Tokarev Question

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TheBigBulgarian

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Thinking about getting a Tok.
Saw one at a local gun shop. Didn't if it was chineese or russian. Didn't say on tag it was going for about $225 with a holster. Figure I'll do my homework first.
For those who had/have them, How do you like them?
Is there any difference in the russian and chineese models?
I am assuming they are pretty well built otherwise they would have served in the USSR.
Thanks All.
 
I've got one of the Polish ones

Polish imports have the afterthought safety on 'em. Not a problem, I just don't use the bloody thing. Assuming that your real question is, "Do you like this gun and think I might?", the answer is "Yes", as far as I'm concerned. Besides the Tokarev, I've also got a CZ-52. Both are a blast to shoot. If you're in an indoor range, and in a booth next to a wall, the first shot is an attention-getter. People in the next three booths down will wonder what the @#$% you're shooting. The muzzle blast from the CZ is particularly impressive.

Both guns are unforgiving in the matter of not using proper technique. Forget one step of the total shot process, and the rounds will go astray. With good technique, though, both are more accurate than I am, by a long shot.
 
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Chinese guns didn't get imported with holsters, the owner had to buy one seperate.
$225.00 would be a fair price for one in very good condition and if the holster is a surplus Chinese issue military holster, consider it a bonus.

Actual Russian guns were never imported as items for the masses.
A Russian gun will be a bring back from God only knows where, it won't have the goofy ATF demanded manual safety and it won't sell for less than $400.00 unless the seller is an idiot.

Polish guns came into the market in fairly large quantities and were quickly snapped up.
These are some of the best made Tokarevs I have ever seen and $225.00 retail for one would be a bargain.

Romanian pistols were the last batch imported, they sold for about $275.00 retail and were the crudest of the Tokarevs.
I have one, pretty it isn't but it shoots OK.
I had to replace the two magazines that came with the gun because they were all but worn out.
I bought some Polish made spares and they work just fine.
Here is a picture of the Romanian safety, it may help you identify the gun better you are considering.
Polish and Chinese guns have the safety at the back of the frame or if I am not remembering correctly and the Polish pistol has the safety at the front, it is a much more professional looking addition than the Romanian gun.
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My Polish looks exactly like the picture of that Romanian except I dont have the star on the grips. Its a great gun, 7.62x25 is alot of fun to shoot. If the one you are looking at is $225, that is a fair price. I overpaid evidently at $279 for my Polish and $250 for a used Chinese one.

EDIT: Actually my Polish has wider spaced serations. My Chinese has serations like that one. If you get one in 7.62x25, this is super ammo http://www.aimsurplus.com/acatalog/1980_s_Brass_Case_Romanian_762x25_Surplus.html
 
I have a Gun Tests magazine book they published circa 1996 and they have a Tokarev IIRC that is Russian that was a Century arms import. Don't remember if it had a safety or not, gotta find the book. I personally would not pay $225 for a non bringback Chinese Tokarev.
 
Yeah, German Specialty Imports almost managed to get about 1500 or so genuine Russian Tokarevs onto the market WITHOUT side safeties.
The Feds caught on to the deal and put the big kabosch to the whole project.

A few managed to get onto the market and the Feds were not able to recover them but they are rare birds indeed.
The Century Imports were Polish guns. I have that issue buried in a box somewhere around here.
 
I like my tokarev fine. I bought it really really cheap, like $180 Canadian. And then got 5000 rounds ammo for $500, plus shipping ($100).

But I load it's 2 magazines fast and fire it pretty constantly, and it gets hottish around 100 rounds. Then it starts having extraction problems, probably because the surplus ammo sticks in the chamber or something. Sometimes the extractor tries to hard it rips right through the commie steel case, and I have to take the slide off to knock the chamber clean.

I also needed a heavy hammer to adjust the rear sight. I started with a small brass hammer like worked for my SKS, but didn't do ANYTHING. So I needed a regular hammer and punch and hit it hard and often to get that sight to move a bit. And I had to do it at the range on the concrete floor. Definitely consider the pistol to be categorized as a 'beater'. But I like the trigger and the sights are good enough, and recoil is nothing. It's a JMB design basically so it's fine.

Oh yea, also can't shoot it at indoor ranges because the bullets are steel-jacketed, and they spark when hitting the backstops.

The holsters are cheap and great (brand-new Russian) to get, and to loosen up the spare-mag pouch put duct-tape around a broom-stick and shove it in there for a few weeks.


3fgburner what is the checklist for the process you go through?
 
I've had several Tok's and with the exception of a 9mm chinese that was not reliable, they are great shooters. I think 7.62 is the only way to go though; it seems 7.62 guns usually have problems when converted to 9mm. My CZ-52 is great fun too, and, IMHO, a superior gun to the Tok, but I find the Tok more ergonomic.
This is my latest Tokarev, I bought it at a gun show for $119. It had a rear mounted safety, yet it has Russian markings and original scalloped TT-33 slide serrations. I nickel plated it as well. Fun gun.
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I have a Russian tok, 1945 vintage, all Soviet markings and the cute little CCCP around the star. It has the scallop and ling machings. Sadly, they added the safty to it. Really ugly and useless.

As much as I love the gun, it is a bit wild to shoot. Kind of like shooting a mag. After a box I've had enough.

They are very cool.
 
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