Why no Tokarevs from Yugoslavia?

[Alex Kummel]

Yugoslavia has been a fertile source for us C&R gun nuts. Mauser rifles, such as the M24 and the M48, and the SKS. How come we aren't offered Tokarev pistols? Also, didn't Hungary, like Poland, manufacture Tokarev pistols? I'd appreciate any information you guys have.

[Noah Zark]

The various ethnic regions that made up Yugoslavia likely made use of the Tokarevs during the civil war during the 90s, as they did with the SKSs that we now enjoy. Although the Yugo SKSs need only the requisite import stamp to be sold here, Yugo Tokarevs would likely need to have a safety lever added as with the Chinese and Polish TT33s. That costs money, and somebody has to do it. Further, the governments of the new ethnic republics formed out of Yugoslavia simply may not have released their stocks of handguns for sale.

Some Hungarian Tokarevs and the FEG-made "Tokagypt" clone were available 6 to 12 years ago and have pretty much dried up.

Noah

[mikeinkc]

I had a 9mm Zastava Tokarev back in the mid `80s. Imported by American Arms if I remember right. Very nice piece. It held one more round than a standard Tok and the grip frame was longer.