Should I Buy a Tokarev?

[Obturation]

I'm not intimately familiar with them but I've handled a few and have shot one once. My impression is not favorable but I'm not a fan of any of the most common commie guns. Seems like it would be ok if you need a project to tinker with but not a great gun for any serious purpose.i guess you can say that about most old guns though.

 

[Hugger-4641]

Seen a few around here in good condition going for $350 to $400. Unfired might be worth extra $100 to some collectors, but not to me cause if I own it I'm gonna shoot it.

 

[Capybara]

I had a Chinese Type 54 Tokarev, but was forced to let it go during a divorce a couple of years ago, it was in mint condition too. I have since replaced it with this Romanian TTC, it's a pretty fun noise maker. Fine accuracy for plinking. You should get one, they are fun guns, the "Commie 1911" Mine came with the horrible safety that the ATF made the importers include. I got rid of it, these are the Marschal Walnut grips that cover the hole left over when you remove the lame safety. I like the 7.62x25 round, have not yet tried reloading it, but there is plenty of it out on the market.

I also have two CZ52s and they too are fun to shoot but you do need to swap out the firing pin, rollers and extractor because they are brittle and break. There is a company in Indiana that makes all of the replacement stuff and they are not that hard to swap out. Tokarevs are generally more reliable out of the box.

 

[Terry G]

There was a Chinese version in 9mm. I lucked across one a few years back.

It's a decent low-tech, single-stack, single-action service pistol. Ammo is, of course, not a problem.

It had obviously been shot quite a bit before I got it, but it works just fine.

It's just a range toy, so I don't care about the safety, but I can empty a mag onto a small paper plate quickly at seven yards, and it's reliable.

Chinese Tokarev 9mm

• Tallball
• May 25, 2018

I bought one of these years back, NIB, with a hilarious instruction manual. 9 MM also. I have a Romanian one also in 7.62, Both are a kick to shoot and being "commie guns" are built to last.

 

[Jim Watson]

The Polish afterthought/import points safety appears to be well located. Does it work well or are we better off deleting any such add on and going Soviet?

A friend relies on Tokarev and Makarov for self defense, he doesn't want to put wear on his Colt, Smith, Ruger, Thompson, STEN, etc.

 

[Savage30L]

A few days ago my cousin offered to give me his Norinco Tokarev (one with that aforementioned safety), still in its cosmoline, and I turned down the offer. Tokarevs have just never appealed to me, and after all the work I had to go through to remove the cosmoline off of that Astra 400, I don't want to do such a chore again. Nor did I relish the prospect of having to scrounge for ammo for yet another caliber.

 

[Col. Harrumph]

Yes of course you should! The Yugos have a longer handle and can seat an extra round so if you have large hands that's the one... but be on the lookout for magazines, they don't interchange. The Polish ones are said to be better finished. 7.62x25 ammo defeats civilian body armor so think about that if you live in a questionable area. Also mind the safety... it's an afterthought required for importation. Some work, some don't. Talk to your lawyer before removing a sketchy one.

 

[Reeferman]

My son has several Russian and Polish built ones. I find they are the most uncomfortable nasty commie guns to shoot. They just don’t fit my hand. He still has several cases of surplus 7.62x25 which will probably be around for another 30 years.

 

[gunmechanic]

My father and uncle had them type 54 8 round if i remember, i always thought they shot well i never remember them failing to function. they are fun to shoot. I like there looks !

 

[Savage30L]

Well, he gave it to me anyway! Along with two Makarovs. The one in the holster is East German.



The two boxed guns are wrapped and in cosmoline. Anyone have a ballpark idea of the value of the Tokarev?

(Edit: I changed "unwrapped" to "wrapped"....had a typo in the original post.)

 

[Capybara]

You can get them all over the place at $350. https://www.gunbroker.com/item/973733849
If this one is brand new, untouched, probably worth closer to $500

 

[Savage30L]

You can get them all over the place at $350. https://www.gunbroker.com/item/973733849
If this one is brand new, untouched, probably worth closer to $500

It's factory new in original cosmoline, wrapper, and box. Removing the cosmoline will take some work, I suppose.

 

[Capybara]

It's factory new in original cosmoline, wrapper, and box. Removing the cosmoline will take some work, I suppose.

Most people who will be interested in your pistol will consider BNIB in Cosmoline to be a plus.
Cosmoline removal on a pistol is pretty easy, rifles are more work. You just boil a kettle or two
of water and add some elbow grease and some paper towels.