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Tokarev Polish TT-33 7.62x25mm

Courtesy, Gun Tests

This Polish-made copy of the TT33 was filled with heavy grease when we got it. Except for one rusty spring, it was like new inside and out. Fit, finish and performance were all excellent. We liked this light, handy, and powerful pistol a lot. We thought the lanyard rings were good additions to the gun, especially for on-water usage.

When the Polish TT-33 arrived, it was filled with heavy grease, which meant the gun required complete disassembly. Takedown was similar to the 1911 (and identical with the Chinese version tested above), involving rotating the barrel bushing (180 degrees). We later found takedown to be easier if we left the barrel bushing alone, slipped the split retainer off the barrel-lug pin and removed that pin, then slid the slide forward off the frame, being careful to contain the compressed recoil spring within the slide until we could carefully remove it. The magazine also was designed for easy disassembly.

The metal beneath the grease was well machined and finished, and nicely blued. The importer, Southern Ohio Gun, said these Polish pistols were new, and we don’t doubt it. The barrel was white on the outside, and looked like new on the inside. The locking lugs within the slide showed signs of having been tested for hardness, a sure indicator that the maker cared enough to test the product before shipping it.

The grips were black plastic. The left panel had a raised thumb rest that interfered slightly with the trigger finger of lefties. The Chinese version of this pistol did not have a thumb rest. The Polish TT-33 and its magazine both had lanyard rings. The ring on the frame was on the left side, which would interfere with southpaws if they wanted to use a lanyard as a steady rest. Removal of the grip panels involved inserting a screwdriver into the magazine well and sliding a clip on the left panel rearward, permitting the panel to be removed from the frame. The right side was then accessible for similar removal. The grips were well made and fit the gun snugly.

When we cleaned the Polish gun, we found all its major parts were numbered, and all but the magazine matched the serial number. We found rust within the hole in the hammer that holds its spring. The spring was slightly bent, and we noted that the hammer had noticeably less spring tension than either of the other two pistols.

The Polish TT-33 had a crisp trigger pull, which broke at 5.3 pounds. Its sights consisted of a dovetailed, U-notched rear and a small, narrow blade at the front. The front blade appeared to be integral with the slide. Although the sight picture was more delicate than we’d have liked, it was superior to that of

Courtesy, Gun Tests

This Polish-made copy of the TT33 was filled with heavy grease when we got it. Except for one rusty spring, it was like new inside and out. Fit, finish and performance were all excellent. We liked this light, handy, and powerful pistol a lot. We thought the lanyard rings were good additions to the gun, especially for on-water usage.

The safety was a small lever beneath the slide lock, located where it was possible to take it off by shoving it down with the thumb. When we first tried it, the safety was very stiff, but it loosened up during our testing. The fit and finish of the safety didn’t match the rest of the gun, so it may have been added after the gun was made. It blocked the trigger, and that appeared to be all it did.

Some of our shooting team got their hands bitten by the hammer. The same shooters didn’t get bit by the near-identical Chinese version. Comparison showed a little more steel beneath the hammer of the Chinese gun, enough to force the web of the hand out of danger.

On the range we found the Polish TT-33 didn’t always fire the old surplus cartridges. We went back inside the gun and stretched the hammer spring from a length of 1.3 inches to 1.5, and that helped, but was not enough to make the gun totally reliable with the surplus ammo. We switched the entire firing block with the Chinese-made version and that cured the problem. When we had the Chinese hammer assembly temporarily installed, we checked the Polish gun for accuracy, but found it made no difference. The Polish TT-33 worked perfectly with the recently made Sellier & Bellot ammo.

Every time the gun fired it fed and cycled properly from its eight-round magazine. The guide rails that were part of the hammer/sear assembly did a great job of directing the rounds into the chamber, and of course the bottleneck shape helped. Ejection was very positive. It took us a long time to find the first few empty cases. This round gives a sharp and loud report, and we got every bit of 1,400 fps out of all three types of ammo.

Reader Comments

Sounds good except for the light firing pin action. My CZ52 is much like it and comfortable to shoot. The positive difference between the "52" and the "33" is that the "33" has an easy to activate magazine removal system back of the trigger, while you have to fight the butt mounted stop on the "52". Even though it's accurate and easy to shoot, it's not a great home defense gun due to the fast, powerful bullet that tends to go through everything, very quickly and with little damage.

Comment by: dgray64 | August 13, 2009

I have and old Chinese Norinco chambered in 7.62 x25. It shoots to the point of aim and likes hot loads. It's a shame that no local gun shops have a newer version.

Comment by: Ronald R Y | August 13, 2009

One of my local gun shops has two Russian "33"s with the star on the grips. Look and feel good, but he wants a little too much profit on these. J&G has a deal on them most of the time. Again, good gun, but too hot of a round.

Comment by: dgray64 | August 13, 2009

I have hear these are nice guns, and any grip problems can be solved with hogue aftermarket add ons. I do prefer my CZ52's that I had redone. The problem with some of these guns is that the old metal gun parts suffer from fatigue. Its a no brainer to replace older metal parts in high stress sreas. Mine shot just fine. I have plenty of Wolf Gold line JHP's and FMJ's, as well as 1980 surplus ammo tempured with heavier Wolf springs. Use common sence when it comes to a hot pistol round. Maybe not the best self defense round for the home, but in my car a no brainer. Go to a good gunsmith, and use common sense here fans. 7.62X25 is not for the faint of heart. As in any bullet, no your backstop. At 529fibs., and 1596 fps. one must use sound judgement, but anyone who says it won't make a good self defense round is just not right. I love mine. Contact Wolf to find out if they are making anymore of the JHP's. These bullets wil go through most modern bullet proff vests, at least through level two. Mine will never be aimed at a law officer. ACORN however better stay off our lawn thats for damn sure.

Comment by: bigdon | August 14, 2009

I have both a "Tok" (specifically a Romanian model) and a Czech VZ52 pistol. Both of mine are incredibly accurate and there's no denying the power of that round (H-O-T!). The TT33 fits my hand better than the CZ and as I'm left-handed I find the Tok easier to draw and fire (either thumbing the hammer back from 1/2 cock or using my index finger to flip the add-on safty lever behind the trigger).

Oh, that flip-lever safety is a GCA'68 add on. The only "safty" the TT33 had in service with the ComBlok was the 1/2 cock. I don't see a huge problem with that, lots of 1911-A1s have been toted that way.

Comment by: CeltKnight | August 14, 2009

I HAVE REGISTERD TOKAREV TT-33 PISTOL NEED SPARES

Comment by: raja | April 3, 2010

I HAVE REGISTERD TOKAREV TT-33 PISTOL NEED SPARES

Comment by: raja | April 3, 2010

The best thing about the Tokarev over the CZ is the magazine release. At least the one I looked at has a release button behind the trigger like most modern guns while my CZ has a pain in the a$$ clip of sorts at the base of the grip. Not fun and sure not fast!

Comment by: dgray64 | April 3, 2010

Esta pregunta no me es claro. http://www.shampes.com/ jeanpierre

Comment by: vertigo | September 5, 2011

Esta pregunta no me es claro. http://www.shampes.com/ jeanpierre

Comment by: vertigo | September 5, 2011

Esta pregunta no me es claro. http://www.shampes.com/ jeanpierre

Comment by: vertigo | September 5, 2011