Side-arm collection

[HuliganRS]

I've been asked to share my small collection of Russian side arms...

Here they are!

So far I only have 2 but am negotiating for the 3rd one!

Here's the 1st gun:

Model 1895 Nagant Revolver

Type: Double Action
Chamber: 7.62mm Nagant
Weight unloaded: 750 g
Length: 230 mm
Barrel length: 114 mm
Capacity: 7 rounds

This revolver was designed in Belgium by Nagant brothers (Emile and Leon) in the late 1880s - early 1890s, and was adopted by numerous countries, including Sweden and Poland, but the major user and manufacturer was undoubtfully Russia (and later Soviet Union). Russian government adopted Nagant revolver in 1895, and local production began in 1898 (first shipments were from Belgium). It was a standard Russian sidearm until 1930, when M1895 Nagant was declared obsolete, but it was widely used and manufactured during World War 2, and manufacture was finally ceased circa 1950.
Later, some sporting revolvers, both in 7.62mm and in .22LR were developed on Nagant platform. Interestingly enough, the M1895 revolvers still can be seen carried by some security personnel in Russia, especially by Railroad Security and by some armed guards. Usually, those revolvers are 2 to 4 times older than men who carry these guns.
From technical point of view, Nagant revolvers were already almost outdated at the moment of its adoption in 1895, since newest revolvers like S&W Hand Ejectors or Colts with side-opened cylinders were much faster to reload. On the other hand, M1895 had some unusual and interesting features, one of which was gas sealed cylinder, which made the Nagant a rare example of revolver suitable for mounting a silencer. Such a practice was known by NKVD and some Red Army special forces (recon and scouts) during WW2. Special silencer, called "Bramit device" was designed by Mitin brothers and could be mounted on the barrel.
M1895 Nagand was a solid frame, seven shot revolver with non-removable cylinder. The loading and unloading was committed via the loading gate at the right side of the frame, one cartridge by one. Spent cases were ejected by the ejector rod, which, when not in use, was concealed within the cylinder axis and swung to the side on the ejector rod link to be used. Original guns were double action ones, but Tsarists government ordered that some of M1895 should be retrofitted with Single Action triggers and issued to enlisted men, and DA guns should be issued only to the Officers and Police. In Red (Soviet) army only Double Action Nagants were issued.
The gas sealed cylinder, mentioned above, was made to use all of powder gases to propel the bullet (in most revolvers some gases escape from the gap between the cylinder face and barrel breech). To achieve that, the cylinder moves ahead a bit when hammer is cocked, enclosing a barrel breech area with recess in the front of each chamber. The cartridge, unique to that design, had long case with tapered mouth and a bullet totally enclosed inside the case. When cylinder moves forward, the cartridge case mouth entered the barrel breech and was used as additional seal. This was a complicated mechanism, useful mostly when guns were used with silencer.
Being somewhat complicated and relatively slow to reload, with ammunition of marginal power, Nagants were otherwise good guns, reliable, accurate and quite popular among the troops.

My gun was produced in 1926 and bears the rare CCCP inscription. This inscription was only used for a few years.

[HuliganRS]

Here's my 2nd side arm:

Makarov Pistol

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 Makarov PM (Pistolet Makarova) evolved from the post-WW2 Soviet Army requirements for a new pistol, which should me more compact, more safe and with greater stopping power, compared to the than-standard Tokarev TT-33 pistol. First, soviet designers developed new cartridge, about as powerful as possible to use in a simple blowback design. apparently, this work was based on a similar cartridge, developed prior to WW2 in Germany as the 9mm Ultra. But, it must be noted that the soviet 9x18mm PM ammunition is incompatible with either 9x18mm Ultra or similar post-WW2 9x18mm Police, due to larger projectile diameter of Soviet cartridge. The design of the new pistol was loosely based on the German Walther PP, one of the most successful pocket DA pistols of its time. In 1951, Soviet Army adopted the Makarov pistol as its new sidearm, and it continued to serve in this role until the end of the century. In 2003 it was officially declared obsolete with the adoption of the new Yarygin PYa pistol as a new Russian army sidearm, but it seems that it will see much more service before it will be finally phased out of service with Russian military and law enforcement.
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 but apparently found no luck. 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, sound and inexpensive design, 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 a formidable and reliable self-defense weapon.
Several versions of the PM were developed for export market and domestic security use, including IZh-71 pistol 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, 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.

[HuliganRS]

This is what my 3rd gun hopefully will be tonight!

This one is a 1945 Tokarev pistol.

I'll let you guys know if I get it!

[new world]

Rusty,

impressive pistols!

Too bad I can't collect them in New York State.

William

[Dolf]

Originally Posted by new world

Rusty,

impressive pistols!

Too bad I can't collect them in New York State.

William

William,

You mean in some States you can (Illinois for instance) and others (NY State) you can't?!
Funny country where the laws are not the same for all citizens! :confused:

Anyway, very nice pistols, Rusty! :love

Dolf

[HuliganRS]

Dolf,

:) Yes, that's America for you! Actually it makes some sense!

There are Federal laws that apply to everyone and then there are State laws that only apply to the citizens of that state. Then there are municipal laws!

On a lighter note!!!

I got the Tokarev TT!!!!!!!!!! :love :thumbsup

It's a 1945 Tokarev TT 33 in prestine condition!

As soon as I get it, I'll post some pics!

Rusty.