Polish TT-33 Slide Not Holding

[scarpucci]

Cleaning recently purchased TT-33 & slide hold wouldn't hold the slide back. Any ideas or suggestions on this problem would be appreciated. Not sure on how to dissemble it to check to see if it's gummed up or broken.

Have a manual on the CA-52, but don't think it will work for the TT. Help needed!

[jhnn88]

only suggestion i have is nuy a manual for it

[weevil]

The slide-stop is rounded. This happened on one of my Polish Toks.
If you look at the corner, of the slide-stop lever, that catches the indentation in the slide, its probably rounded off, instead of square. I took a small file, and put a flat edge back on the lever, and cleaned up the area on the slide, as well.

I've learned not to use the slide-stop release button, on these commie guns. Pull the slide back, to release it.
I've read about several people having this problem, with their Makarovs.
The CZ-52, doesn't even have a release button.

I always used the release button in the past, but now I've changed to pulling back the slide, on all my pistols.

[scarpucci]

weevil, thanks for the info. after reading your post checked out the slide & slide stop. looks like my slide stop hole is rounded, can this be possible or is this the way it should be? ifso i'll tanke another look at the stop.

Also ordered a manual so i'll ba able to disassemble.

[weevil]

The top of the hole is rounded, but the rear, of the hole, should be a square corner. It makes a 90 degree angle, with the bottom, of the slide.
They're easy to disassemble, just slide the bicycle-chain clip back, to release the slide-stop lever pin. You don't have to remove the clip, just slide it back off the forward pin. Pull the lever out completely, and the slide will "slide" right off the frame. Mind the recoil spring, they like to fling out.

They're a very simple design, and you shouldn't have much trouble with it, when you see how it works.

If you do, let me know, I'll be checking back. :D

[scarpucci]

weevil,

slid the slide stop retainer clip off stop & engaged the stop. it held, reinstalled the clip on stop & it slide right on out hole, slide flew forward. wish i had a camera to take a picture of stop hole, because i think it may be rounded but don't know what i'm looking at. does that seem possible? wish i knew what i was looking at.

printed a copy of the takarev parts diagram off the net too give me some kind of idea of what i'm looking at.

Thanks for your help :confused:

[weevil]

I wish I was better with computers. I would post a pic myself.
The hole should be teardrop shaped, with the bottom of the tear flat. This flat area is what catches the lever.

[Clark]

There is a problem with low cost [soft] 1911 slides where the notch in the slide gets rounded, as the slide stop lever is harder.

The long term solution is to stop using the slide stop as a release without hanging on to the slide with the other hand.

I sounds like some Tokarevs are in the same situation.

I know a guy who had a 213 Tokarev that became unusable after a few firings becuse the impact of the slide cocking the hammer caused the slide to peen over until the gun jammed. I have been shooting my Tokarevs with very hot ammo, and I don't have any such problems.

[scarpucci]

Clark,

Being new to Tok's I didn't know what to do or look for. Mine looks as if the slide stop hole is rounded, but why will the stop hold if I remove the slide retainer clip?

[Clark]

The slide stop is pushed up by the mag follower [when the mag is empty] inside the gun and catches the slide outside the gun. If the notch on the slide is rounded, one could file it straight. If there is not enough metal and the slide is too far forward, when filed, to get a mag full of ammo inserted when the slide is back, then some TIG weld wil fill the hole and the notch can be re cut. I know a gunsmith North of Seattle [Lynwood Guns] who TIG weld spots like that for $5.

[scarpucci]

Clark, with a empty mag in the stop will hold slide rearward. When the mag is removed, slide flies forward.

Not sure how to file because stop hole does't go all the way through the slide. How would you file it?

I haven't fired it yet, & wondering if you can fire it in this condition? I'm in St. Louis as to sending it to your gunsmith.

[Clark]

The slide is supposed to fly forward when the mag is not there, unless you push up on the hold open with your thumb.

Your gun may be fine the way it is.

[Noah Zark]

Scarpucci:

Did you get your slide stop issue squared away?

Do you need pics of the slide stop and the mating groove in the slide?

LMK,

Noah

[scarpucci]

NZ,

never got it to hold without a mag in it, but according to
Clark it's supposed to fly forward without a mag in it. It will hold without a mag in it if i pull the slide stop clip off or hold it in the up position.

yes; if you can post a picture it would be appreciated.

Thanks

al

[Noah Zark]

Al:

The Tokarev TT33 and its clones is based on a John Browning design with a unique "packaged" lockwork mechanism assembly.

As such, the slide stop/slide/magazine design is functionally identical to that of the 1911, BHP, CZ75, etc.


The follower on the magazine, pushed by the mag spring, is what actuates the slide stop to hold the slide open when an empty mag is locked in the weapon. A part of the slide stop tab projects into the Tokarev frame and is contacted by the mag follower when the mag is empty.

With a full mag, the follower is not in contact with this projection, and the slide stop drops to its "rest" position until the mag is emptied and the follower lifts the slide stop and "captures" the slide in the open position.

Clark is correct in his description that the slide stop should hold the slide rearward without a magazine if the stop is pushed into the slide notch by hand. I.E., remove the mag, pull the slide rearward, push the slide stop up, and the slide should stay open. If the stop holds the slide open when so manually applied, it is working normally.

I can post pics tonight if you still need them, just LMK.

HTH,

Noah

[scarpucci]

NZ,

i understand & the reason for asking was that on other pistols i own the stop will hold the slide back with or without a mag & you don't have to hold the slide stop up.

thanks again; it's off to cut the grass.