Adopted in 1930 & put into serial production in 1932 (thanx to scottB for that info) as the TT30, the 1933,34, & 35 guns were TT30's, main visible difference was a removeable grip strap in the rear frame for the hammer spring, other mechanical differences are described below the pics, in 1936 all the changes were incorporated & the pistol was renamed the TT33. it was in production in the Soviet Union from 1933-1953, was also mfg by China (PRC), Hungary, Poland, Romania, Yugoslavia & in N Korea (not an exact copy) as the Type 68
Album by willyp. Photos by willyp. 1 - 46 of 46 Total. 38277 Visits.
Trigger Guard proof mark This proof is on the right side, upper forward part of the trigger guard on a 1934 date TT30 mfg by Tula (as were all Soviet produced examples).
Proof mark on right rear trigger guard Another proof on the trigger guard of the 1934 TT30.
Frame marking, 1934 TT30 On the left rear upper side above the mag & under the slide serratons. Serial no, Star for Tula arsenal, 7 mfg date 1934.
1934 Slide marking upper slide marking for the 1934 TT30
1935 TT30 right side The TT30 in 1933 had the rear grip strap panel, the barrel lugs were machined 1/2 way around the barrel, the hammer "pack" was a slightly different form & the TT30's trigger had a different profile than the TT33. In 1934 the barrel was changed to have the lugs milled all the way around the barrel. In 1935 the hammer "pack" was changed to the style used on the TT33 but it still retained the removeable grip strap panel.
1935 TT30 open w/magazine
1935 barrel Shows the lugs completely encircling the barrel & the serial no. I do not have an original 1933 TT30 barrel or pic to show w/the lugs only 1/2 way around. The 1933 guns were very rare 7 the barrel was changed to this style in 1934 & continued this way until the end of production.
1935 TT30 frame markings
1935 TT30 Slide mkg
1935 TT30 Frame markings Another view of the 1935 markings this time on the assembled frame, also note the slide serrations which are large & wide.
1935 TT30 left view
1935 TT30 Frame-Insert detail Here is a good view of the removeable panel on the rear of the grip strap on the TT30 variants.
1935 TT30 grip strap Insert Another pic of the grip strap insert showing the serial number on the part.
TT30 frame left, TT33 frame right Here's a pic of the grip strap area of 2 stripped frames, clearly showing the difference in frames between the TT30 (left) & the TT33 (right)
TT30 grip strap Insert detail Here are 2 of the inserts shown from the inside, the top is from a 1934 date gun & is shown disassembled w/the hammer spring & retaining button below the insert. The bottom insert is from the 1935 date gun & is assembled for comparison.
1941 TT33 This is the definitive TT33, starting production in 1936, had the 1 piece frame
1941 TT33 open w/mag
Barrel bushing marking This is a view of the inside of the front barrel bushing on a 1939 mfg gn & shows the Tula star mark stamped on the piece
1939 TT33 spring retainer mkg here's a pic of the rear side of the recoil spring retainer from a 1939 mfg gun, again showing the Tula star marking on the rear face.
1941 TT33 left side view
1942 TT33 wartime mfg Right side view of a 1942 mfg gun, note the wood checkered grips which were production pieces 1942-1943. Also the machine work is crude & rushed, although this particular gun is hard to tell as it's in very rough shape, well used, no finish, heavily pitted but it's all matching, & original & still functions fine!
1942 TT33 open w/mag
1942 TT33 wartime wood grip
1942 TT33 slide marking Note this gun does not have a star marking, rather an arrow inside a triangle inside a circle. According to info in Datig's excellent book on the Tokorev pistol (THE BEST! reference available in my opinion on these guns) this is not an Ishevsk marking rather it's a transitional marking used to indicate Tula mfg after most of Tula arsenals assets were moved east away from the German invasion forces to the area of Ishevsk.
1942 TT33 frame marking
1942 TT33 wood grip left side
1942 TT33 wartime mfg left view
1949 TT33 postwar production This is a 1949 date gun, it is identical to the pre war guns except for the slide serrations which are more numerous & much finer. Also note the grips on this gun have the triangle in a circle w/CC CP instead of the standard star in a circle w/CCCP, according to Datigs book these grips have only been reported on a 1945 dated gun, there is also another variant of the triangle/circle grips reported that have vertical serrations instead of the checkering on these grips, the vertically serrated triangle/circle grips were reportedly on 1945 dated TT3 .22 Tokarevs dated 1945, after that the star in circle grips were reportedly remade the standard grips.
1949 TT33 open w/mag
1949 TT33 frame marking
1949 frame marking detail
1949 TT33 slide marking
1949 Grip left
1949 TT33 left full
Soviet TT30-33 comparison top right- 1935 TT30 bottom right- 1941 TT33 bottom left- 1942 TT33 top left- 1949 TT33 Note the difference in trigger profile between the TT30 & the TT33's & the different grip variations, standard hard plastic star in circle CCCP on the 35 TT30 & 41 TT33, wood check grips on the 42 TT33, & the triangle in a circle CC CP checkered grips on the 49 TT33
TT30-33 opposite side views top right- 1949 TT33 bottom right- 1942 TT33 bottom left- 1941 TT33 top left- 1935 TT30
right side views of Soviet variants top to bottom 1935 TT30 1941 TT33 1942 TT33 1949 TT33
Soviet comparison pic, left side top to bottom 1935 TT30 1941 TT33 1942 TT33 1949 TT33
TT33 & Yugo derivitives The Yugoslavs adopted the TT33 & mfg it as the M57 in Yugoslavia, they also made variations on the basic design, the M70 which was a TT33 variant but in 9mm, the M70 which is a small frame Tok derivitive in 7.65 (shown in pic at bottom) which was used by the Yugoslav Police/militia & by army officers, & the Zc88 which is a mid size 9mm derivitive, this gun is smaller than the standard TT33 but larger than the 7.65 M70. Pic above top to bottom: 1949 Soviet TT33 Yugo Zc88 9mm (no known military or police service) Yugo M70 7.65
TT33 & Yugo derivitives left view, top to bottom: Soviet TT33 Yugo M88 9mm Yugo M70 7.65
