The terrible story of the legendary pistol vols. TT pistol: specifications

In the 30s of the twentieth century, the USSR was developing self-loading pistols for mass production and rearmament of the army. Tests of domestic and foreign weapons were carried out, among which were the Parabellum, Browning, Walter, Prilutsky systems. But the Tokarev pistol, in terms of its combat and operational characteristics, bypassed the projects of other Soviet designers, so its mass production began.

The TT pistol was adopted by 30 states, including those used by the Wehrmacht, in SS units. Now the TT is a coveted trophy for gun collectors.

History of creation

History of creation famous weapons, TT pistol, is associated with the name of the Russian designer Fedor Vasilievich Tokarev. He was born into a Cossack family. Later he entered the military craft school in Novocherkassk, where he studied at the weapons department. Later, at the rifle school for training officers in Oranienbaum, he saw one of the first automatic weapons - a rifle designed by Fedorov.

He was interested in the device, despite the imperfections and shortcomings, the first automation carried new idea which had advantages. There were no such weapons in the Russian army.

In 1908, Fedor Vasilyevich developed an automatic rifle, based on Mosin. The work was supported by the Artillery Committee. But the weapon required improvements, and in 1910 Tokarev introduced it new pattern and a rifle of their own innovative design. The idea was to convert Mosin's three-ruler into an automatic one.

This rifle fired a single shot, followed by manual reloading, as a result of which the sight was already knocked out of the line of fire, although the magazine held 5 rounds. Thus began work on the creation of a Russian automatic rifle.

In the post-revolutionary period, Fyodor Vasilyevich was sent to Tula, where he worked as a chief engineer at the Tula Arms Plant. There he designed light machine gun MT. The Tula pistol TT was created by Tokarev for the competition, the purpose of which was to select a successful weapon for arming the army. Why the weapon is called TT: the abbreviation is associated with the name of the inventor Tokarev, who invented it, and the Tula plant.

He was declared the most acceptable, but the commission demanded that the design of the TT pistol be finalized in terms of safety and accuracy.

A few months later, the designer presented an improved version, it lived up to expectations and was accepted into service. A cartridge with a bottle sleeve and a shell bullet for the TT pistol was put into service in 1930. Among the fighters, the pistol was nicknamed "TT" - Tula Tokarev.

But a few more years the design was modernized. I had to revise the drawing of the clip, because the cartridges from the TT pistol warped, the bolt wore out quickly. And the gun could not be used when firing from a tank through a rifle embrasure. The reliability of the pistol also left much to be desired, as well as a resource of 200-300 shots, there were frequent breakdowns and malfunctions, which means that modernization was again required.

The gun was modified primarily in order to reduce the cost and simplify the process. After modernization in 1933, the plant got the opportunity to produce upgraded pistol TT in the required quantity. By the beginning of the war, over 100 thousand pieces were produced.

TT during the Second World War became the main personal weapon of the officers and generals of the spacecraft. It was used in close combat with a distance of up to 50 m.

In 1951, the production of TT was stopped, it was replaced by the famous PM. How does the Makarov PM pistol differ from the TT: first of all, the purpose is not for use in military conditions, but for the police in peaceful conditions. Therefore, the inventor made it more lightweight and compact. Free shutter automatic.

It is believed that PM is safer, more comfortable to wear and easier to operate. In the same 1951, the Stechkin APS automatic pistol began to be produced.

Design features of the 7.62-mm pistol model 1930

For his offspring, Tokarev applied the most successful developments of his predecessors: the creator combined in his pistol some features of several systems developed before him. We are talking about the Colt M1911 and its bore locking device, Browning M1903 design, cartridge for . He introduced his own design solutions: he placed the trigger device in a separate block.


It could be removed from the frame to clean and oil the weapon. Tokarev placed the mainspring in the trigger and made more improvements to make the weapon convenient to use. Automation is made according to the scheme with a short stroke of the weapon barrel.

The TT pistol is an automatic short-barreled weapon. The body is flat, length - 195 mm, height - 133 mm, width - 28 mm, barrel length - 116 mm. Thanks to its compact size, the TT is comfortable to carry. Ammunition is automatically fed and sent to the chamber, the bore is locked and unlocked automatically, and the used cartridge case is ejected.

Shooting is done with single shots. The clip is located in the handle.


Due to its powerful cartridge and long barrel, the TT pistol was reputed to be one of the best examples of that time in terms of its penetrating capabilities and lethal force.

The main parts and devices of the TT pistol disassembled:

  • The frame connects the parts of the weapon and is the base and block of the firing mechanism. The cheeks are attached to the handle. The clip latch of an automatic pistol is located between the handle and the trigger. It is designed to limit the movement of the trigger hook. At the top of the frame there is a moving part: a barrel with an earring, a bolt with a return spring.
  • The barrel is cylindrical in shape with a tide. Inside it is a chamber and a channel with 4 rifling, which impart rotational movement to the bullet. Outside, half-rings-grooves are carved (for connection with the casing), a tide with a groove and a bevel for an earring is attached to facilitate the supply of a cartridge from the magazine to the chamber.
  • Casing-shutter - detail self-loading pistol, located on top of the trunk. Here the shutter is integral with the casing. The barrel moves inside it and other parts of the percussion device and a return spring are placed. A bushing is attached to the front. The muzzle of the barrel is placed in its upper hole. The shutter moves along the ledges on the frame. When the bolt moves back, the hammer is cocked, and the cartridge is fed into the chamber.
  • The trigger mechanism is a separate unit, so the assembly and disassembly of the TT pistol will not require much effort. The device consists of a trigger, a trigger and a sear with springs, an axle and a disconnector. The trigger is needed to strike the striker. The sear keeps the trigger cocked. The mainspring drives it. The drummer is a solid metal cylinder with a thin front edge, the so-called needle. The uncoupler is also needed to protect against shots. USM is designed for single shots. Rate of fire - 30 rounds per minute.

Clicking trigger, actuate the trigger and mainspring, deactivate the sear (it disengages from the trigger). Now the trigger is out of the cocked state, the mainspring presses on it and the trigger hits the drummer.

The one immediately pierces the Boxer's primer and the gunpowder ignites and detonates.

  • Sights of the device - front sight and rear sight. TT shoots at 25 m.
  • Clip - a box for 8 cartridges, equipped with a spring and a feeder. It is placed in the handle and fixed.
  • Shutter delay - a solid metal part, a plate with a rod and a tooth. As soon as the magazine runs out of cartridges, the shutter rises and holds the casing-bolt in the rear position. Thus, the shooter receives a signal that the time has come to reload the store. The device also serves to minimize the number of idle strikes on the drummer.

For maintenance (cleaning, lubrication), the weapon must be disassembled (not completely). For example, if the weapon is heavily soiled, caught in rain or snow, before repair, when switching to another lubricant.

Then assemble and inspect whether it is assembled correctly, how the mechanisms work. Often, a complete disassembly of the TT pistol should not be carried out, this will lead to the fact that its parts and parts will wear out faster.

Advantages and disadvantages

TT pistol, years of production 1930, 1933

The design proposed by Tokarev, in comparison with the pistols of his contemporaries and predecessors, is easy to use, more reliable and lighter.

In addition, it is worth mentioning the following advantages of "Totoshi" (as the SA soldiers affectionately called this weapon):

  • Good penetration performance. Punched a steel helmet from a 50-meter distance). It has a good penetrating effect, a considerable range, the dispersion radius when firing at a distance of 50 m is 15 cm. Even now in the west, dispersion within a radius of 35.5 cm is allowed for a 50-meter distance.
  • Easy descent.
  • Accuracy.

Despite the fact that the TT was reputed to be quite effective weapon and actually had no equal at that time, nevertheless, a number of shortcomings of this pistol can be distinguished:

  • An unfinished safety is the cause of accidental shots when a loaded pistol is dropped.
  • It is believed that TT does not have sufficient stopping power.
  • The weapon is meant for close combat only.
  • The earring is subject to wear, which leads to delays in firing.
  • The clip is designed for 8 rounds, and modern pistols - for 15-17 rounds.

Summarizing the above, we can conclude that in modern conditions for self-defense or as a weapon for internal troops, the TT pistol is not suitable. In addition, Russian citizens are prohibited from owning short-barreled military weapons.


The TT was developed chambered for 7.62 × 25mm caliber. Its prototype was the 7.63 mm Mauser cartridge. The shape of the bullet has been slightly changed. The cartridges from the TT pistol were of the same caliber as the Nagan revolver, three-line, Maxim, 7.62 mm.

Performance characteristics (TTX) TT-33

Conversion options and modifications

On the basis of the TT pistol, many modifications of the pistol were created by Soviet and foreign designers for various purposes.

Based on the drawings transferred by the USSR to Hungary, a modified scheme was developed: the weapon was intended for 9 mm cartridges.

In China, according to Soviet drawings, the TT pistol was produced, first with the index "type-51", later - "type-54".

Sports weapon

At the very end of the Second World War, the process of conversion of military production began. The designers were given the task of developing a small-caliber sports pistol.

  • First, the R-3 was developed, then the R-4 chambered for a small-caliber 5.6 mm cartridge.
  • The S-TT sports pistol was produced in the 30s-50s, it has no differences from the combat prototype.

Traumatic weapon

Traumatic is a weapon for self-defense.

  • TT-Leader. Its prototype is the TT-33. The version retains the design and construction of the USM. Accuracy leaves much to be desired. Instead of a barrel - an imitator (there is no barrel), as a result - the spread of bullets is too large even for traumatics. Out of production. TT-T is another version based on military weapons.
  • MP-81 - TT is taken as the basis: the frame, bolt, trigger are copied (combat pistols were reworked). It is used with a rubber bullet and a traumatic cartridge, gas and noise cartridges.

Pneumatic versions

The pistols listed below are in 4.5mm caliber:

  • Gletcher TT. It has a plastic body, so it is quite lightweight - up to 400 gr. The shutter is fixed. Reputed to be a reliable model and is characterized by unpretentious maintenance. Good aim.
  • Gletcher TT NBB is a gas-cylinder smoothbore multicharger. The design is similar to the self-loading TT.
  • TTP "Sobr" - gas-cylinder pneumatics produced in Ukraine. The pistol has been discontinued.
  • Crosman C-TT is a multiply charged model.

Signal versions

The TT-S signal pistol is a modification of the VPO-501 "Leader", based on the Tokarev pistol. The issue has been discontinued, as modern law prohibits the conversion of military weapons.

Collectibles

Among the collectible weapons there are combat ones with marks and training ones. It is legally allowed to purchase copies that cannot be fired with live ammunition.

By May 9, 2017, the well-known jewelry brand released TT collectible pistols - modified versions adorned with gold.

It is worth adding about the Tokarev pistol that the TT is officially considered award-winning along with the Makarov pistol, etc.

Combat use

Industrial production for the spacecraft continued until 1951, it was replaced by the Makarov pistol.

But during the war, they armed them not only with officers, but also transported them to partisan detachments.

Little oddities

  • Insufficient fixation of the store led to the fact that during the battle the shooter could be disarmed (the store fell out of the mine).
  • The handle is directed to the barrel at a right angle, so after throwing up the barrel is slightly lower than the target. To get right on target, you have to adapt.

Upgrading options

Tuning the Tokarev pistol is less popular than the improvement of the famous Makarov.

Nevertheless, ingenious craftsmen are trying to improve it. specifications.

Accessories

The handles are supplied with wooden, plastic or rubber pads, LED front sight and rear sight, it is believed that they improve the speed of aiming.

A muzzle brake compensator is installed on the barrel, which removes recoil and stabilizes the barrel. This detail decorates the gun, gives it an aggressive look.

Such chips are ordered abroad or made on a milling machine themselves. It is difficult to make external tuning without a turning and milling machine.


There is no possibility of installing a collimator or underbarrel lamp. The holes in the trigger give the pistol an entourage and similarity to the Colt 1911. Picatinny rails allow you to hang an underbarrel laser pointer or a flashlight.

The heel of the magazine allows you to increase the capacity by 1 cartridge. Applied gold and silver plating. LCC, underbarrel laser pointer, which allows you to shoot without aiming at short distances.

To carry a Tokarev pistol, you can buy a waist holster with an open and closed design, for concealed carrying a shoulder and waist holster with a mount.

Finally

One of the most famous photographs of the Second World War depicts Alexei Eremin with a TT in his hand. He raised soldiers to attack the enemy. A moment later, Alexei was killed, but the Soviet army went on the offensive.

So it was confirmed that the gun sometimes plays a much greater role than just a weapon for self-defense.

Video

Pistol arr. 1933(TT, Tulsky, Tokareva, Index GRAU - 56-A-132) - the first army self-loading pistol of the USSR, developed in 1930 by Soviet designer Fedor Vasilyevich Tokarev.

PERFORMANCE AND TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS PISTOL TOKAREV ARR. 1933
Manufacturer:Tula arms factory
Cartridge:

7.62×25mm TT
Caliber:7.62 mm
Weight without cartridges:0.854 kg
Weight with cartridges:0.94 kg
Length:195 mm
Barrel length:116 mm
Number of grooves in the barrel:4
Height:130 mm
Trigger mechanism (USM):Hammer, single action
Operating principle:Recoil of the barrel with its short stroke
Fuse:Safety cocking
Aim:Front sight and permanent rear sight with aiming slot
Effective range:50 m
Muzzle velocity:450 m/s
Type of ammunition:Detachable magazine
Number of rounds:8
Years of production:1930–1955

History of creation and production

The TT pistol was developed for the 1929 competition for a new army pistol, announced to replace the Nagan revolver and several foreign-made revolvers and pistols that were in service with the Red Army by the mid-1920s. The German cartridge 7.63 × 25 mm Mauser was adopted as a regular cartridge, which was purchased in significant quantities for the Mauser S-96 pistols in service.

The competition commission, headed by M. F. Grushetsky, considered the pistol designed by F. V. Tokarev the most suitable for adoption, provided that the identified shortcomings were eliminated. The commission's requirements included improved shooting accuracy, lighter trigger pulls, and safer handling. Within a few months of work, the shortcomings were eliminated. On December 23, 1930, a decision was made on additional tests.

According to the test results, the TT pistol, created by a design team led by F.V. Tokarev in the design bureau of the Tula Arms Plant, won the competition. On February 12, 1931, the Revolutionary Military Council of the USSR ordered the first batch of 1000 pistols for comprehensive military tests. In the same year, the Tokarev pistol was put into service under the official designation "7.62-mm self-loading pistol mod. 1930" together with the cartridge 7.62 × 25 . The pistol, called TT (Tula Tokarev) was simple and technologically advanced in production and operation.


TT pistol arr. 1933

At the same time, the USSR bought a license for the production of a cartridge from the German company Mauser and began production under the designation "7.62-mm pistol cartridge" P "mod. 1930" .

Several thousand copies were produced in 1930-1932. In order to improve the manufacturability of production, in 1932-1933. the weapon has undergone modernization: the lugs of the barrel were not milled, but performed by turning; the frame was made in one piece, without a removable handle cover; the uncoupler and trigger pull were modified. At the beginning of 1934 new gun was adopted under the name "7.62-mm self-loading pistol arr. 1933".

In November-December 1941, equipment for the manufacture of TT was transferred to Izhevsk. In 1942, the Izhevsk Machine-Building Plant No. 74 managed to produce 161,485 Tokarev pistols. Also in 1942, Izhevsk Plant No. 74 produced a small batch of a Tokarev pistol with a double-row magazine for 15 rounds. The thickness of the handle was 42 mm (against 30.5 mm for the standard TT). The magazine latch has been moved to the base of the handle.

In 1947, the TT was again modified in order to reduce its cost: large vertical grooves, alternating with small grooves on the shutter housing for easy retraction of the shutter, were replaced with small grooves (grooving).

Options and modifications:


Design and principle of operation

The TT pistol combines the design features of various systems: the J. M. Browning bore locking scheme used in the famous Colt M1911, the Browning M1903 design and the cartridge originally developed for the Mauser C96 pistol.

According to some experts, when developing the design of the pistol, it was originally supposed to completely copy the design of a modified Browning pistol with a removable trigger trigger mechanism. However, in the course of work, the designers refused to completely copy due to the lack of a technological base for the production of a complete copy of the original. It was necessary to reduce production costs by simplifying the design.

At the same time, the pistol has original design solutions aimed at the convenience of handling weapons: the combination of the trigger mechanism in a separate single block-block, which, when the weapon is disassembled, is freely separated from the frame for cleaning and lubrication; placement of the mainspring in the trigger, which reduced the longitudinal width of the handle; fastening the cheeks of the handle with the help of swivel straps fixed on them, which simplified the disassembly of the pistol, the absence of a safety mechanism - its function was performed by a safety cocking of the trigger.


Pistol TT, incomplete disassembly.

The Browning scheme of locking the bore with a short stroke and a swinging earring, the automation system, as well as the trigger, borrowed from the Colt M1911 pistol, were modified to simplify production.

USM single action. The impact mechanism is made in a single block, which simplified the factory assembly. (A few years later, the Swiss gunsmith Charles Petter used the same arrangement in the French Model 1935 pistol.)

The pistol does not have a safety catch as a separate part, its functions are performed by a safety cocking of the trigger. To set the lowered trigger on the safety platoon, you need to slightly pull the trigger back. After that, the trigger and bolt will be blocked, and the trigger will not touch the firing pin. This eliminates the possibility of a shot if the pistol falls or accidentally strikes the head of the trigger. To remove the trigger from the safety platoon, you need to cock the trigger. To put the cocked hammer on the safety platoon, it must first be released by holding it and pressing the trigger. And then the trigger needs to be pulled back a little.

Carrying a pistol with a cartridge in the chamber with the trigger released is not recommended and does not make sense, since for a shot you need to cock the trigger in the same way as the trigger set to the safety cock.


TT pistol in a holster.

On the left side of the frame is the shutter release lever. When the magazine is used up, the shutter rises to a delay in the rear position. To release the shutter from the delay, you need to lower the shutter delay lever.

The magazine holds 8 rounds. The magazine release button is on the left side of the grip, at the base of the trigger guard, similar to the Colt M1911.

Hits when firing at 50 m in each of 10 series of 10 shots are placed in a circle with a radius of 150 mm.

Sights consist of a front sight made integral with the bolt and a rear sight pressed into a dovetail groove at the rear of the bolt. The cheeks of the handle were made of Bakelite or (during the war years) of wood (walnut).

Advantages and disadvantages

The TT pistol is distinguished by its simple design and, therefore, low cost of production and ease of maintenance. A very powerful cartridge, atypical for pistols, provides an unusually high penetrating power and a muzzle energy of about 500 J. The pistol has a short, easy trigger and provides significant shooting accuracy, an experienced shooter is able to hit a target at distances of more than 50 meters. The gun is flat and compact enough, which is convenient for concealed carry. However, in the course of operation, shortcomings also appeared.

Before the Great Patriotic War, the military demanded that a pistol be able to fire through the embrasures of a tank. TT did not satisfy this condition. Many experts consider this requirement absurd. However, nothing prevented the Germans from making such a requirement for their weapons: Luger P08, Walther P38 and even MP 38/40 fully satisfied him.


Without a fuse, the TT was placed in a safe position by the so-called half-cock of the trigger, which made it difficult to bring the pistol into combat position. There were involuntary cases of crossbows, one of which is described by Yuri Nikulin in the book "Almost Seriously". Ultimately, the Charter was expressly forbidden to carry a pistol with a cartridge in the chamber, which further increased the time it took to bring the pistol to combat readiness.

Another disadvantage is the poor fixation of the store, which leads to its spontaneous loss.

The mainspring, placed in the cavity of the trigger, has a low survivability.

Ergonomics of the TT raises many complaints compared to other designs. The angle of inclination of the handle is small, its shape does not contribute to a comfortable hold of the weapon.

The TT pistol is distinguished by a flat trajectory and a high penetrating effect of a pointed bullet, which is capable of penetrating an army helmet or light body armor. The penetrating effect of a TT bullet exceeds the penetrating effect of a 9x19 mm cartridge bullet (a 7.62 P bullet with a lead core, after being fired from a TT pistol, pierces class I bulletproof vests, but does not pierce class II bulletproof vests even when fired at close range. At the same time , the stopping effect of 7.62 mm TT bullets is inferior to the action of a 9 × 19 mm cartridge bullet.

Operation and combat use

In the period 1930-1945:

Video

TT shooting, weapon handling, etc.:

Pistol TT.

Created in 1930 by Soviet weapons designer Fyodor Vasilievich Tokarev, semi-automatic TT pistol(Tulsky, Tokareva) became the first domestic self-loading pistol adopted by the army. The purpose of the tests carried out in this direction since the mid-20s of the last century was the creation of a modern self-loading pistol capable of replacing the Soviet army revolver of the Nagant system, model 1895, by that time obsolete and low-powered, as well as to replace a number of pistols purchased abroad for the needs of the Soviet Army. Among self-loading models imported into the territory of the Soviet Union, the then famous Mauser S-96 of 7.63 mm caliber was quite popular, the main advantage of which was the use of a powerful cartridge of 7.63x25 mm, and the main disadvantage of this Mauser was its large dimensions and heavy weight. Having appreciated the advantages of the 7.63x25 cartridge, the Soviet arms industry leaders decided to create a similar cartridge and their own model of a self-loading pistol for it, but more compact and easy to handle than the Mauser S-96.

Weapons designer, creator of the TT pistol Fedor Vasilyevich Tokarev

For these purposes, the Soviet Union acquires a license for the above cartridge from the German company Mauser, after which it begins its production, but already in caliber 7.62x25 (in order to unify with Soviet technological equipment and equipment). Several gunsmiths began to design pistols for this cartridge at once, among which, in addition to Tokarev, were Korovin and Prilutsky, who presented their models to the court of a high commission. However, after the official field tests were carried out, in June 1930 the commission made an unequivocal choice in favor of the sample made by F.V. Tokarev, named TT-30. After eliminating some of the shortcomings of this pistol regarding the accuracy and safety of handling, as well as after other improvements related to the wishes of the members of the commission, in December 1930 the TT-30 pistol was re-tested, as a result of which this pistol was approved by the commission and recommended for adoption by the Soviet Army. Over the next few years, the first batches of these weapons were released, the tests of which led to disappointing conclusions. The pistol was unreliable, very dangerous to handle, parts quickly failed, there were frequent delays in firing, the resource of the TT-30 was ridiculously small, amounting to about two hundred shots. After that, the designers made certain conclusions and the main shortcomings were eliminated, and the gun also underwent several upgrades in order to simplify and reduce the cost of production. And finally, in 1934, a modified version of the Tokarev system was adopted by the Red Army under the name TT-33, which became the most massive and proven pistol in the battles of World War II.

It is worth noting that Tokarev at one time had an internship at the Belgian arms factory FN, where the weapons genius John Moses Browning worked at the same time. It was this fact that influenced the design of the TT pistol, built according to the Browning system. And to be honest, Comrade Tokarev clearly strove to be outwardly similar to Sir Browning, at least in photographs. (I hope that adherents of the genius of exclusively domestic gunsmiths will not shower me with rotten tomatoes).

Left - photo by F. V. Tokarev, right - photo by J. M. Browning

In February 1931, the troops received the first batch of TT-30 pistols for comprehensive testing, and mass production of an already modernized model called TT-33 began in 1933 at the Tula Arms Plant (TOZ), and by the time Germany attacked the USSR and the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, the number of manufactured TT pistols reached more than six hundred thousand pieces. During the years of that terrible war, this pistol received recognition among the troops, although very doubtful, and was widely used as a personal weapon of officers, designed for close combat at distances up to 50 m, and at these distances the TT worked very effectively, thanks to a powerful cartridge. During the war years, the production of TT pistols, like another small arms, of course, has increased significantly, as required by the current situation. It should be recognized that the TT pistol has never been and was not considered good weapon, but for lack of an alternative, the military could only get this gun. In fact, the pistol did not receive nationwide or "all-army" recognition, it only received a huge distribution, and the fame and popularity of the TT pistol were only a consequence of the wide distribution of this weapon. The TT-33 was unreliable and dangerous to handle, and was also afraid of dirt, which is a very significant factor in a war. But, nevertheless, it was widely used, there was no other. For example, in comparison with the German Walther P38, used in the same war by the Wehrmacht, the TT looked like an unfinished homemade gun.

After the war, in 1946, the pistol was once again slightly modernized in order to further reduce the cost of production and eliminate shortcomings. It was not possible to eliminate all the shortcomings, but this will be discussed below. An external distinguishing feature of post-war samples is the presence of fine corrugation on the shutter casing, instead of vertical depressions in the form of pointed ellipses in pre-war models.

The Tula Tokarev was the most massive personal short-barreled weapon of the Soviet Army and the Soviet police until the early 50s, when the Makarov pistol came to replace it, and the TT was discontinued. But even after that, the TT continued to serve the Motherland in army units and in the police until the early nineties, until it was completely replaced by Makarov pistols (TTs were removed from police weapons a little earlier, in the seventies). In total, over the years of production of the TT pistol, about 1.7 million pieces were produced. After the army and police finally said goodbye to this pistol, the TT was in service with paramilitary guards (VOHR) and criminal groups, in which, due to the weapons illiteracy of most bandits, it was and is considered excellent pistol, from which such an opinion went to the people and is still stably held among the masses of the people.

The popularity of the TT in the underworld is mainly due to the cheapness of the pistol and the penetrating ability of the cartridge, which ensured reliable hitting of the target through glass or car doors, as well as piercing light bulletproof vests of the 1st protection class.

It should be noted that in addition to Soviet Union, the TT pistol was also produced in other countries, such as Hungary, China, Vietnam, Yugoslavia, Egypt, Iraq, Poland. It does not make sense to consider each of them, since the TTs produced abroad generally repeated the design of the Soviet model with minor differences. For example, one of the Chinese samples called "Model 213" had a caliber of 9 mm and used a 9x19 Parabellum cartridge, and was also equipped with a mechanical flag-type fuse. Some foreign-made models differed in the length of the barrel and handle, and in the capacity of the magazine.

Today, on the basis of TT pistols accumulated in military warehouses, the production of traumatic weapons as a means of self-defense of citizens. After making appropriate design changes, TT pistols are adapted for firing rubber bullets. The modern names of traumatic TTs are "Leader", produced by the Vyatka-Polyansky plant "MOLOT", as well as Izhevsk MP-81 and MP-82. Such pistols can often be found on the shelves of gun stores. However, this weapon, in addition to external resemblance, has nothing to do with the legendary TT, and is more suitable for the role of its shooting layout. In addition to traumatic variants, a pneumatic TT is also produced in Izhevsk, powered by a standard cylinder of compressed carbon dioxide, called MP-656K.

Design

In general, the design and operation of the automation of the TT pistol repeated the scheme of the famous Colt M1911 pistol designed by John Moses Browning, with the difference that the TT used a block trigger system, like the Mauser S-96. This was done to simplify production and to simplify the repair and maintenance of weapons. The operation of the automatic pistol is built on the principle of recoil of the barrel with its short stroke, according to the Browning system. The differences also affected some other nodes and mechanisms, which will be described in more detail below.

Briefly, the automation system in TT pistol as follows. When fired, the cartridge case acts on the bolt, the bolt moves back along with the barrel, which is engaged with the bolt carrier by lugs. The barrel is attached to the frame of the pistol by means of a swinging earring, which ensures the lowering of the breech and its movement back. With this reduction, the barrel disengages from the bolt carrier, that is, the projections of the bolt carrier come out of the corresponding grooves on the thickened part of the barrel. After that, the bolt carrier moves back by inertia, cocking the hammer and ejecting the spent cartridge case. On the return stroke, under the action of a return spring, the bolt sends the next cartridge from the magazine into the chamber and puts the previously warped barrel in its original place, locking it in its original position on the lugs. More details about the operation of automation will be written below.

The difference from the Browning design in terms of the operation of automation lies in the fact that the barrel of the TT pistol does not have protrusions for engaging with the bolt, but, on the contrary, in its thickened part it has two grooves, into which the protrusions of the bolt frame enter when locking.

The absence of a separate mechanical fuse was the result of a simplification of the firing mechanism, while an accidental shot was prevented by a disconnector and a special groove for setting the trigger on the safety cock. That is, the TT fuse could only be put on by means of a trigger, putting it on a safety platoon, without bringing it to a combat platoon. Such a system ensured the safety of the weapon in the event of a fall or an accidental blow to the trigger, because even an uncocked trigger could transfer this blow to the striker upon impact, from which the cartridge in the chamber could fire. But often the safety platoon was ignored by people, from which many accidents occurred. For this reason, an order was even issued to ban the carrying of a TT pistol with a cartridge in the chamber.

At first, Tokarev assumed the presence of an automatic fuse on back side handles, as on a Colt M1911 pistol. But military officials were against it, from which the TT was left with the only fuse - the middle position of the trigger. The legend says that Comrade Budyonny, who, as is known, had a huge influence on the military leadership of the country at that time, forbade equipping a new Soviet pistol with such an automatic fuse. He explained the reason by the fact that once during the Civil War, when the “whites” were chasing him, he turned back, sitting on a horse, and tried to shoot his Browning back. But cavalry gloves and an uncomfortable position did not allow the safety on the back of the Browning handle to be pressed. This turned out to be enough so that such a fuse was not installed on the TT.

The pistol is fed with cartridges from a box-shaped single-row magazine with a capacity of 8 rounds, with a push-button locking system. Sights, front sight and rear sight, unregulated, which were aimed by the manufacturer at a distance of 25 meters.

The gun consists of the following parts:

Frame - is one piece with the handle and trigger guard. Designed to connect the parts of the gun, being its basis.

The cheeks of the handle are a decorative element that covers the side windows of the handle, and also serve to comfortably hold the weapon in your hand. Cheeks were made of corrugated plastic and wood.

Magazine latch - holds the magazine in the frame handle.

Barrel - designed to tell the bullet a certain direction when fired. It is completely closed by a shutter casing and connected to the frame by a Browning earring. The barrel bore has 4 right-hand grooves with a pitch of 240-260 mm (depending on the year of manufacture), to give the bullet a rotational motion that stabilizes its flight path. In the breech there is a chamber, which serves to accommodate the cartridge during loading and before firing. The barrel has two annular grooves on a special thickening in the breech area, which ensure the grip of the bolt with the barrel due to the inclusion of the supporting projections of the bolt frame (lugs) into them. At the bottom of the thickened part of the breech there is a tide with an eyelet for a Browning earring, on the rear section of the chamber there is a protrusion for the ejector hook, as well as a bevel from below - for feeding the cartridge from the magazine into the chamber.

Earring - connects the barrel to the frame, and also serves to engage and disengage the barrel from the bolt, ensuring the swing and distortion of the barrel in a vertical plane.

The shutter is one piece with the casing and performs the bulk of the functions of the pistol. The shutter ensures the ejection of a spent cartridge case or an unused cartridge, the supply of a new cartridge from the magazine to the chamber, cocks the hammer and locks the bore before firing. Outside on the shutter casing are located sights(front sight and rear sight), ejector window, slot for ejector placement, notches for easy retention of the bolt when retracting it to the rear position when reloading in case of a misfire and when sending a cartridge into the chamber. Also, the shutter has a hole for the striker, in the casing there is a cutout for accommodating the protrusion of the shutter delay, a tube for the return spring, and in the rear part there is a groove for the trigger.

Striker - designed to break the primer of the cartridge and is located in a special groove of the shutter between the trigger and the barrel chamber.

Ejector - to hold the sleeve (cartridge) until it meets the reflector when the shutter moves to the rear position, which ensures the ejection of the sleeve (cartridge) from the ejector window.

Return spring - serves to return the shutter to the forward position after its rollback.

The tip of the return spring is the stop for the return spring.

Guide rod - also serves as a stop for the return spring and limits the retreat of the shutter back, and most importantly is the guide of the return spring.

Guide sleeve - serves to guide the muzzle of the barrel when the bolt moves, and is also a stop for the tip of the return spring.

Bolt stop - ensures that the bolt is fixed in the rearmost position when the magazine is empty, which ensures that the cartridge is quickly sent into the chamber from a new magazine.

Bolt stop spring - fixes the delay on the frame and holds it in the lower position until the bolt locks after the magazine is empty.

The trigger mechanism consists of the following parts:

Block - connects the trigger, mainspring, sear and uncoupler.

Hammer - performs a strike on the striker.

Mainspring - actuates the trigger, giving it a quick movement for a sufficiently strong blow to the striker.

Sear - holds the trigger on the combat and safety platoons and ensures the trigger is released when the trigger is pressed, which is essentially a button on the TT.

Disconnector - designed to disconnect the trigger pull from the sear after the shot is fired. This is necessary in order to exclude the possibility of firing a shot when the shutter is not fully closed.

The descent is made as one piece with the trigger pull. When you press the trigger with your finger, he takes the sear back, from which the trigger breaks under the influence of the mainspring and hits the striker, and when the rod is in the forward position, it acts on the uncoupler, lifting it to the top for safe handling of weapons.

Trigger spring - supplies the trigger pull forward and up.

Shop - serves to accommodate eight cartridges and consists of a steel box, feeder, feeder spring and cover.

Work of parts and mechanisms

The shutter, when retracting it to its rearmost position, acting on the trigger, turns it, thereby putting the trigger on the combat platoon. Also, due to the impact of the support ledges on the annular grooves of the barrel, the bolt retracts the barrel. If there is a cartridge case or cartridge in the chamber, the ejector removes it and throws it out through a special window using a reflector.

The barrel, when moving backwards, due to the rotation of the earring, descends with its thickened breech downward, from which the barrel is skewed, and at the same time it disengages from the bolt, since the bolt support projections come out of the annular grooves of the thickened part of the barrel.

The uncoupler goes down under the action of a recess in the lower part of the bolt, while deflecting the trigger rod to the bottom, thereby disengaging it from the sear.

The return spring, when the shutter moves back, is compressed.

The sear, under the action of a spring, is pressed against the front of the trigger and sequentially goes behind the safety, and then behind the cocking of the trigger. The disconnector is then released.

During the movement of the bolt forward (due to the force of the return spring), the bolt moves the upper cartridge from the magazine along the inclined bevel to the breech breech, into the chamber.

The barrel, due to the pressure of the shutter mirror on the bottom of the sleeve of the new cartridge, moves forward and upward through the earring, while the supporting projections of the shutter enter the annular grooves of the thickened part of the barrel. The barrel is locked with a bolt.

The ejector hook enters the annular groove of the cartridge located in the chamber. When you press the trigger with your finger (when firing a shot), the actions of the pistol parts will be as follows: The trigger pull, by pressing the sear ledge, takes its lower part back, which leads to the exit of the sear nose from the cocking groove of the trigger, after which the trigger, turning on its axis forward, under the action of the mainspring, strikes the striker. The striker, moving forward, hits the primer of the cartridge, igniting it. From the pressure of the gases formed during the combustion of gunpowder, the bullet begins to move along the rifling and flies out of the bore, while part of the powder gases affects the walls and bottom of the sleeve, forcing the barrel and the bolt connected to it to move backward. After that, the parts of the gun repeat the same steps as when manually retracting the bolt to the rear position (described above). During the movement of the bolt back, the ejector hook removes the spent cartridge case from the chamber, continuing to hold it until it meets the reflector, upon impact with which the cartridge case flies out into the window of the bolt frame located on the right. At the same time, the next cartridge in the store, under the action of the feeder spring, rises up. In the absence of cartridges in the store, after the last shot, the feeder raises the bolt delay with its hook, which, in turn, stops the bolt in its rearmost position. The descent, in the absence of a pressing effect of the finger, due to the elasticity of the trigger spring, returns to the front position, while the uncoupler rises upwards, entering the shutter recess with the stem.

And this is how the work of the automation of the TT pistol looks more clearly. Especially for you, I found an animation of the operation of parts and mechanisms in a TT pistol during and after firing. (God bless the one who did this. Otherwise, on such animations, all Colts and Glocks ...)


Advantages and disadvantages

The simplicity of the design makes Tula tokarev pistol inexpensive to manufacture and easy to maintain pistol. The main advantage of the TT is a powerful cartridge that provides a high muzzle energy of the order of 500 J, a significant range of a direct shot and excellent penetrating ability. And due to the relatively long barrel and short trigger stroke, the pistol provides good accuracy and accuracy of fire, which allows an experienced shooter to hit the target even at a distance of more than 50 meters. Also, a good accuracy of the battle is facilitated by the automation system, which ensures the departure of a bullet from the barrel without displacement of the axis of the barrel in the vertical plane and without the movement of other mechanisms, which can adversely affect the trajectory of the bullet. When fired, the barrel moves back, and the skew of the barrel and its disengagement from the bolt frame occurs only after the bullet leaves the barrel. The flat and rather compact TT is well suited for concealed carry.

As for the shortcomings, the main one is the low resource of the pistol. This disadvantage stems from the dignity of the gun: the use of a high-power cartridge causes intense wear of the barrel locking unit. Not infrequently, after several hundred shots, delays appeared in the operation of the pistol in the form of jamming of the cartridge case in the chamber, misalignment of the cartridges, or detachment of the bottom of the cartridge case. Among other shortcomings, one can name the excessive sensitivity of the pistol mechanisms to clogging and minor deformations, which requires careful handling and careful maintenance of the weapon.

Also a serious drawback is the unreliable fastening of the magazine in the handle, the latch mechanism, especially on worn-out TTs, often does not hold the magazine, which simply falls out of the pistol, which there are many examples, especially from the fronts of the Second World War.

The practice of using the TT pistol showed the low stopping power of its ammunition. The reason for this drawback lies in the relatively small caliber of the bullet, its shape and high muzzle velocity, which in turn resulted in its undeniable advantage - excellent penetrating ability.

The lack of a manual safety can also be considered a serious shortcoming that has caused numerous accidents involving this pistol. So, in case of a fall or an accidental blow to the trigger, if the cartridge is in the chamber, and the trigger is not set to the safety cocking, the possibility of the primer being pricked by the striker is not excluded, which will lead to a spontaneous shot.

The high flatness of the ammunition and the preservation of the bullet with sufficient energy to inflict injury at a distance of 800 - 1000 m are another drawback when using a pistol in urban conditions: in case of a miss when firing at the enemy, there is a high probability of harm to third parties (civilians).

Complaints about the ergonomics of the pistol can hardly be called a significant omission in the design, it is rather an individual feature of the weapon, and besides, it is not fair to demand something outstanding from a pistol developed at the beginning of the last century. As, however, it would not be correct to compare this pistol with modern models created using high technologies and new scientific achievements.

TT went down in history as a legendary pistol of its time, tested in the battles of the bloodiest war in the history of mankind. And the geography of its production and popularity in many countries of the world give reason to be proud of the idea of ​​the Russian gunsmith and once again confirm the need for such weapons for the era, in the fate of which he took far from the last place.

The city of Tula is famous all over the world not only for its delicious gingerbread and samovars, but also for its weapons factory, which produces legendary rifles, pistols and revolvers. It is about one such legendary firearm that will be discussed in this article. The focus of the TT pistol is technical specifications, device and principle of operation, modernization and all kinds of modifications.

Historical reference

The development of the pistol began in 1929 by the weapons designer Tokarev at the Tula plant. Hence the name TT - Tula Tokarev. The development of new pistols was initiated by a tender launched in the vastness of Russia, the purpose of which was to replace foreign weapons in the army with domestic ones and reduce the cost of production. Along with the Tokarev pistol, there were weapons of Prilutsky, Korovin, Makarov and many other fairly well-known designers. But in 1930, success came precisely to the design bureau, headed by

The tests of the TT pistol at the test site showed excellent stopping power, high firing range and good accuracy. The weapon did not give a single failure or misfire during rapid firing after immersion in water and sand. The flaws were in the aiming system, security and mobility. Due to the enormous weight of the TT pistol, the technical characteristics of which completely suited all members of the jury, it was sent for revision, which lasted almost a year. But as a result of modernization, the weapon had no equal among pistols, not only of domestic, but also of foreign production.

Technical characteristics of the combat unit

The TT pistol - a combat copy - of 1933 differs from the last modification of 1947 only in minor improvements in terms of ease of use and cost reduction, and their characteristics are almost the same.

  1. The curb weight of the pistol is 0.9 kg.
  2. The principle of operation is based on the return of a short stroke of the barrel with a skewed shutter.
  3. The magazine holds 8 rounds, and the TT 7.62x25 mm cartridge itself was borrowed from Mauser (7.63x25) with a fit for the “three lines”. In museums, you can find a modification of the TT pistol of 1942 with a two-row magazine for 15 rounds.
  4. Sighting range 50 meters, with maximum range bullet flight 1650 m. Open sight with non-adjustable bar.
  5. The initial speed of the bullet is 430-455 meters per second.
  6. There is no fuse in the CT as an independent unit. The pistol is set to safety by retracting the trigger half way.

The design of the TT pistol and the principle of operation

Many foreigners who are poorly versed in weapons like to say that the design of the Tula Tokarev pistol was copied from a modified Browning. One complete disassembly of the TT pistol will dot the matter. All its mechanisms have their own separate units that can be detached from the frame in case of incomplete disassembly and lubricated. If there is a need to disassemble the weapon completely, it is very convenient to disassemble and assemble each assembly separately.

When the trigger is pressed, pressure is applied to the protrusion of the sear, which, turning, releases the trigger. Under the action of the spring, the trigger hits the drummer, firing a shot. Under the influence of powder gases, the sleeve moves in the opposite direction to the shot, causing the bolt to roll back until it meets a reflector, due to which it will be ejected from the barrel. The shutter evacuated by the sleeve pulls the barrel behind it, keeping it locked in the grooves. When the gas pressure drops to a minimum value, the barrel hits the pistol frame and stops, disengaging the bolt-barrel system. Continuing to move back, the shutter disconnects the "sear-descent" system, making a combat cocking of the trigger. The momentarily open breech of the barrel accepts a new cartridge, which is immediately fixed by the bolt, which returns after the cocking of the hammer, by inertia.

Foreign-made modifications

The TT pistol, whose technical characteristics were unparalleled among all competitors in the middle of the 20th century, quickly attracted the attention of many countries in which it was difficult to develop their own modifications. Naturally, all the states that kept pace with the USSR towards the building of communism were provided by the Soviet Union with all the necessary technologies for the production legendary weapon Tula Tokarev.

  1. Friendly mastered the production of the Soviet TT in the 50s of the XX century under its own brand "TT-58".
  2. An entire line was transferred to China for the mass production of legendary weapons. In the late 60s, having oriented themselves on the world arms market, the Chinese launched the production of their own M20 pistol chambered for 9x19 mm.

Pakistan, Iraq, Yugoslavia, Vietnam, Romania and Egypt also did not remain without support. Supporting the USSR, they received not only a huge number of combat units, but along with the supply of equipment for the production of TT pistols, they were provided with highly qualified technical specialists in the field of weapons creation.

Serious argument

In the countries of the post-Soviet space, the TT combat pistol, the technical characteristics of which do not correspond to many international parameters, decommissioned. Judging by the numerous reviews of specialists, there are few actual reasons for switching to a smaller caliber.

  1. Bullets with a caliber of more than 5.45 mm cause less harm to the body, piercing it through and through.
  2. Reducing the size and weight of the cartridge allows you to hold more cartridges in the clip.
  3. It is not cheap to produce a sleeve for TT caliber, and it is much more convenient to put one cartridge on the conveyor, but for all modifications of Russian pistols.

However, it is still too early to write off the TT with a caliber of 7.62 mm. The weapon "has taken root" in all private and state security structures, including collection of banks. You can find many reviews of happy owners who use this legendary firearms. And many retired guards got a copy of the combat TT of the 1930 model. This is Love.

Traumatic weapon

The great popularity of the legendary firearms has led to the fact that the TT pistol, the production price of which is still very low, has found a second life. At the beginning of the 21st century, on the threshold of the popularity of traumatic weapons, many factories became interested in TT pistols gathering dust in military warehouses, which had been stored since the end of World War II. Only the barrel, breech and cartridge were changed. As a result, traumatic weapons appeared on the markets of the post-Soviet space at a very low price. Following the requirements of the law "On weapons", all traumatic pistols exclude the possibility of converting it into a combat unit.

  1. VPO-501 "Leader" - a traumatic pistol that uses a cartridge case instead of a barrel. The TT caliber was changed to 10x32 mm.
  2. TTR is a nine-millimeter representative of a traumatic weapon produced by the Sobr company in the city of Kharkov.
  3. Izhmekh presented its creation in the form of a traumatic pistol for a 9 mm bullet, called MP-81.
  4. "Tula Tokarev traumatic" has a modified cartridge TT 10x28 mm and is produced by the Degtyarev plant.

Permitted pneumatics

Many world giants are trying to reproduce the legendary firearms. It was thanks to them that the TT pneumatic pistol from very well-known manufacturers appeared on the market.

  1. IZH MP-656 cannot even be called a copy, because it is a real combat pistol of the 1947 model, with a modified design that does not allow it to be put back into service. Let the initial speed of the bullet be 100 meters per second, but a combat pistol in the hands is much more attractive than plastic toys.
  2. A miracle of Chinese production called Smersh H51 may interest the buyer with its similarity with the original. Its only drawback is the fixed shutter during firing.
  3. He showed good performance during shooting. Only the strange lining of the handle is doubtful, they are very huge.
  4. But the Gletcher TT, made of silumin, was immediately negatively received by customers. In specialized sources of information, one can find ridicule of an American-made pistol, in which the trigger and safety are changed to a button. Then it becomes clear why Gletcher TT has negative reviews.

Legendary weapon in sports

Starting from 2011, on the basis of the traumatic weapon VPO-501 "Leader", a signal pistol TT - S was produced. Its difference from combat pistol it was only in the absence of the trunk, instead of which a simulator was installed. Welded from two misaligned tubes with cuts on the side, the homemade barrel was not designed to fire live ammunition, but the shot produced a very loud one. To fire a shot, the Zhevelo primer is used, well known and very popular among Russian hunters. Interestingly, the pistol has a cartridge feeding system. Special brass sleeves contain plastic cartridges with Zhevelo, and then, going into a cartridge, the whole structure is placed in a clip. It's a little tricky, but still it's better to shoot in semi-automatic mode than after each shot to engage in the removal of the cartridge case from the breech and install new ammunition.

Excitement in the circles of collectors

In 2013, the Russian government passed a law prohibiting the conversion of military weapons. If with a traumatic pistol, for which there is a great demand, the issue was resolved by manufacturing from foreign-made components available on the market, then the TT signal pistol simply ceased to be produced. Because of this law, there was a stir on the world stage among all gun collectors. Naturally, the price of converted legendary firearms went up. Over the past few years, you can see the dynamics of demand for a TT starting pistol, the price of which for one unit is about 20 thousand rubles, despite the fact that the cost of any other does not exceed ten thousand rubles. One conclusion suggests itself - from year to year the need to replenish the collection with a TT pistol will grow along with its price, respectively, buying a signal TT will be an excellent investment for an ordinary Russian. The repeal of the law can spoil the picture.

Small oddities around the legend

As you know, any weapon that has become world famous and is in demand among buyers receives new life in the form of models, pneumatics and toys for recreational shooting. If you look at the market, no manufacturer has released the legendary TT chambered in Flaubert. It's a pity, 4 mm caliber pistols are in great demand in Russia, and he could fill up more than one weapon lover's collection.

The attitude of connoisseurs of weapons to copies of the TT pistol of the 1930 model is incomprehensible. After all, logically, this is the same thing from one of the country's military warehouses. A barrel is cut through it and a huge pin is soldered. Also, the striking part of the trigger was cut off, the ejector was missing a tooth and the magazine was damaged. But the kit comes with an excellent leather holster. Not original, but looks good. And yet, collectors bypass the copy, giving preference to shooting specimens.

Weapon upgrades

Like any product from the Izhmekh plant, the TT pistol, a pneumatic copy with a modification of IZH MP-656, can be improved. The gas balloon system and the trigger mechanism cannot be changed. You can fine-tune all the elements in the gun. Something to replace, sharpen, cut, but you don’t need to count on a bullet flight speed of more than 120 meters per second. External experts are subject to change Films and serials of the 90s of the last century firmly planted information in the heads of the male population of the country that the best weapon in countries former USSR- This is a TT pistol with a silencer. The miracle pistol repeatedly caught in the frame will forever be remembered by future shooters. And after a while, when the time comes to acquire the legendary weapon, the newly minted owner modernizes his toy by winding a muffler on the end of the muzzle.

Weapon accessories

Owners of a legendary weapon or its copy may find it useful to have a TT holster. There are several ways to find yourself a worthy copy. In any case, the buyer himself decides whether he needs a holster, or the gun does not need it.

  1. Buying a ready-made holster in a store. The easiest way. I came, I saw, I measured, I bought.
  2. Tailoring of a product under the order. Let such a solution cost more than purchase in a store, but a holster will be much more comfortable to wear than a consumer product.
  3. IN Lately the “black market” of accessories for military weapons. Including at many online auctions, you can find expensive lots offering to purchase a holster for the legendary TT of the 1930 model.

Finally

Before buying a weapon, any buyer needs to know that there is a law “On Weapons”, which contains rules that classify weapons and determine the right to purchase, store and carry them.

  1. All pneumatic gas pistols with a shot power of less than 7.5 Joules (the legendary TT is included in this list) do not require any permits and documents.
  2. All signal weapons with a caliber of less than 6 mm (also applies to TT, because it uses a 4.5 mm Zhevelo) do not require a license and permits.
  3. All traumatic pistols using the energy of powder gases with a caliber of more than 4 mm (including TT, the caliber will be more than 7.62 mm) require permits for the purchase, storage and carrying.

It does not matter which manufacturer and modification the buyer in the store will give preference to. It is important that the future owner of the legendary weapon knows and honors his history.

After the end of the First World War and the Civil War, the leadership of the Red Army had the opportunity to calmly approach the solution of the problem of arming the command staff. Indeed, in the years of total shortage of weapons, there was no need to talk about any unification in this area. There is a working revolver or pistol - and it's good. As a result, dozens of weapons were passed around. This caused confusion, supply problems ... The army, like air, needed a single "commander's" pistol. They became known now to everyone and everyone TT. The history of the creation of the famous pistol is in the permanent heading "Special Forces".

From Commissar's Mauser to TK - 26

SO, on the calendar - the 20s of the last century. As the intensity of the armed struggle decreases, the requirements for the personal weapons of the Red commanders also change. In the years civil war the exemplary pistol was the 7.63 mm automatic Mauser of the 1896 model, with a powerful cartridge, an attached holster, and a 10- or 20-round magazine.

The war is over, priorities have changed. Suddenly, a pistol of an almost “pocket” model was needed - small in size, 5 - 7-round and designed for a weak cartridge. Such a pistol was needed in order not to burden party functionaries too much and, on occasion, to help them protect their lives.

This request was implemented by the gunsmith Sergei Korovin, who designed the TK-26 automatic pistol. However, practice has shown that development is not suitable for serious actions. The requirements have changed again: you need a powerful automatic pistol, not a pocket toy.

In the late 1920s, such a pistol was developed by the Tula designer Fedor Vasilyevich Tokarev. In 1931, the weapon was adopted under the name 7.62 mm pistol of the 1930 model. Later, the abbreviation TT was added, which means Tula, Tokarev. Several important factors influenced the creation of this pistol, which are worth dwelling on in more detail.


Factor one: which cartridge to choose?

The TT PISTOL is designed for the 7.62mm bottle-cased pistol cartridge. This cartridge was created on the basis of the 7.63 mm cartridge for the well-known S-96 Mauser. The choice is not random.

Firstly, the 7.62 mm cartridge could be made on equipment unified with 7.62 mm revolver and rifle cartridges. In the Soviet Union, at the Podolsky Cartridge Plant in the 1920s, production was launched (albeit on a small scale) for the manufacture of this cartridge for the Mauser S-96 pistol, which was purchased for the NKVD.

Secondly, the choice was prompted by the military strategy of the Soviet Union, which can be formulated as follows: a war of little blood on foreign territory. The key here is precisely the concept of enemy territory. With the interchangeability of the 7.62x25 TT cartridge with the German 7.63x25 Mauser cartridge, which is widespread in Europe, commanders could replenish ammunition on enemy soil.

In addition, the selected cartridge had a high initial speed, which gave the bullet a large penetrating effect. However, the same bullet, due to its small mass and area, had a slight stopping effect, in contrast, for example, to the bullet of the 9x19 Parabellum cartridge. It is important that aimed shooting at a long distance was provided.

When hit, the enemy went out of action after a while, and in this case the magnitude of the stopping effect did not have of great importance: The enemy was bleeding. But in a situation of fleeting face-to-face combat, when the opposing sides are separated by several meters, it is important that the hit enemy, after being hit by a bullet, could no longer shoot back. For such quick fights, the TT cartridge was not very suitable.


Factor two: revolver or pistol?

IN THE ENVIRONMENT of the senior command staff of the Red Army in the 20s - 30s and even in the Great Patriotic War there was some debate about the advantages in combat of the revolver and the automatic pistol. Many honored veterans of the civil war were suspicious and distrustful of automatic pistols, fearing that a complex mechanism could be capricious, let down at a decisive moment.

On the contrary, the revolver of the Nagant system of the 1895 model was considered a model of reliability. And here the veterans were absolutely right - the revolver outperforms the pistol due to its extreme simplicity. However, it also has its drawbacks. The main one is the low reload speed. And here already automatic pistols with quick-change magazines pulled far ahead.

The parallel production of Nagant revolvers and Tokarev pistols continued almost until the end of the war, when the advantages of an automatic pistol finally became visible to everyone.

Factor three: make your own or spy on Browning?




The CONSTRUCTOR differs from the inventor in that he does not invent new elements, but composes a new one from existing ones, thereby improving new system. Let's try to figure out what design schemes formed the basis of the TT pistol.

The main such scheme can be considered a system for locking the barrel in a vertical plane using a swinging earring (the so-called Browning earring). This system was developed by the American designer John Moses Browning at the end of the 19th century. It was clearly worked out in the famous 11.43 mm Colt pistol of the 1911 model of the Browning system. It was Browning's inventive thought at the beginning of the 20th century that determined the modern look of an automatic pistol. The vast majority of pistols of the 20th century work according to the short-stroke barrel system developed by him with its rigid locking.

It should be noted that Tokarev not only copied the Browning system from the 1911 Colt, but improved it. Thus, the design of the shutter has been improved in favor of manufacturability. Instead of complex milling work on turning the locking projections on the gate, they began to be made using a simpler turning method.

A close comparison of the TT with other Browning models shows that the ergonomics and overall shape of the pistol were heavily influenced by the Belgian-made FN Browning N 2 of 1903, or the nearly identical 7.65mm Colt Pocket Automatic pistol M.1903.

In Russia, these pistols were not exotic. They were in service with the Moscow police before the revolution, and were also mentioned in the list of automatic pistols allowed to be bought and carried by officers of the Russian Imperial Army and Navy. It is important to note that, despite the same appearance, the Browning of the 1903 model and the TT are very different from each other. The internal "stuffing" is largely borrowed from another model of the American Browning - the Colt of the 1911 model.

So, from the Colt, a single-action trigger mechanism was used. The only shot protection system in the TT is made in the same way as in the Colt. The pistol is placed on the safety cocking of the trigger when it is retracted a little. This system, however, turned out to be not reliable enough - there were often cases of a spontaneous shot when a pistol fell on hard surface, especially on the trigger. In the Colt M.1911 pistol, Browning additionally used a lever safety on the frame and an automatic safety, which turned off only when the handle was covered. In the 1903 model of the year, where a different trigger mechanism was used, there were two reliable safety systems - also a flag and automatic fuse.

When developing the TT design, additional fuses were removed as complicating the design and increasing the number of parts. The gun has become simpler and more technologically advanced, but also less safe.

Another change affected the magazine fixing system. In the 1903 model of the year, the magazine was held by a latch at the base of the handle, and in the 1911 model of the year, by a button at the base of the trigger guard. In the TT, the magazine release button is located in the same way as in the 1911 model of the year, but it does not have such a good fixation.

It is worth noting another positive difference between the TT and the Browning models: Tokarev for the first time brought the trigger mechanism into a separate block, easily detachable when incompletely disassembled.

Tokarev remade his pistol several times

OFFICIALLY, the TT pistol was put into service in 1931. Then released more than a thousand copies. However, military trials and practical use pistols required significant alterations. Many complaints were caused by the involuntary loss of the store and unreliable protection.

After the changes made by Tokarev, the pistol was adopted under the name "7.62-millimeter pistol of the 1933 model."

However, already at the end of the 30s, the question of the reliability of CTs again became relevant. Among the shortcomings called unreliable protection, insufficient stopping effect of the bullet. In 1938 - 1941, a competition was held among famous gunsmiths for a new automatic pistol, which was supposed to replace the TT. This competition was won by the designer Voevodin with an 18-round pistol chambered for 7.62x25 TT. An experimental batch of over a thousand copies was made, which successfully passed a series of tests. The war prevented the adoption of the pistol into service. And the TT, which was already going to be written off to the archive, began to be manufactured for the needs of the front in ever-increasing quantities. The fact that it was mastered by production played a decisive role. Re-equipping the army with a new, more advanced pistol during the course of the war was an excessive risk. And accidental injuries from an involuntary shot during strong blows were an inevitable price for mass use TT.

However, sometimes rather absurd arguments were put forward against TT. So, for example, the gun was accused of not being able to insert the barrel into the viewing slot of the tank and shoot back. And only the experience of the war showed that while the crew is in a serviceable tank with ammunition, the fighters do not need a pistol for self-defense. And when the tank is hit or the ammunition runs out in it and the crew leaves it, then the thickness of the barrel does not play a role at all. And instead of a pistol or a revolver for self-defense, it is best to use a submachine gun.

The last modernization of the TT took place after the war, in 1946. It was purely decorative: instead of vertical grooves, small corrugations were applied to the casing, the material of the lining on the handle changed.

The TT was in service from 1931 to 1952, but was used much longer. A large number of TT still remains in warehouses, waiting in the wings.

In addition to army units, the gun is also very popular in criminal structures. After all, a powerful 7.62-millimeter cartridge allows you to pierce bulletproof vests of the second class of protection, and in some cases even the third.

Sergei LOPAREV, researcher at the Belorussky Foundations Department

State Museum of the History of the Great Patriotic War.

Photo by Alexander STADUB

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