Picked up Polish Tokarev for $330 total.

[Retro]

I am always quick to action, and I located a Polish Tokarev in 7.62 x 25 in mint condition (99% blue, and shiny mint bore with good rifling) for $330 total today at my local gunstore. I have to say that the gun is very ergonomic and very slim and not as bulky as the 1911 I had. I was told by the owner that that the regular 7.62 x 25 caliber in FMJ (without steel core) will be armor piercing within 20 yards, and the effective range of engagement for this piece is 50-75 yards. I was told not to use this piece as a home defense piece since I live in an apartment, and the round will go through walls.

It is made in 1951 with added safety next to the trigger. It has a logo, which is a 11 within a circle, and not sure what that implies. Matching numbers.

Pictures to follow. I need to charge my camera battery overnight.

 

[XavierBreath]

Polish M48 AKA Tokarev TT33s were available a couple of years ago in mint condition for about $130. The Tok is a neat gun, and many of the Polish guns were never fired, just stored in cosmoline. They were the Soviet standard sidearm until replaced by the Makarov in 1951. The ones imported recently to the States regrettably have that dinky trigger block safety (don't trust it) and the finger shelf grips to meet import standards. You can still acquire proper grips from several resources.

You should know there is some dangerous 7.62 x 25 ammunition is lurking out there. Read up on it and make darned certain you don't get the overpowered stuff.

The post WWII Radom Arms factory in Poland was known as Factory Eleven by the Soviets, thus the circled 11 marking.

Here's my Tokarev.

 

[Retro]

Thanks Xavier, I bought the Lelier and Bellot 85 gr FMJ. I have heard that CZ-52 are not as well-made as Tokarev in terms of the steel quality, and hence I decided against CZ-52 has a shooter for 7.62 calibers, and especially because of that fragile firing pin issue, also CZ-52 looked a bit odd. But again, I have no experience with CZ-52, so it is not fair for me to make any comments about it.

Thanks for the heads-up and info on the 11 with circle.

I think the fair condition Tokarev go around $250 right now, and mint condition ones go for a bit higher. One thing that pissed me off was, a few months ago, I saw in one website, which showed crates and crates of surplus Tokarev being destroyed (I forgot if it was in Russia or China), and yet in this country, we are out of Tokarevs.

 

[Mortech]

$330 seems a bit stiff to me too , I got mine for $150 in '02 it was in 99% condition . I have no trouble hitting a 6X6 in steel target at 70+ yards since its so flat shoot (I find it comparable to shooting my Steyr in 357Sig in accuracy ) . Ditto on what Xavier said on mistakinly using hot 7.62X25 ammo meant for the PPsh submachineguns .

 

[ribbonstone]

Another Tok fan here, but am a bit surprised t the increase in price in the last couple of years....must be more closet-tok-fans out there driving those prices.

Mine is a Chinese 1967 Vietnam bring-back...most of the finsh was gone before Katrina, all of it and some nasty pits post Katrina, so it got a park-job. Internals were well grease packed from stoarge (chrome bore helped), so the gun lives on.

 

[Retro]

It seems that 7.62 x 25 lead core can pierce Level II and IIA Body Armor but not Level III-A+:

http://www.pinnaclearmor.com/facility-armor/ballistic-chart.php

Interesting.

 

[hartzpad]

I got my Tok (about 99% mint condidtion with a perfect holster) for $200, you paid a little too much, but they are getting rare, so enjoy it.

 

[Run&Shoot]

I just met a guy at the range today who loves his Tokarev. Shoots mostly 1911s but like the Tokarev as well. I forgot to ask him what it is like to shoot?

Is this lighter recoil than a9mm? Would someone moving up from a .22LR and not comfortable with a 9mm yet experience any noticeably less recoil/flip with the Tok? Trying to find something for one of my daughters to try instead of the Browning or Glock.

 

[XavierBreath]

The recoil of 7.65X25 in a Tok is greater than a service sized 9mm pistol. The Tok itself is not an easy pistol to handle compared to others, including a 1911 (at least in my experience). It has corners that dig, and the muzzle does flip. The controls are clanky and non-ergonomic. None of that takes away from the "cool factor" of the Tok though. It has a muzzle blast that is attention getting.

I'm glad to see the prices escalating on Toks. In my opinion, they were undervalued at $130. It's a shame so many are butchered for US importation, but at least they were saved from mass destruction.

 

[Retro]

Oh... god, seeing these destruction pictures again just breaks my heart...

Some of these guns were still packed in cosmoline...

So why did we stop importing Tokarev again? Those are definitely not Chinese Tokarev...

 

[Madczek]

Nice find - I've been looking for an excellent Polish Tokarev for over a year with no joy. Only keep seeing beat to hell Chinese at my shows.

 

[Erich]

I was lucky enough to get mine from SOG when they first came in - $129 + shipping. As you can see, I got the correct stocks for it (don't ask why only the left one is on) and I removed the "safety" and replaced it with a clipped-on pin that fills the hole.













A bit over 1500 fps with S&B ammo, a bit under that with Yugo surplus.

 

[BevrFevr]

look out for corrosive ammo too...

wish I still had my russian tok. that is before i shot corrosive ammo and the barrel rusted like a hundred year old sewer pipe. Would love one of the Polish one but not at that price. Ouch!

 

[Eightball]

Okay, seeing those pics has sold me. What organ do I have to sell, and to whom, to get a good deal on a Tokarev?

It doesn't help that I wanted one to begin with.......

 

[Erich]

Sorry about that, amigo, but thanks for the compliment on the pics.

 

[makarovnik]

Tokarevs are sexy and very easy to handle. Big boom and blue flame but recoil feels mild. I paid $150 inluding tax out the door. 99% condition. CZ52's are also okay if you get one with a good decocker and an aftermarket firing pin. They are ugly though compared to the original Tok. I don't know why but I really like the name.

 

[Manedwolf]

So is there any places on the web that still have these for a reasonable price, then? Or only private sellers?

 

[OldBillThundercheif]

$330.00? Yikes. Did you get one Tokarev or three for that price?

Oh, well... it's only money.

 

[Erich]

$300 is about what Polish Toks are going for now. Shoot, Chinese Toks are often found going for almost $200 - and there were a lot more of them imported. (Remember when E. German Maks were $135? )

Some Toks can be found used for less, but there are no Toks presently being imported. No web dealers are likely to have more than the odd one. If you are looking for a "deal" gun nowadays, consider the CZ-82s that AIM and SOG have - in 5 years, you're not going to be able to get near them for the money they're selling for now.

 

[Madczek]

Nice find. I'd pay $330 if I came across that pistol, too.

 

[Manedwolf]

Never mind about the online...I'd just gotten to a gunshow early this morning, and got an unfired-condition Polish 1954 "factory 11" TT-33 with holster and two mags from an elderly gentleman for the total of $225.

 

[Erich]

Be happy! (And show us some pics! )

 

[charliemopic]

Erich,
Thanks for posting the excellent pics.

 

[Erich]

Thanks for the compliment, Charlie. (BTW, I was born in IL! )

 

[The_Antibubba]

Reviving this thread

I saw a Norinco Tok for sale today. Now I know that some of you haven't had very complimentary things to about the Chinese make, but this one looked BRAND NEW, as in, no blueing worn off, no scratches, bright shiny barrel, etc. The dealer has it at $199 (keep in mind that I'm in the PRK, where gun prices typically are 20-30% higher. It's in 9mm. Can this be easily converted to the 7.62X25? And what other points should I check before I put it on layaway?