PB / 6P9 silenced

PB / 6P9 silenced pistol ready for action

 

PB / 6P9 silenced pistol, with front part of the silencer removed for carry, storage or maintenance

Type: Double Action
Calibers: 9x18 Makarov
Weight unloaded: 970 g complete with silencer
Length: 310 mm complete; 170mm with front part of the silencer removed
Barrel length: 105 mm
Capacity: 8 rounds

The PB (Pistolet Besshumnyj - Silenced Pistol), also known for Soviet/Russian army as 6P9, has been developed by 1967 for Spetsnaz elements of the Soviet army, as well as for operatives of KGB. The pistol is based on significantly modified Makarov PM pistol, and features an unique integral two-part silencer. The rear part of the silencer is fixed around the barrel, which is drilled to decrease the muzzle velocity below the speed of sound. The front part of the silencer is quickly detachable, so pistol can be broken down into two parts for more convenient carry. Unlike many other integrally silenced pistols the PB can be safely fired with the front part of the silencer removed, but this will greatly increase the sound signature. Still, it is an useful emergency feature. Because the front part of the barrel is enclosed into the silencer, the slide is made very short and cannot contain the return spring. Instead, the return spring is located in the grip, under the right panel, and linked to the slide via the rocking lever. The double-action firing unit with external hammer and slide-mounted safety/decocker, as well as the magazine, are borrowed from Makarov PM pistol with no modification. PB has fixed sights. For carry, it is issued with a special holster, which has compartments for the gun and the detached front part of the silencer.

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PSM

PSM pistol, earlier model with aluminum grip panels, left side

 

PSM pistol, right side

 

PSM pistol, partially disassembled

 

IZh-75, a commercial export version of the PSM pistol, with late model polymer grip panels

 

PSM pistol, presentation model

Caliber 5,45x18 mm
Overall length 155 mm
Barrel length 85 mm
Weight: 460 g empty
Magazine capacity 8 rounds

The PSM pistol was designed during early ninety seventies at the request of the all-powerful KGB (State Security comitee of Soviet Union), which required a concealed carry weapon for their plainclothes operatives who were operating “in country”. Original papers, approved by the Government, requested a “flat-sized pistol, not thicker than a standard matchbox (17mm)”. There were no specifications for caliber, and it is not known why TSNII TochMash dared to develop an entirely new round when other rounds were already available and had previously been manufactured in the USSR, such as the 6.35x16SR and 7.65x17SR Brownings. The only real (although of doubtful value) advantage of the new 5.45x18 MPTs round (official designation 7N7) is its deeper penetration, especially against soft body armor at short range. The stopping power of this round is so miserable that some police operatives officially refused to carry this pistol in harm’s way, asking for the venerable Makarov PM instead. The PSM itself was quite conventional weapon, but of very thin and flat profile. It was tested against only one other competitor, the BV-025, which was more or less a scaled down Makarov PM copy, chambered for the same 5.45x18 ammunition. The Government officially approved the PSM for service in 1972, and from the mid-seventies it was issued mostly to top-ranking officials of the military, law enforcement agencies and the Communist party, as a self-defence weapon (or suicide special, as it turned out during turbulent first half of the nineties).
One popular legend about creation of the PSM says that specific requirements for a “very flat” pistol were inspired by hidden desire for a fancy engraved, “chiefs only” pistol of distinct appearance. Indeed, great many PSM pistols were put through more or less elaborate engraving process, sometimes with gold accents and almost always with political themes. The PSM pistol (Pistolet Samozaryadnyj Malogabaritnyj – self-loading small pistol) is one of the thinnest self-defence guns ever made, as it is only 17mm (2/3") thick; but it is also one of the least useful defensive weapons, as the pointed, jacketed bullet of small caliber and moderate velocity (about 300 m/s) can seemingly take forever to disable a target, even in the case of middle-of-the chest hit. Of course it is better than bare knuckles, but far too many cases were recorded when people suffered fatal shots from 5.45x18 bullets (usually in the chest area) but continued to fight or run for as much as half an hour, then suddenly collapsed and died from internal bleeding. During the early 1990s this pistol also became a favorite among criminal hitmen, who preferred it for its ease of concealment and good penetration against soft body armor. Some such guns (usually stolen from army warehouses) were later confiscated by Russian police, often fitted with homemade silencers. Export versions of the PSM, known as IZh-75, were also made in 6.35mm Browning / .25ACP, which probably was a little more effective as a manstopper than the original 5.45mm load. PSM pistols are manufactured by the Izhevsk Mechanical Plant.
The PSM is a blowback-operated weapon with a fixed barrel. It is of all-steel design, with either aluminium (early) or plastic (modern) grip panels. The trigger is double-action, with an exposed hammer and a slide-mounted safety/ decocker. The safety arrangement is a little unusual in that the lever is made flat with the slide and protrudes rearwards, along with the hammer. This way the safety does not increase the overall width of the gun, and also allows one movement of the thumb to turn the safety off and cocking the hammer. The pistol is fitted with a slide stop device, but it has no manual release – to close a slide locked open after the last shot from the magazine, one must pull it rearwards and then release. Magazines are single-stack, with a small finger rest and a magazine release located at the heel of the grip. The sights are fixed. Early production pistols had very thin ribbed aluminum grip panels, but these were found to be quite uncomfortable, and later were replaced with plastic wraparound grip panels of better shape.

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Stechkin APS pistol

Stechkin APS.

 

APS with attached holster-buttstock

 

Stechkin APS - cut-out diagram

Type Double action, select-fire
Caliber 9x18 mm PM
Overall length 225 mm
Weight: 1020 g with empty magazine; 1220 g loaded with 20 rounds
Barrel length 140 mm
Magazine capacity 20 rounds
Rate of fire 600 rounds per minute

The development of the selective fire, large military pistols, intended for military personnel as a personal defense weapon, was started in USSR in the late 1920s, but eventually lead to no success. But, after the end of 2nd World war, this idea was resurrected and, with the introduction of the new 9mm cartridge Soviet Army requested for a large, semiautomatic pistol, capable of controllable full automatic fire and fitted with detachable shoulder stock. Such weapon, designed by the Igor Stechkin in Tula was adopted by Soviet Army in 1951, along with the Makarov PM pistol in the same caliber. New pistol, designated as the "APS - Automaticheskij Pistolet Stechkina" (Stechkin Automatic Pistol), was issued to artillery, tank and armored carrier crews, RPG-7 carriers in the infantry, front line officers. But it soon was discovered that the APS, with its bulky and heavy holster / shoulder stock, is awkward to carry, and lacks the power for a military weapon, so it was gradually removed from army service and put in reserve storage. During the 1970s, however, small quantities of existing APS pistols were fitted with new, extended barrels, with threaded muzzle parts. These pistols, designated APSB, were intended for SpetsNaz use and issued with quick-detachable silencers and detachable wire shoulder stocks.

During the turbulent 1990s, the APS found its second life in the hands of various special Russian Law Enforcement teams, such as OMON, SOBR, various VIP security and hostage rescue teams. APS offered much better accuracy and larger capacity, than the general-issue Makarov PM pistol. APS also capable of very good rapid-fire accuracy in semi-automatic mode, as well as full automatic fire for emergency close-quarter situations. At the present time, regardless of advent of more modern and powerful pistols, like the Yarygin PYa or GSh-18, the APS still well regarded by Russian law enforcement, because of readily available and inexpensive 9x18 mm ammunition, good accuracy and low recoil. Now it is often carried in various open-top "combat" holsters, instead of its original clumsy and heavy holster / shoulder stock.

The APS is a simple blowback pistol, of al steel construction, with external hammer and a double action trigger. A three-position safety lever, located on the slide, also acts as fire mode selector, allowing for single-shot or full automatic fire. To slow the rate of fire down to controllable 600 rounds per minute, APS featured a plunger-type fire rate reducer, located in the grip. return spring is located around the barrel. Front sight is fixed to the slide, rear sight is adjustable for range, with settings for 25, 50 and optimistic 100 and 200 meters. To further improve the long range and full automatic mode accuracy, a shoulder stock / holster can be attached to the grip. early holsters / stocks were made from wood, latter - from brow plastic.

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Makarov PM / PMM / Izh-70 / Izh-71 pistol

prototype Makarov pistol, circa 1947

Makarov PM pistol, first year production (1949)

Makarov PM pistol, standard military issue sidearm of Soviet army. 1971 production gun, left side

Makarov PM pistol, 1971 production gun, left side

Makarov PM pistol, heavily engraved presentation 'Russian government' version, current manufacture

IJ70-17AS pistol, a commercial export-only version of Makarov PM pistol, caliber 9x17 (.380ACP); note adjustable rear sight necessary to pass US qualification for import.

IJ71H pistol, a commercial export-only version of Makarov PMM pistol with 12-round magazine, caliber 9x17 (.380ACP)

Makarov / Shigapov PMM pistol with 12-round magazine capacity and improved grip panels

Experimantal TKB-023 pistol with polymer frame, a prototype based on Makarov PM pistol (circa 1965)

Pistolet Makarova (PM) cut out drawing

Caliber 9x18mm PM; 9x18mm improved (PMM)
Type: Double action
Overall length 161mm (165mm PMM)
Weight unloaded 730g (760g PMM)
Barrel length 93,5 mm
Magazine capacity 8 rounds (12 rounds PMM)

The Red Army fought the Great Patriotic War of 1941-45 with both the semi-automatic Tokarev TT pistols and the obsolete Nagant M1895 revolvers. Despite the fact that more potent pistols were designed just before and during the war, the TT remained the mainstream weapon. Wartime experience, which included a close (and sometimes very personal) familiarity with German pistols, resulted in a major change of thinking about the role and necessary features of a military pistol for the Soviet army. Another factor that played a major role in the development of new requirements for the next military pistol, was the realistic prospect of a Third World War, with massive nuclear bombing and other such large-scale actions; as a result, pistols played a very minor role in both strategic and tactical doctrines of the Soviet Army. Furthermore, Tokarev pistols, despite being relatively simple and powerful, showed significant deficiencies, some of them quite serious, such as the lack of positive safety, so almost immediately after the war the GAU (Glavnoye Artillerijskoe Upravlenie – General Artillery Department of General Staff) issued a new set of requirements for a military and police pistol.
These requirements asked for a compact, double action pistol of the “Walther PP type”. New pistols were to be submitted in three calibres – 7.65x17SR Browning (proposed police round), 9x17 Browning, and a new 9x18. The last of these had been initially developed just prior to the war and refined after the war by the designer Syomin. Apparently, this round was inspired by the German 9x18 Ultra, which was designed in the mid-1930s to provide “acceptable maximum power” in simple, pocket-sized blowback pistols. The key reason for the increase in calibre when compared with the West 9mm rounds is unknown (the 9x18 Soviet has bullet diameter of 9.2mm, while most Western 9mm rounds have a bullet diameter of 9.02mm; Note that use of 9x18 Ultra / Police ammunition in any Makarov pistol is unsafe!).
Also, while the Soviet Army was ahead of many others in the request for a double action pistol, it regressed somewhat in adopting an only marginally powerful round in a weapon that in essence was a pocket-type pistol. At the same period of time, many other armies, looking for an increase in power, starting to change their “weak” 7.65x17 Browning, 9x17 Browning or 7.65x20 Longue pistols to the more potent 9x19 Luger/Parabellum/NATO weapons. The explanation for this fact, however, is rather simple – while most Western countries relied on full-power rifles (bolt action or semi-automatic) and a sub-machine guns as a primary individual armament for the infantry, the new Soviet concept had no place for sub-machine guns, as the only primary arm of the infantry was the newly developed assault rifle. Most Western pistols were required to fire 9mm NATO ammunition just to have commonality in ammunition with the standard issue sub-machine guns; Soviet designers had no such requirements, and by the late forties 9x18 looked as if it was good enough for a military pistol.
Trials for a new pistol started in 1947. Many designs were submitted and tested, such as pistols by Baryshev, Rakov, Voevodin, Simonov, and Makarov. Some designs were submitted in only one of the desired calibres, some, such as the Makarov design, in two, and a few in all three. In 1948, the trials resulted in a selection of the Makarov pistol in 9x18 as a next military sidearm for Soviet armed forces. However, it took three more years to refine its design, before it was officially adopted in 1951 as the “9mm Pistolet Makarova” or PM in short.
The following decades saw the gradual evolution of Makarov pistols, in continuing attempts to produce new pistols with fewer rejects and at lower cost. Most efforts concentrated on production technologies, and by the eighties many parts which were initially made with machining and hand-fitting, became precision-castings that required minimal, if any, fitting. The early sixties also saw attempts to make PM pistols lighter by the introduction of an aluminium/titanium alloy or polymer frames. The lightweight alloy frames turned to be excessively expensive, but polymer-framed pistol, developed in Tula as TKB-023, has passed most of the trials with flying colors. Despite that fact, it was rejected by the military on the grounds of unknown stability of the polymer frame during the long-term (10-20 years) storage and use.
During the last decades of 20th century there were numerous attempts o improve some of deficiencies of PM, most specifically its relatively low stopping power and lethality, and low magazine capacity. First, an improved version of the cartridge, with lighter bullet and hotter powder charge, was developed as 9x18 PMM. This cartridge developed muzzle velocity of 430 meters per second as compared to 315 meters per second of original 9x18mm ammo. Large capacity version of the PM was developed along with the new ammo, which included a slight grip frame redesign to accommodate thicker magazine. Grip panels also were improved. The PMM was offered for both military and law enforcement buyers, and eventually at least few were ordered by Russian police forces, although in standard 9x18 chambering. The 9x18 PMM ammunition was not issued on any significant scale due to the danger of loading the new ammunition into the old guns, which may result in damage to the old and worn-out guns. Instead, Russian Army finally went for a new, more promising pistol, developed at the same state-owned Izhevsk Mechanical Plant, the Yarygin PYa. 

The Makarov PM is a simple and sound design, which is considered to be one of the best compact self-defense pistols of its time. While not extremely accurate and lethal at ranges beyond 15-20 meters, it is still a formidable and reliable self-defense weapon. 

Several versions of the PM were developed for export market and domestic security use, including IZh-70 and IZh-71 pistols in 9x17mm Browning Short (.380ACP), available in both standard and high capacity variations, as well as Baikal-442, a commercial PM in 9x18mm, also available in standard and high capacity versions, with fixed or adjustable sights.

The Makarov PM is a blowback operated, double action pistol of all-steel construction. Manual safety is located on the left side of the slide, and, when engaged, safely brings hammer down from cocked position, and then locks the hammer, sear and slide. External hammer can be cocked manually for the accurate first shot in Single action mode, or can be cocked automatically by the longer and heavier trigger pull in Double action mode. All-steel magazine holds 8 rounds (12 rounds for PMM pistols), and when last shot is fired, slide remains in the open position, thanks to the slide stop. To disengage slide stop, one must pull the lever on the left side of the frame down. Magazine catch is located at the bottom of the grip, but some export versions of Baikal-442 are available with button magazine release at the base of the triggerguard. PM is fitted with fixed open sights as a standard, with click-adjustable open sights available as an option on export models.

How to disassemble / field-strip Makarov PM pistol: 1) remove the magazine by pressing the magazine release at the base of the grip and pulling the magazine out; 2) check that the chamber is empty; 3) pull the trigger-guard downwards, then swing it to one side to lock in the open position; 4) pull the slide all the way back, then raise the rear of the slide to the top, and off the frame rails; 5) carefully ease the slide forward and off the barrel; 6) remove the return spring from the barrel.
Reassemble in reverse order.

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Tokarev TT pistol

Tokarev TT mod.1933 pistol, left side view

 

same pistol, right side view

 

Tokarev TT-33, post-WW2 manufacture (with smaller slide serrations)

 

TT-33, cutaway diagram

 

Chambering: 7.62x25mm TT (7.63 mm Mauser)
Type: Single action
Weight: 910 g
Length: 116 mm
Capacity: 8 rounds

The Tokarev TT ("Tula, Tokarev") pistol was developed as a result of continuous trials, held by the Red Army in the mid- and late 1920s. Red Army looked for a new, modern semiautomatic pistol to replace obsolete Nagant M1895 revolvers and a variety of foreign semi-automatic pistols. One of the most popular foreign handguns, purchased in numbers during 1920s, was the famous Mauser C96, and the Red Army really liked its powerful 7.63mm cartridge, which, in slightly modified form ,selected for its future pistol of domestic design. Red Army tested several pistols of various designers, and in 1930 eventually selected the design of the famous Russian arms designer, Fedor Tokarev. During 1930 - 1932 Red Army procured several thousands of new pistol, and after initial field testing requested several improvements, which resulted in the adoption of the model 1933 Tokarev pistol early in 1934. This pistol was manufactured in increased numbers prior to the Great Patriotic War. Before July 22, 1941, about 600 000 TT-33 pistols were delivered to Red Army. During war pistols were made in increasing numbers. In 1946 the TT was slightly modified to cut production costs, and its manufacture in USSR finally ceased circa 1952, with the adoption of the more modern 9mm Makarov PM pistol. However, TT served with the Soviet Army well until 1960s, and with the Soviet Militia (Police) - until 1970s. During late 1940s and 1950s USSR also supplied some of its new allies from Warsaw pact with licenses to manufacture TT, and it was produced in China, Hungary, North Korea, Poland, Romania and Yugoslavia, in more or less original forms. Most military TT pistols of non-Soviet manufacture were also in 7.62mm, with some commercial export versions available in 9x19mm Luger, and fitted with some sorts of manual safety.

For its time Tokarev TT was a formidable weapon, with good penetration and effective range. It was of good reliability and easy to maintain. What it lacked most was the manual safety, and its grip shape was not too comfortable.

The Tokarev TT is a short recoil operated, locked breech pistol. It uses Browning swinging link system, borrowed from the Colt M1911 pistol, modified to simplify production. The single action trigger had no safeties, other than disconnector to prevent out-of-battery fire, and a half-cock notch on the hammer. The only safe way to carry TT was to always have an empty chamber. The hammer unit was made as a single unit, easily detachable for cleaning and maintenance. Some years later Swiss designer Charles Petter developed similar system for the French Mle. 1935 pistol. Steel magazine held 8 cartridges. Fixed sights were factory zeroed for 25 meters. Grip panels were usually made of plastic or wood (wartime production).

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Korovin TK pistol

Korovin TK pistol

 

Korovin TK pistol, partially disassembled

 

Two TK pistols (from forensic collection). Top is rare late production chromed version with plastic grips, bottom is standard blued version with checkered wooden grips.

Type	Single Action semiautomatic
Caliber	6.35x16SR Browning / .25ACP
Weight unloaded	423 g
Length	127 mm
Barrel length	68 mm
Magazine capacity	8 rounds

The TK (Tula, Korovin - design of Korovin made in Tula) pistol bears the distinction of being the first Soviet-made semiautomatic pistol. Sergey Korovin developed his first 7.65mm (.32ACP) military type pistol in around 1922, while working at famous Tula Arms factory (TOZ). However, this weapon was overly complicated and too heavy, while shooting only marginally powerful cartridge, but in around 1925 he was requested to develop a pocket-type 6.35mm (.25ACP) pistol for sporting and civilian use. The request came from government-sponsored Dinamo sport organization. By the 1926 Korovin completed his design, and TOZ commenced production of the new pistol in late 1926. Next year this weapon was officially approved for use at "Pistolet TK obraztsa 1926 goda" (TK pistol, model of 1926). As this pistol was not intended for military service, it bore "civilian-type" markings, although it was never sold on open market for average Soviet people. Most TK pistols were either issued as self-defence weapons for high ranking officers of Red Army or above-average officials of Communists party and Soviet government, or were used as presentational pieces for various achievements. Another major customer for TK pistols was the NKVD. Apparently, several tens of thousands of TK pistols were made in Tula by TOZ between 1926 and 1935.
It is also worth of note, that while TK was initially designed around a standard 6.35mm Browning / .25ACP ammunition, its strength allowed Soviet arms makers to load similar cartridge to somewhat higher energy levels (about 20 to 25% increase in muzzle energy and penetration).

TK pistol is blowback operated pistol. Trigger is of single action type, striker fired. Manual safety is located on the left side of the frame, above the trigger. Magazine is single stack, magazine release is located at the bottom of the grip. Grip panels can be made of black plastic with "TO3" (TOZ) logo, or, alternatively, wooden grips panels were used, either with diamond checkering or larger vertical grooves. Since early 1930s and until the end of production cycle, grip screws were replaced with TT-type spring locks. Sights were fixed.

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