dancitizen
member
- Joined
- Apr 2, 2015
- Messages
- 62
The Serbian M57 is one of best Tokarevs currently available in the US, and definitely has the best safety.
The Zastava website lists Tokarev models with slide mounted safeties as "A" variants, as in M57A, M70AA, etc. but mine is marked only M57. These safeties are far from the afterthought safeties found on many Tokarev imports.
The M57A safety locks the firing pin, trips the sear disconnect, and physically blocks the hammer from reaching the firing pin. It allows slide operation, and you can cock the hammer with the safety engaged.
The M57A can be safely carried cocked and locked, or with the safety on and the hammer down.
The M57A has no half cock.
M57A
Bottom view of slide showing safety.
Disassembly
The rear of the firing pin where you have to press.
You must compress the firing pin to allow the safety to be removed. Here you can see the firing pin fully pushed in, and how far it protrudes on the breech side. At this point you can remove the safety.
Here is the slide, safety, safety spring & detent ball, firing pin, and it's 2 springs. Some of these pieces will go flying, use this picture to order new ones from Numrich or GunPartsCorporation.
Some reassembly notes
The safety must be aligned as pictured to slide in easily, 90 degrees downward in relation to the bore axis.
As you slide the safety in, it will tend to cant under firing pin tension, slight pressure as pictured will help guide it in straight.
You will need to align the detent ball with the upper notch, then push it into it's recess as you push the safety the last couple millimeters in. Of course when you attempt this the ball will pop loose and fly away, never to be seen again. A split punch of the type used to remove a tokarev magazine release is a good tool for this.
Who here has eagle eyes and spotted something purposely out of place?
The Zastava website lists Tokarev models with slide mounted safeties as "A" variants, as in M57A, M70AA, etc. but mine is marked only M57. These safeties are far from the afterthought safeties found on many Tokarev imports.
The M57A safety locks the firing pin, trips the sear disconnect, and physically blocks the hammer from reaching the firing pin. It allows slide operation, and you can cock the hammer with the safety engaged.
The M57A can be safely carried cocked and locked, or with the safety on and the hammer down.
The M57A has no half cock.
M57A
Bottom view of slide showing safety.
Disassembly
The rear of the firing pin where you have to press.
You must compress the firing pin to allow the safety to be removed. Here you can see the firing pin fully pushed in, and how far it protrudes on the breech side. At this point you can remove the safety.
Here is the slide, safety, safety spring & detent ball, firing pin, and it's 2 springs. Some of these pieces will go flying, use this picture to order new ones from Numrich or GunPartsCorporation.
Some reassembly notes
The safety must be aligned as pictured to slide in easily, 90 degrees downward in relation to the bore axis.
As you slide the safety in, it will tend to cant under firing pin tension, slight pressure as pictured will help guide it in straight.
You will need to align the detent ball with the upper notch, then push it into it's recess as you push the safety the last couple millimeters in. Of course when you attempt this the ball will pop loose and fly away, never to be seen again. A split punch of the type used to remove a tokarev magazine release is a good tool for this.
Who here has eagle eyes and spotted something purposely out of place?