Tokarev

SteveM · 01-04-2013, 03:49 PM

I looked at a Tokarev today and was hoping some of you have seen one of these before and can tell me what country of origin.

The only marking on it is a M 20 on the slide just forward of the rear sight and serial number on frame and slide. I looked and looked and could find nothing else.

Thanks

John Sabato · 01-04-2013, 04:02 PM

Not an expert by any means, but as I recall they were only made by Russia and China... how about some photos...

What did the grips look like?

SteveM · 01-04-2013, 08:37 PM

John,

Star in grips, I have found out that it is a Chinese M20. It is probably a VN bringback, there is no safety. And it looks like it was rode hard and put up wet.

sheepherder · 01-04-2013, 08:45 PM

I have the M57 Zastava/Yugoslavia [Serbia] version...It has a longer grip and magazine and holds one more round than the Russian/Chinese versions...And it has been fitted with a thumb safety (which needed some work, but that is detailed on the Web).

I like it. Typical Browning design, chambered for the 7.62 x 25 Tokarev round. Sturdy, no-nonsense, and has several 'improved' features that the M33 or M20 do not have.

And relatively cheap by today's standards.

jonnyc · 01-04-2013, 11:02 PM

The M20 is a Chinese clandestine pistol. Apparently a number of them did come out of VN. Very nice variation.

Edward Tinker · 01-04-2013, 11:06 PM

Poland also made them and Romania I think too (besides China, Russia)

alvin · 01-05-2013, 07:39 AM

M20 was Chinese free exporting pistol to support people's revolutionary in southeastern Asia during the cold war. Many of those were found in Vietnam and Burma. After 1990, some of those pistols flowed back into China from those countries via black market, and became an important source of illegal guns in China.

Jack Lawman · 01-05-2013, 04:07 PM

There are 5 matching parts on the M20: Frame, slide, action block, barrel, bushing. Very hard to find them all matching. As previously stated, most are Vietnam bringbacks. I don't think very many were ever imported. Almost all of them lack import marks and safeties.

From another board http://www.gunsnet.net/forums/showthread.php?t=104195:

"Three original military versions (Chinese Tokarevs):
1) T51: Russian parts assembled in Chinese arsenals in Manchuria. Production started in 1951.
2) T54: Domestic production; type-designated in 1954. There is no difference between T51 and T54 except marking. T54 has three Chinese characters on top of the slide (Five-Four-Type), while T51 has three characters on the left rare side of the frame (Five-One-Type)
3) M20: the most interesting variation. They were identical to T54, but were marked M20 on tope of the slide. These were made for supplying various communist insurgencies, national liberation fronts, and Viet Nam troops. It has no Chinese markings, so the the source of supplier can be denied when the weapons are cought in embarrassed situations.

There are three Mxx weapons: M20: Type 54 Tokarev pistol; M21: Type 56 semi-auto rifle (SKS), and M22 (Type 56 assualt rifles, aka AK47)."

Jack

Jack Lawman · 01-05-2013, 04:17 PM

The trigger guard is also marked with an "A" and an"M":

01-04-2013, 03:49 PM	#1
SteveM User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Texas Posts: 1,016 Thanks: 94 Thanked 275 Times in 137 Posts	Tokarev I looked at a Tokarev today and was hoping some of you have seen one of these before and can tell me what country of origin. The only marking on it is a M 20 on the slide just forward of the rear sight and serial number on frame and slide. I looked and looked and could find nothing else. Thanks

01-04-2013, 04:02 PM	#2
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,152 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,304 Times in 1,096 Posts	Not an expert by any means, but as I recall they were only made by Russia and China... how about some photos... What did the grips look like? __________________ regards, -John S "...We hold these truths to be self-evident that ALL men are created EQUAL *and are endowed by their Creator* with certain UNALIENABLE* rights, and among these are life, LIBERTY, and the pursuit of happiness..."*

01-04-2013, 08:45 PM	#4
sheepherder Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: ...on the 'ol Erie Canal... Posts: 8,182 Thanks: 1,398 Thanked 4,440 Times in 2,328 Posts	I have the M57 Zastava/Yugoslavia [Serbia] version...It has a longer grip and magazine and holds one more round than the Russian/Chinese versions...And it has been fitted with a thumb safety (which needed some work, but that is detailed on the Web). I like it. Typical Browning design, chambered for the 7.62 x 25 Tokarev round. Sturdy, no-nonsense, and has several 'improved' features that the M33 or M20 do not have. And relatively cheap by today's standards. __________________ I like my coffee the way I like my women... ...Cold and bitter... Last edited by sheepherder; 01-04-2013 at 10:11 PM.

01-05-2013, 04:07 PM	#8
Jack Lawman User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Near NYC Posts: 428 Thanks: 30 Thanked 64 Times in 37 Posts	M20 There are 5 matching parts on the M20: Frame, slide, action block, barrel, bushing. Very hard to find them all matching. As previously stated, most are Vietnam bringbacks. I don't think very many were ever imported. Almost all of them lack import marks and safeties. From another board http://www.gunsnet.net/forums/showthread.php?t=104195: "Three original military versions (Chinese Tokarevs): 1) T51: Russian parts assembled in Chinese arsenals in Manchuria. Production started in 1951. 2) T54: Domestic production; type-designated in 1954. There is no difference between T51 and T54 except marking. T54 has three Chinese characters on top of the slide (Five-Four-Type), while T51 has three characters on the left rare side of the frame (Five-One-Type) 3) M20: the most interesting variation. They were identical to T54, but were marked M20 on tope of the slide. These were made for supplying various communist insurgencies, national liberation fronts, and Viet Nam troops. It has no Chinese markings, so the the source of supplier can be denied when the weapons are cought in embarrassed situations. There are three Mxx weapons: M20: Type 54 Tokarev pistol; M21: Type 56 semi-auto rifle (SKS), and M22 (Type 56 assualt rifles, aka AK47)." Jack Attached Thumbnails Attached Images __________________ Why do you guys hate black circles so much? Last edited by Jack Lawman; 01-05-2013 at 04:08 PM. Reason: Typo

01-05-2013, 04:17 PM	#9
Jack Lawman User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Near NYC Posts: 428 Thanks: 30 Thanked 64 Times in 37 Posts	A and M marks The trigger guard is also marked with an "A" and an"M": Attached Images __________________ Why do you guys hate black circles so much?

01-04-2013, 08:37 PM	#3
SteveM User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Texas Posts: 1,016 Thanks: 94 Thanked 275 Times in 137 Posts	John, Star in grips, I have found out that it is a Chinese M20. It is probably a VN bringback, there is no safety. And it looks like it was rode hard and put up wet.

01-04-2013, 11:02 PM	#5
jonnyc User Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 425 Thanks: 2 Thanked 46 Times in 34 Posts	The M20 is a Chinese clandestine pistol. Apparently a number of them did come out of VN. Very nice variation.

01-04-2013, 11:06 PM	#6
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,916 Thanks: 1,992 Thanked 4,507 Times in 2,081 Posts	Poland also made them and Romania I think too (besides China, Russia)

01-05-2013, 07:39 AM	#7
alvin User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: US Posts: 3,843 Thanks: 132 Thanked 729 Times in 438 Posts	M20 was Chinese free exporting pistol to support people's revolutionary in southeastern Asia during the cold war. Many of those were found in Vietnam and Burma. After 1990, some of those pistols flowed back into China from those countries via black market, and became an important source of illegal guns in China.