Safe Carry?

[Alex Kummel]

In the case of a Tokarev with no safety and a bullet in the chamber, which if any of the following two methods is the safest: 1) hammer down all the way, or 2) hammer on half cock? With the hammer all the way down does the firing pin protrude? Also for concealed carry I was thinking of a belt slide holster. Any opinions on holsters? Thanks.

[gp35fn]

Alex Kummel-I've carried a Tokarev as a carry gun for several years now-I feel there is only one safe way. The firing pin needs to be shortened to a rebounding type-with the hammer down the pin is flush with the breech face. Then you can carry the weapon with the hammer down on safe will less chance of a AD(accidental discharge)-I've done it it works-if the pistol falls on the hammer in this condition it will fire. FYI

[az_paul]

Alex...Welcome aboard. Great bunch of fun and knowledgeable folks on this board.

gp35fn...I enjoy my 54-1 very much and shoot it more than most of my other guns. Could you please elaborate on the firing pin shortening. Sounds like a great idea.

az_paul

[gp35fn]

Az_paul-sorry this took so long to get back to you. To shorten your firing pin-it was easy for me it will be harder for you. My Tokarev has had the firing pin retaining pin replaced with a roll pin. For me all I had to do was drive out the roll pin remove the firing pin and spring and carefully shorten and reround my firing pin till when installed it was flush with the chamber breech face. this makes the Tok a bit safer to carry. Your Tok probably has the origional slotted retaining pin in it. Without the proper tool it is very easy to break this pin removing it from the slide-the origional owner did it with my Tok that's why the roll pin relacement. To remove the slotted pin without the tool-yes they have a tool just to remove these pins-mag catch pin is similar-use a small screwdriver to fill the slot-then use a small punch to drive out the pin-before doing this you may want to get a spare pin just in case you break it-yes they break that easy. I wish I knew an easier way but I don't.