TT pistol

Last updated
TT (Tula Tokarev)
Tokarev TT33 (6825679152).jpg
TT-33
Type Semi-automatic pistol
Place of origin Soviet Union
Service history
In service1930–present
Used bySee Users
WarsSee Conflicts
Production history
Designer Fedor Tokarev
Designed1930
Manufacturer
Produced1930–1955 (in Soviet Union) [9]
No. built1,653,188 [10] [a]
VariantsSee variants
Specifications
Mass854 g (30.1 oz) [11]
Length195 mm (7.7 in) [11]
Barrel  length116 mm (4.6 in) [11]
Height134 mm (5.3 in)[ citation needed ]

Cartridge 7.62×25mm Tokarev
9×19mm Parabellum
Action Short recoil actuated, locked breech, single action
Muzzle velocity 420 m/s (1,378 ft/s) [11]
Effective firing range50 m (55 yd) [12]
Feed system8-round detachable box magazine [11]
SightsFront blade, rear notch
156 mm (6.1 in) sight radius[ citation needed ]

The TT-30, [b] 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. [13] 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 Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. [11]

Contents

Development

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. [14] 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. [c] 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. [15]

After being accepted for service, the TT-30 was modified, primarily to simplify the manufacturing process, such as making the back strap an integral part of the frame instead of being a separate piece, reducing machining time. [1] The newly improved pistol received the designation TT-33. [16]

Design details

Externally, the TT-33 is very similar to John Browning's blowback operated FN Model 1903 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. [17] The magazines themselves can be disassembled for cleaning, another measure to prevent malfunctions. [13]

The pistol lacks an external safety and is usually carried with a round loaded and the hammer half-cocked. [13] The safest method for carrying the TT-33 is to leave the chamber empty, though it requires the slide to be manually pulled back and released to ready the gun for use, which takes some effort due the relatively stiff recoil spring. [18]

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. [19] Despite the power of the 7.62 mm round, the TT-33 has a relatively mild recoil. [18]

Although the Tokarev was mass produced for the Red Army, the Soviet Union continued producing Nagant 1895 revolvers during World War II due the material demands of the war and the shortcomings of the TT-33, such as being less suitable to fire through a tank viewport, the magazines could be released accidentally, stress on the firing pin decreased the pistol service life. Due the lack of an external safety, cavalry units including Cossacks carried Nagants as sidearms instead. [20]

As early as 1938, the Soviets mulled on a replacement for the TT-33, and trials were conducted. After testing several designs, including a submission from Tokarev, a 18-round design chambered for the 7.62 mm round by Pavel V. Voyevodin was chosen, but development was halted after the Germans launched Operation Barbarossa. [21]

Early production TTs have a high-quality black or dark blue finish, while wartime models (1942−1945) have rougher finish and wooden grips instead of rubber, while in some examples the lanyard ring on the bottom of the magazine was omitted. A total of 1,059,687 pistols were built during World War II, while approximately 46,000 were built post-war: these pistols have improved finish and grips similar to pre-war models. They also feature a slightly taller rear sight and narrow serrations on the rear of the slide. [22]

Variants

Soviet Tokarev TT-33, made in 1937 TT-33 2.JPG
Soviet Tokarev TT-33, made in 1937

Soviet Union / Russia

China

Type 54 with manual safety Chinese Tok.jpg
Type 54 with manual safety

Hungary

The Hungarian "Tokagypt" is a 9 mm variant of the Soviet TT pistol Tokagypt 58.jpg
The Hungarian "Tokagypt" is a 9 mm variant of the Soviet TT pistol

North Korea

Pakistan

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

Poland

Romania

Romanian TTC, made in 1953 1953 TTC.jpg
Romanian TTC, made in 1953

Vietnam

Yugoslavia / Serbia

M57 with a loaded 9-round magazine. Yugo Tokarev M57.jpg
M57 with a loaded 9-round magazine.

Service history

A Soviet junior political officer armed with a Tokarev TT-33 Service Pistol. USSROfficerTT33.JPG
A Soviet junior political officer armed with a Tokarev TT-33 Service Pistol.

The TT-33 was primarily issued to officers, [16] though some enlisted non-commissioned officers and specialists (such as snipers) were also issued with handguns as well. [40] Cavalry units carried the Nagant 1895 revolver instead, since the lack of an external safety on the TT pistol presented a risk to both horse and rider. [41]

While the TT-33 was used in small numbers during the Spanish Civil War, the first major use of the Tokarev pistol was during the Winter War against Finland. The Finns managed to capture a number of TT-33 pistols and PPD submachine guns, which they used until they run out 7.62 mm Tokarev ammunition. [42]

During World War II, both the Germans and the Finns made use of captured TT-33 pistols, though the former had the advantage of making use of the 7.63×25mm Mauser cartridge, which can be loaded in TT pistols (though the 7.62×25mm Tokarev cannot be fired in weapons chambered for the 7.63 mm round due the increased pressure of the Soviet cartridge). Captured pistols were re-issued to German troops as the Pistole 615(r). [43]

After the war, the TT-33 was gradually replaced in Soviet military and police service by the Makarov pistol, though some pistols remained in use into the 21st century. [44] China, North Korea, and Vietnam received substantial number of TT-33s and used them alongside Chinese-made copies during the Korean War and Vietnam War. [45] Surplus Soviet pistols were also supplied in quantity to African countries as military aid. According to Thompson, over 60 countries used TT-33 pistols, with eight countries mass producing TT-33 copies or pistols based on the Tokarev design. [4] Some insurgent groups in the Middle East also managed to obtain a large number of pistols, including some Hungarian-made Tokagypt 58s originally intended to arm the Nasser regime after the Eisenhower administration refused to sell arms to Egypt. Tokagypt 58s were a staple of the Red Army Faction arsenal, and founding members Ulrike Meinhof and Andreas Baader were taught how to shoot at an Arab training camp in Jordan with Tokagypts. [30] Spanish and Portuguese armed groups such as the ETA and FP-25 also obtained a large number of Tokagypts. [31]

During the Soviet-Afghan War, the Afghan mujahideen made use of pistols captured from the Soviets and Khyber Pass copies of the Tokarev and Makarov obtained from Pakistan as well. [35]

Conflicts

Users

Map of TT operators during the Cold War Tokarev Pistol historical usage map.jpg
Map of TT operators during the Cold War

Current

Former

Non-state former

See also

Notes

  1. TT-30 and T-33 produced between 1930 and 1945.
  2. 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)
  3. According to Yelshin, some of the foreign pistols tested included designs from Browning and Walther (Yelshin 1981, p. 36)
  4. Between 13,000 and 14,000 pistols according to Thompson, while George Layman gives a total of 13,250 pistols. (Thompson 2022, p. 64)
  5. 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.(Thompson 2022, p. 67)

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