First, I have not yet fired it yet; I am pretty sure she will go bang when that time comes, it is a very simple design
which is almost a copy of Browning's designs.
This pistol is a 9mm version of the their M57 (7.62x25mm Tokarev) (which in turn is a new production of the TT-33).
The Tokarev was a russian gun which according to wikipedia:
"It was developed in the early 1930s by Fedor Tokarev as a service pistol for the Soviet military to replace the Nagant
M1895 revolver that had been in use since Tsarist times.....The TT-33 was eventually replaced by the 8-round, 9×18mm Makarov
PM pistol in 1952"
Ok history lesson over, the 7.62x25mm is a very nifty round on paper, and seems to have somewhat of a cult following, however
I already have a reloading set for 9mm; All of the safety and design features are the same on these two pistols.
THIS DOES NOT APPLY TO OLDER TOKAREVS, ONLY THESE TWO PISTOLS
I did not find any information on the web about the safety features of this gun, so here we go:
Tokarevs apparently are notorious for being somewhat unsafe; Additionally pistols imported into the US had mickey-mouse after-thought
safeties added which were often laughable. Carrying a Tok with one in the chamber has never been a good idea for any non conscripted civilian.
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Safety features:
*Frame mounted safety which:
1) Blocks hammer from contacting firing pin
2) Locks firing pin in place, effectively a drop safety
3) Prevents trigger from being pulled
-) It however does not keep the slide locked in place, thumb must be pressed firm against the slide while holstering.
*Everyone's favorite mag safety, the trigger is locked in place if no magazine is inserted.
Fit and finish:
*The chintzy serial numbers on barrel, trigger assembly, frame, and slide are all different, but within 50 serial # (eg, 1010, 1052, 1033)
*The outside and inside of this gun, while no S&W is actually surprisingly good. Every part is blued in and out (exception is barrel).
*Magazines require a small amount of coaxing to remove, they do not drop. Additionally they scrape a tiny bit on the way in. (I have a Ruger which does this, no big deal)
*It is really a poor man's 1911, I really like how it looks
*The grips on these gun are terribly ugly on all these guns :(
Pros:
*Its Serbian
*Safety has a very positive feel, I don't anticipate is moving on its own under normal circumstances
*Dirt cheap (~$250), and relatively good quality, this is no Hi-Point or Jennings Arms. Think cheap family heirloom.
*Solid steel, still quite useful as a blunt object after you run through the 9 round mag.
*I like the slide release, seems solid when feeding a round, very satisfying. Would make any "door must click" OCD personality very happy.
*It is my understanding many tokarev parts fit this gun (example compensator)
*It fit fine and snug in some random holster I had.
Cons:
*Its Serbian
*Safety is opposite of what you might think, down is Safe, up is Fire.
*Sights are utilitarian. They aren't there because they feel like it, but because they must be (think sweatpants at the grocery store)
*Trigger isn't exactly smooth, it has that russian mechanical feel. But makes you feel manly
*Safeties should be designed to lock the slide IMHO, I'm working on casting a quick "add-on" at work, I'll keep you guys posted.
^I imagine a spinning triangle mounted to the frame, which engages the safety in a similar female slot cut out the back side (if that makes sense)
*I haven't fired it yet, so I'm sure there is more, but snap caps eject straight up into oblivion (might be pro for left handed shooter)
*Magazines for this modified Tokarev are proprietary (+1 cap) and almost non existent at the moment (gun comes with 2).
*Zastava should make surgical equipment, the mag lips cut my thumb really badly when unloading. OUCH! didn't bleed for 20+ seconds.
Notes:
*Came packed in nasty grease, took it apart, cleaned it all off with brake cleaner, then rubbed Renaissance wax on outside parts (great stuff BTW against surface rust), and clp all over everything else.
*Put a couple dots of white nail polish on the sights to help with quick alignment. Thanks wifey!
*Frame easy to scratch when reassembling on these guns if not careful with the slide release/barrel pivot pin.
*Sights seem adjustable (windage), I read about one person complaining theirs fell off. Nothing red loctite can't fix.
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But why would you post a gun review on a CHL site you ask?
Simple, I wanted to inform you with the fore-thought safeties on this gun, it is more or less safer than its ancestors. I would
carry it Condition 1 without too much worry (it is still however a loaded firearm, which have known to be dangerous).
As opposed to an older Tokarev, which I would not carry chambered.
Plus, I'm not a member on any other gun forums ;)
