The full title of this work is far too long to use as the title of this post, as it is (deep breath) “The History and Development of Imperial and Soviet Russian Military Small Arms and Ammunition 1700-1986, Volume Thirteen: Soviet Russian Tokarev “TT” Pistols and Cartridges 1929-1953″. Written by Fred Datig (sadly passed away in 2011), this is really one of only two serious books on the Tokarev pistol, the other being John Remling’s (which we have previously reviewed).
To start with a bit of background, I should mention that Datig originally planned to write a comprehensive 22-volume set on all Russian military arms from 1700 to the present, broken up by subject. To the best of my knowledge, the only two actually published were Volumes 16 (Postwar Military Pistols and Cartridges, 1945-1986) and Volume 13, on the Tokarev
Unlike Remling’s work, Datig focuses specifically on Russian Tokarev development and production, without any mention of the other countries that used the pistol (Romania, Poland, China, etc). His information on its development is as comprehensive as you will find anywhere, although it relies heavily on Soviet Small Arms and Ammunition
In the late 1930s, another major pistol design trial was initiated, in which Tokarev competed against three other designers (Rakov, Korovin, and Voyevodin). Information on these experimental designs is slim, but Datig does include a line drawing of each one. Tokarev’s new design actually lost out to his competitors, but the breakout of WWII prevented a new pistol from going into production (although all three other designers would have a hand in the later Makarov development). For a particularly excellent discussion of the Tokarev design and evolution, I would direct you to Weaponsman’s post of just a couple days ago – he does a good job showing the various features and giving the design it’s rightful due.
The next chapter covers .22 caliber Tokarev variants, which use a floating chamber design much like David “Carbine” William’s. Following this are a pair of chapters on Tokarev holsters and the many types of ammunition developed for the pistol over the course of its use (including blanks, ball, AP, incendiary, tracer, and flamethrower ignition cartridges). Total length is 168 pages.
As is so often the case, the very focused and extensively researched books like this one tend to run for only one or two printings before becoming unprofitable for publishers, and are thus only found at inflated prices. The Amazon link above currently starts at $80, although I did find two other sources that have at least one or two copies in stock at more reasonable prices: Collector’s Firearms ($30) and BuyMilsurp ($40).
I knew Fred for a number of years.He came by the house a couple of times while in Phoenix. He also wrote a few other books as well on ammo. Great book.
Not only Tokarev did a SMG chambered for the Nagant revolver round. The first of the many Dyegtyarov’s PPDs, the PPD-27 was also chambered in this caliber – and what more, fed from a pannier type magazine, just like his DP/DT/DA machine guns. Did you knew THAT?
If I flipped open a copy of Bolotin’s book really quickly after I read your comment and found it, does that count as knowing? 🙂
Knew that from a line drawing in A.B. Zhuk’s famous book (Czech edition)…
I recommend ABE books for hard to find works ( American Booksellers Exchange).
Though looking a simplified Colt 1911 at first glance, TT30 is a serious brain
effort to join the features of highest muzzle velocity cartridge , and most
durable and practical service pistol of that era. That is 7.63 Mauser round and
Colt 1911.
Fırst to make should be, forming enough room for long Mauser round at handle
section, and therefore, the lockwork was designed with minimum parts at that part.
Even today, a coil mainspring location inside the hammer is not matched with
another brilliant idea like this. Removable lockwork housing was a Mauser C98
follow up. Other features like, spring retained slide stop, return spring without
plunger, were thought to lessen the user’s effort during field stripping in all
conditions. Overall design was also simplified with improved model TT33 with
simplier machining and decreasing the parts like removable back strap. Most notable
difference was the rounded trigger top at front enabling that part to be dismounted
as rotating inside the magazine well.
TT30/33 is the pistol of eastern region what Colt 1911 means for the west.
I consider TT33 really successful design, regardless of origin. The only thing I do not like about it is the archetypal Russian styling. In comparison, the Czech Vz.52 in same calibre (introduced recently on FW) may look ‘polished’ and ‘sofisticated’, but it stays far behind when comes to durability, ergonomics and general utility.
The core of solution, as you point out, lays in 2 basic areas, this being the lockup and the hammer module. To solve fitting of long cartridge into reasonable length grip was essential – and it came out rather well. Yet, the darn thing is easily field stripped and serviced.