1966 Type 54 Tokarov... How much should I have paid??

[7Star]

How much should I have paid?? I do not know much about these pistols. I have heard good things.... Is it reasonably collectable? It looks ugly and fun to shoot. I going to take it out for a test drive in the morning.

I got it the gunshow yesterday. They had it marked incorrectly as a Type 66 and the kid behind the counter told me he thought the lettering looked maybe korean but he did not know anything about this pistol. It was the only non-modern pistol there. hahaha!!

Anyway, I have learned it is a Type 54 Chinese Tokarev (7.62x25) manufactured in 1966. The only markings are the serial numberm the 66 arsenal mark (This lead me to believe it is a military spec pistol) with out the triangle and the three chinese characters in the top of the slide that say 54 type in chinese. SErial numbers al match except for the one on the single cartridge. The barrel is flawless. It has average wear... I'll try to post some photos tomorrow when I get some batteries for the camera.

 

[woad_yurt]

It's a no-safety Chinese military Tok? Those are hard to come by. What'd you pay?

 

[7Star]

i paid a basic 180. i figured i knew saw a romanian one before for that price a long time ago...so it was alteast an ok deal.

 

[7Star]

but it is only my limited assessment that it is a military pistol, from what i have read but yes, there is no saftey on my pistol.

 

[wally]

Sounds like a great deal. Do some research, you might be able to sell it for a good bit more to a collector and get a Romanian or Polish Tok to shoot (better safeties, but its the lack of added for import safety that might make yours collectible, the safeties added to the Chinese guns are awful and make the gun less safe overall IMHO).

--wally.

 

[7Star]

Yeah, this is actually my first single action pistol. I don't know much about it yet... but theoretically, I do not see an issue with not having a safety with the hammer down. Besides, it's not a carry for me.. just a fun gun. Maybe if I was hiking it would be nice to take... but it isdefinitely a shooter for me. I have done alot of research.. as much as i can really.. but still have no idea if it is worth what I paid or a bit more....

 

[woad_yurt]

If you paid $180, you got a steal, a major steal. In 2-3 years of Gunbroker browsing, I've never seen a safety-less Chinese one for sale. A couple of Russian ones but never a Chinese. Does it have import marks (an importer's name?)

Keep that one and shoot the daylights out of it. When carrying with one in the chamber, make sure it's on 1/2 cock. The hammer is blocked from the firing pin on 1/2 cock.

 

[7Star]

No, I do not have any import markings. Should it have import markings?
Only serial #, 66, and then year 1966... ohh.. and the three chinese characters.

I was wondering about the half cocked thing. I was debating whether this was completley safe fully down or half cocked. I was assuming a sharp blow or drop could more easily cause a discharge in the full down position. But, I never handled a pistol with a half cocked position before. I was going to do some research on this later...but i was still trying to figure out what i purchased. Thanks for the tip.

 

[woad_yurt]

The Russians tested that 1/2 cock by dropping it on its hammer from the roof of a 3 story building on to concrete (really.) It's a good 1/2 cock.

If it has no import marks, it may have gotten here by way of a Vietnam vet. If you put it at $500 buy-it-now on Gunbroker, it'd probably fly out of your hands. Try the Rumanian surplus ammo from Aim Surplus ($119 for 1224 rounds.) It's very good stuff. Wolf makes hollowpoints for it and they are monster self-defense rounds. They've made big, big holes in everything I've shot.

You got very lucky with that purchase. Enjoy.

PS: There's a guy on Gunbroker who sells like-new Norinco 54 magazines.

 

[jonnyc]

Tough to compare without pics, but I paid $500 for my T54. I was happy at that price. You done good.

 

[jeffesonm]

Just fired off a hundred rounds or so of the AIM surplus ammo out of my new Romanian Tok... fun gun to shoot!

 

[7Star]

Sorry, I took the photos but still can't find the damn cable....

 

[7Star]

Trigger guard stamps an Tokarevs??

However, I have noticed alot of the original Chinese T-54s have an letter stamped onto the trigger guard, on the side with the removable clip like device which holds the pin in place. Has anyone seen this and no what it means?? I have seen the letter "A," "M," and also "0." I can not find the cab;e to post photos, think I need to order a new one. However, I found a link to a guy with photos of his Tok which show this "A" stamp very clearly on the trigger guard.

http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/album/553454338rqPKry

His is a 1967 and his serial number is ofcourse about a million higher than mine. However, I also have this "A" on my trigger guard. His appears very similar to mine except that his appears more silver.. maybe just the lighting though. Mine you can definitely see more wear on the bluing, especailly behind where the little clip is taken off. I'm assuming this is accelerated due to humidity in the area....

Any ideas??

 

[7Star]

tokarev photos

This is a photo of my 1966 military Type 54 Chinese Tokarev. You can see it's got the wear and tear, maybe of some real action use. I put a little piece of paper of the serial number.

 

[7Star]

other side.... decided to sell the Tok on GB. Pick up and pick up a low budget version. I think an actual collector would appreciate it a bit more. Thanks everyone