soviet Armed Forces and was based on the earlier pistol designs of John Moses Browning, albeit with detail modifications to simplify production and maintenance.[2] The Soviet Union ceased production of the TT in 1954, although derivatives of the pistol continued to be manufactured for many years in the People's Republic of China and nations aligned with the Soviet bloc.[2]

Development

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A Soviet junior political officer armed with a Tokarev TT-33 Service Pistol.
Soviet Tokarev TT-33, made in 1937
Romanian TTC, made in 1953

Before 1930, the Soviet Union used a large variety of foreign-made semi-automatic pistols including: FN M1900, FN M1903, FN M1905, M1921 "Bolo" Mauser, and the Colt M1911, besides the Nagant M1895 revolver. In an attempt to simplify production, the Soviet Artillery Committee (which also oversaw small arms designs) decided to adopt a 7.62 mm pistol caliber, allowing Mosin-Nagant rifle barrels to be cut down to make pistols and submachine gun barrels.[3] In 1930, the Red Army conducted trials to select a new standard-issue pistol and Tokarev's design was tested against upscaled versions of the Korovin pistol, and Sergei Aleksandrovich Prilutsky's 1920−1921 self-loading design as well as foreign pistols. Tokarev's design, considered to be lighter, more accurate and reliable than its competitors (despite being harder to disassemble), was adopted as the Tula-Tokarev Model 1930, even though the pistol would only be officially adopted on the next year.[4]

Even as the TT-30 was being put into production, design changes were made to simplify manufacturing. Minor changes to the barrel, disconnector,[5] trigger and frame were implemented, the most notable ones being the omission of the removable hammer assembly and changes to the full-circumference locking lugs. This redesigned pistol was the TT-33.[6] Most TT-33s were issued to commanding officers. The TT-33 was widely used by Soviet troops during World War II, but did not completely replace the Nagant. From 1931 to 1945, a total of 1,330,000 Tokarevs were produced in the Soviet Union.[7]

Design details

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Externally, the TT-33 is very similar to John Browning's blowback operated FN Model 1903 semiautomatic pistol, and internally it uses Browning's short recoil tilting-barrel system from the M1911 pistol. In other areas the TT-33 differs more from Browning's designs—it employs a much simpler hammer/sear assembly than the M1911. This assembly is removable from the pistol as a modular unit and includes machined magazine feed lips, preventing misfeeds when a damaged magazine is loaded into the magazine well.[8] Soviet engineers made several alterations to make the mechanism easier to produce and maintain, most notably the simplifications of the barrel's locking lugs, allowing fewer machining steps. Some models use a captive recoil spring secured to the guide rod, which depends on the barrel bushing to hold it under tension.

The TT-33 is chambered for the 7.62×25mm Tokarev cartridge, which was itself based on the similar 7.63×25mm Mauser cartridge used in the Mauser C96 pistol. The 7.62×25mm cartridge is powerful, has an extremely flat trajectory, and is capable of penetrating thick clothing and soft body armor.[9]

Variants

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Due to their reliability, large numbers of TT-33s were produced during World War II and well into the 1950s. The TT-33 was eventually replaced by the 8-round, 9×18mm Makarov PM pistol in 1952.

The Wehrmacht captured TT-33s and issued them to units under the Pistole 615(r) designation. This was made possible by the fact that Russian 7.62 mm Model 1930 Type P cartridges were nearly identical to the German 7.63×25mm Mauser cartridge, although in German service the 9×19mm Parabellum round was more common. Russian cartridges are loaded to much higher pressures, so using them in German Mauser pistols can cause damage, and is advised against.[8]

In 1949, a silenced variant was produced. Uniquely, the silencer is attached to the barrel bushing rather than the barrel itself. The combined weight of the suppressor with the slide prevents semi-auto cycling of the action, forcing the user to manually cycle it in the same manner as pump action firearms. It would later be replaced by the PB pistol in 1967.

Interarms marketed World War II–surplus Russian-made Tokarevs in Europe and the United States as the Phoenix. They had new wooden grips with a phoenix design on them and were overstamped INTERARMS on the barrel. Later gun laws banned their sale due to their lack of a safety.[citation needed]

In modern times, the robust TT-33 has been converted to many powerful cartridges including .38 Super and 9×23mm Winchester. The TT-33 omitted a safety catch other than the half cock notch, which rendered the trigger inoperable until the hammer was pulled back to full cock and then lowered manually to the half cock position. Many variants imported into the US have had manual safeties added, which vary greatly in placement and function.

Foreign production

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Production of the TT-33 in Russia ended in 1954, but copies (licensed or otherwise) were also made by other countries. At one time or another, most communist or Soviet bloc countries created a variation of the TT-33 pistol.

China

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Type 54 with manual safety

The TT pistol was copied in China as the Type 51, Type 54, M20, and TU-90.[10]

The Type 51 and Type 54 are virtually identical to the TT-33, except for the Chinese markings on the left rear of the frame or on the top of the slide,[11] though the Type 51 barrels aren't chrome-lined according to Thompson. The Type 51 was produced from 1951 until 1954 when it was replaced by the Type 54, which was built until 1985.[12]

The M20 was a basically a Type 54 with no markings for clandestine operations. A number of M20s were supplied to the Viet Cong and the People's Army of Vietnam. Some guns (probably intended for leftist insurgent groups in El Salvador) were seized in Honduras.[13]

Norinco, the People's Liberation Army's state armaments manufacturer in China, manufactured a commercial variant of the Tokarev pistol chambered in the more common 9×19mm Parabellum round, known as the Tokarev Model 213.[14]

The 9mm model features a safety catch, which was absent on Russian-produced TT-33 handguns. The Model 213A features a 14-round magazine instead of the original 8-round magazine, while the Model 213B have improved grips making shooting more comfortable.[11]

The Norinco model in current production is not available for sale in the United States due to import prohibitions on Chinese firearms, although older handguns of the Model 213 type imported in the 1980s and 1990s are common.[citation needed] Norinco now makes the NP-17, a modernized, two-tone variant on the Model 213.[citation needed]

7.62×25mm ammo is also rather inexpensive and locally produced or imported from China, also made by Norinco. The Type-54 was replaced in the mid to late 1990s by the QSZ-92 in PLA service.[citation needed]

Hungary

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The Hungarian 'Tokagypt-58' - is a 9 mm variant of the Soviet TT pistol

Hungary produced licensed copies of the TT-33 as the Pisztoly 48 Minta commonly referred to as the M48 or 48M,[15] as well as an export version for Egypt known as the Tokagypt 58 chambered for the 9×19mm Parabellum round which was widely used by police forces there.[8] Tokagypts differ from the M48 by an external thumb safety, an ergonomic wraparound grip, and a magazine with a finger rest.[12]

Egypt, however, cancelled its order after less than half of the 30,000 pistols ordered were delivered.[b] The remaining pistols were sold commercially by FÉG.[16]

North Korea

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North Korea manufactured them as the Type 68 or M68.[8] It can be distinguished from the TT-33 by the shorter barrel,[c] and the serrations on the rear of the slide, intended to give the shooter a grip while the gun is being cocked.[18] Other differences include a magazine catch on the base of the grip,[17] a tilting-barrel system similar to the Browning Hi-Power, a modified firing pin and reinforced slide stop. TT-33 magazines can be used on the Type 68, but not vice versa.[18]

During the 1980s the Type 68 was gradually replaced by the Baek Du San pistol, a North Korean copy of the Czechoslovak CZ 75 pistol.[19]

Pakistan

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A crude Pakistani-made knockoff copy of the TT-33 Pistol.

Both legal and illegal TT pistols are still manufactured in various Pakistani Khyber Pass factories.[20] Quality greatly varies, with some individual copies being almost indistinguishable from the original. Khyber Pass copies usually can be identified by the incorrect markings or crude finish. Due the high pressure generated by the 7.62×25mm cartridge and the often poor quality of the steel and heat treatment of these copies, they can be dangerous to fire.[21]

Poland

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Polish licensed copy P-33 - Pistolet Wojskowy wzór 1933

Poland produced their own copies as the Pistolet wzór 1933 (P-33),[22] manufactured from 1947 to 1959.[8] According to Thompson, the pistol was designated as the wz. 1933 and mass produced between 1948−55 following a limited production run in 1946−1947. They were virtually identical to the TT-33, with the only difference being the markings. It was the standard Polish military pistol until 1967, with the adoption of the FB P-64.[23]

In mid-50s a training version of P-33 was created, chambered in .22lr called TT Sportowy. They were converted between 1954 and 1958 from the 7.62 mm variant by changing the barrel and removing the locking lugs from slide.[citation needed] These pistols were used for training.[23]

Romania

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Romania produced a TT-33 copy as the TTC, or Tula Tokarev Cugir at the Cugir Arms Factory. The first prototype was made in 1951, with mass production continuing until 1957. In Romanian military service, the TTC was adopted in 1952 and remained in service (alongside with police units) until the late 1990s.[24] These have been made available for commercial sale in great numbers in recent years. However, to be importable into the United States, a trigger blocking safety was added.[25] Almost 30,000 pistols were exported to Syria and Iraq, while a few thousand more were sold to other foreign customers.[24]

Vietnam

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The K54 is a copy of the TT-33.[citation needed] An updated version known as the K14-VN is made by Factory Z111, and has an increased capacity of 13 rounds, with a wider grip to incorporate a double stack magazine.[26] Research and development started in 2001.[27] The K14-VN began to see service with PAVN forces on May 10, 2014.[28]

The industry name for the regular K54 and the K14-VN is known as SN7M and the SN7TD.[29]

Yugoslavia / Serbia

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The Yugoslavian M57 variant with loaded 9-round magazine.

Zastava produces an improved version of the TT-33 designated M57.[30]

The M57 has a longer grip and longer 9-round magazine (versus 8 rounds in TT).[31] A 9×19mm version is also made by Zastava designated M70 (not to be confused with the blowback pistol also produced by Zastava Arms), an improved version designated as M70A as well as a compact version M88.[32]

Zastava manufactures a sub compact pistol M70 (a.k.a. Pčelica ("little bee")) roughly based on TT design in 7,65mm Browning (.32 ACP) or 9mm Kratak (.380 ACP).[33]

Prior to 2012, the M57A, M70A and M88A were formerly imported into the U.S. by Century International Arms, but have since been replaced by Zastava USA.[34][35]

Conflicts

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Users

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Map of TT operators during the Cold War

Current

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Non-state current

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Former

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Non-state former

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See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Russian: 7,62-мм самозарядный пистолет Токарева образца 1930 года, romanized: 7,62 mm Samozaryadny Pistolet Tokareva obraztsa 1930 goda, "7.62 mm Tokarev self-loading pistol model 1930", TT stands for Tula-Tokarev)
  2. ^ Between 13,000 and 14,000 pistols according to Thompson, while George Layman gives a total of 13,250 pistols. (Thompson 2022, p. 64)
  3. ^ The Type 66/68 has a 107 mm (4.2 in) long barrel in comparison to the TT-33's 116 mm (4.6 in) long barrel.[17]

References

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  1. ^ Monetchikov, S. (December 2007). "АРСЕНАЛ: ТТ: МАЛЕНЬКОЕ РУССКОЕ ЧУДО" [TT: Small Russian miracle]. "Bratishka" magazine. Archived from the original on 15 January 2015.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Gander, Terry (1997). Jane's Infantry Weapons, 1997-98. Surrey: Jane's Information Group. pp. 45, 731–741. ISBN 0-7106-1548-5.
  3. ^ Thompson 2022, pp. 12−15.
  4. ^ Thompson 2022, pp. 13−17.
  5. ^ Tokarev, Vladimir (2000). "Fedor V. Tokarev". Archived from the original on 2008-01-31. Retrieved 2008-01-29.
  6. ^ Cruffler.com (March 2001). "Polish M48 (Tokarev TT-33) Pistols". Archived from the original on 2008-01-31. Retrieved 2008-01-29.
  7. ^ Henrotin, Gerard (2002). Soviet Military Pistols - Tokarev & Makarov. p. 9.
  8. ^ a b c d e f Bishop, Chris (2006). The Encyclopedia of Small Arms and Artillery. Grange Books. pp. 13–14. ISBN 978-1-84013-910-5.
  9. ^ PSM Shooting: 5.45x18mm vs 7.62x25mm on Soft Armor. Forgotten Weapons. July 1, 2017. Archived from the original on July 13, 2023. Retrieved June 6, 2023 – via YouTube.{{cite AV media}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  10. ^ Kokalis, Peter (January 2001). Weapons Tests And Evaluations: The Best Of Soldier Of Fortune. Boulder, Colorado, US: Paladin Press. p. 96. ISBN 978-1-58160-122-0.
  11. ^ a b Jones & Ness 2010, p. 16.
  12. ^ a b c Thompson 2022, p. 64.
  13. ^ a b Thompson 2022, pp. 64−65.
  14. ^ Jones & Ness 2010, pp. 16−17.
  15. ^ a b Thompson 2022, pp. 62−63.
  16. ^ Thompson 2022, pp. 63−64.
  17. ^ a b c Thompson 2022, p. 67.
  18. ^ a b Jones & Ness 2010, p. 43.
  19. ^ a b Hong, Heebum; Shea, Dan (11 August 2023). "North Korean Small Arms". Small Arms Defense Journal. Retrieved 6 February 2025.
  20. ^ "The Way of the Gun: The legendary gunsmiths of Darra Adam Khel". Riaz Ahmed. Express Tribune. 4 November 2012. Archived from the original on 2016-11-16. Retrieved 2016-11-16.
  21. ^ a b c Thompson 2022, p. 69.
  22. ^ Instrukcja Piechoty Pistolet wz. 1933 (wydanie drugie) Piech. 38/48 [Infantry Manual Pistol pattern. 1933 (second edition) Piech. 38/48] (in Polish) (2nd ed.). Warsaw, Poland: Wydawnictwo Ministerstwa Obrony Narodowej. 18 October 1961.
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  24. ^ a b c Thompson 2022, p. 65.
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  27. ^ "Sức mạnh dàn súng Việt Nam tự sản xuất". baodatviet.vn. Archived from the original on 7 December 2017. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
  28. ^ "Súng ngắn K14 Việt Nam được phát triển thế nào?". 18 March 2015. Archived from the original on 2016-11-04. Retrieved 2016-11-03.
  29. ^ "[Indo Defense 2018] Vietnamese Small Arms Part Two: Grenade Launcher's, Galil ACE's, and OSV-96's -The Firearm Blog". 29 November 2018. Archived from the original on 2018-12-01. Retrieved 2018-12-01.
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  31. ^ a b Thompson 2022, pp. 65−67.
  32. ^ Jones & Ness 2010, pp. 61−62.
  33. ^ a b Jones & Ness 2010, p. 61.
  34. ^ "BREAKING: Zastava Arms USA to Become the Exclusive Zastava Firearms Importer -The Firearm Blog". 2 January 2019. Archived from the original on 2019-04-20. Retrieved 2019-03-19.
  35. ^ "PAPs, Toks and Mausers for the masses: Zastava launches U.S-based operation". Archived from the original on 2019-04-20. Retrieved 2019-03-19.
  36. ^ a b c "Finnish Army 1918 - 1945: Revolvers & Pistols Part 2". www.jaegerplatoon.net. Archived from the original on 23 April 2018. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
  37. ^ Rottman, Gordon L. (December 2002). Korean War Order of Battle: United States, United Nations, and Communist Ground, Naval, and Air Forces, 1950-1953. Praeger. p. 198. ISBN 978-0-275-97835-8. Archived from the original on 2018-12-09. Retrieved 2018-12-07.
  38. ^ Katz, Sam (24 Mar 1988). Arab Armies of the Middle East Wars (2). Men-at-Arms 128. Osprey Publishing. p. 39. ISBN 9780850458008.
  39. ^ "Arms for freedom". 29 December 2017. Archived from the original on April 7, 2018. Retrieved 2019-08-31.
  40. ^ Schmidl, Erwin; Ritter, László (10 Nov 2006). The Hungarian Revolution 1956. Elite 148. Osprey Publishing. p. 45. ISBN 9781846030796.
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  44. ^ a b German 2003, p. 58.
  45. ^ a b Ferguson & Jenzen-Jones 2014, p. 86.
  46. ^ a b Pospelov, Andrey (15 November 2014). "Ukrainian Defense Industry in the "Hybrid War" with Russia. Part 2". Borysfen Intel. Retrieved 6 February 2025.
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  50. ^ "It Became Known What the belarusian Territorial Defense is Armed With, Which the Wagnerians Will Train". Defense Express. 17 July 2023. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
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  52. ^ a b Jones & Ness 2010, p. 906.
  53. ^ Jones & Ness 2010, p. 907.
  54. ^ a b c Jones & Ness 2010, p. 908.
  55. ^ a b Jones & Ness 2010, p. 909.
  56. ^ "40 Prajurit Korem Bhaskara Jaya Diminta Tingkatkan Kemampuan Menembak". timesindonesia.co.id (in Indonesian). 17 March 2020. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
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  58. ^ Small Arms Survey (2012). "Blue Skies and Dark Clouds: Kazakhstan and Small Arms". Small Arms Survey 2012: Moving Targets. Cambridge University Press. p. 131. ISBN 978-0-521-19714-4. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-08-31. Retrieved 2018-08-30.
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  61. ^ a b c d Jones & Ness 2010, p. 912.
  62. ^ a b Jones & Ness 2010, p. 914.
  63. ^ a b Jones & Ness 2010, p. 915.
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  65. ^ Jones & Ness 2010, p. 916.
  66. ^ a b Jones & Ness 2010, p. 917.
  67. ^ a b Jones & Ness 2010, p. 918.
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  69. ^ Hogg 1987, p. 977.
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  72. ^ Thompson 2022, pp. 16−20.
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Bibliography

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