Китайский ТТ
The most common imported models of Tokarev's pistol in Russia were its Chinese versions: models 54-1 and 213-B. Tens of thousands of trunks were smuggled into the Russian Federation only through the Baltic republics of the former Union.
All parts of the Chinese pistol are interchangeable with parts of the Soviet TT, but the shutter of the Soviet pistol does not fit the Chinese one.
An army model of Tokarev's pistol from Mao's homeland has hieroglyphs on the bolt, which loosely mean that in front of you is Type (model) -54. New models of pistols exported by China have the usual safety mechanism and the mark: "Made in China by Norinco". It also differs from the Soviet pistol in a narrower grip.
There is no release date on the Chinese army pistols. The pistol is also offered with two magazines, but without a holster. Commercial copies of the Type-51 pistol, produced by the Beijing company Norinko, are being spread more and more widely. In order for such weapons to be sold on the US civilian arms market, they must meet the requirements of the BATO, which provide for the presence of safety mechanisms on the pistol. The Chinese took an unusual path for them: they did not copy the excellent fuse from the Hungarian TT, but created their own design, moreover, very unsuccessful. The fuse is turned off in the direction opposite to the natural movement of the hand when gripping the handle. When using such a design, the shooter may have difficulties, since the prevailing stereotypes of handling a pistol can fail at the most inopportune moment. A similar arrangement of the fuse can also lead (due to the recoil of the weapon) and to the self-setting of the pistol to the fuse at the time of the shot.
A significant number of Chinese pistols enter the market in the version chambered for 9x19 (pair). Sometimes pistols are equipped with barrels, magazines and bolts both for this cartridge and for the 7.62x25 mm cartridge. Some models have a plastic grip, like the Hungarian model. Also available is a conversion kit for converting the pistol to the .38 "super" cartridge. Automation works with such ammunition quite reliably. This cartridge is considered the most suitable for self-defense weapons.
Usually the inside of the barrel has a protective chrome plated finish, although some specimens are not chrome plated.
Parts for Chinese pistols are produced in many factories, which often leads to defects. The quality of the pistol is unpredictable and depends entirely on the batch. Although pistols were given the impression of being a fairly reliable weapon, there have already been cases in the United States when they were returned due to marriage. Another problem is that supplies of components and spare parts are irregular, often parts from other pistols or military models are found.
Nevertheless, the success of the base model in the American market, where pistols are mainly supplied, prompted the Chinese to further improve them. Work began on the design of a modification of the pistol chambered for 9x19 mm with a double-row magazine with a capacity of 13 rounds. However, changes in US weapons legislation, limiting the capacity of a pistol magazine to ten rounds, made this work unpromising.
