Soviet Russian Tula TT-30 Tokarev 4.5” 7.62×25 Semi Auto Pistol, 1934 C&R
SOLD FOR: $2,359.79
LSB#: LSB250917GD009
Make: Tula Arsenal
Model: TT-30
Serial Number: 12922
Year of Manufacture: 1934 / C&R
Caliber: 7.62x25mm
Action Type: Semi-Automatic, Single Action, Tilting Lock, Magazine Fed
Markings: The Top of the slide is marked, “12922 / 1934”. All serialized parts are serial matched to the receiver, including the magazine. There are several Tula stars and station marks throughout.
Barrel Length: 4.5”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade fixed to the slide. The rear sight is a u-notch dovetailed to the slide.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two piece ribbed polymer with a star and CCCP. There are pressure dents, scratches, and small nicks throughout. There are no cracks, but there are some small chips. Overall, the grips rate in about Good condition.
Magazine Quantity & Condition: Two x 8rd magazines in Good overall condition.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The chrome bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is light erosion and fouling in the bore. In this writer’s opinion the bore rates 8.5/10.
Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 70% of its metal finish. There are spots of thinning, scratches, and spots of patina throughout. The action has moderate wear. The pins are mostly undamaged. The pins are serviceable. The markings are clear. Overall, this handgun rates in about Fair + condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We did not fire this handgun. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements. There is a removable guard over the magazine release.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This pistol comes with a total of two magazines, holster, cleaning rod, lanyard, and cardboard box.
Our Assessment: The Soviet TT-30 Tokarev is a historically significant pistol, representing the first major domestic semi-automatic service pistol adopted by the Soviet Union. Designed by Fedor Tokarev and officially adopted in 1930, the TT-30 was produced for only a short period before being replaced by the simplified and more mass-production-friendly TT-33. Manufactured at the Tula Arsenal, this example is dated 1934—one of the final years of TT-30 production before the full transition to the TT-33 pattern. These early models are notably rarer, featuring milled internal components, distinctive slide serrations, and a removable backstrap with integral mainspring housing. This particular TT-30 retains about 70% of its original blued finish, with honest wear, thinning, and patina typical of a wartime-used Soviet sidearm. Importantly, all visible serial numbers are matching, including the magazine—an increasingly scarce feature in TT pistols of this age. The bore is chrome-lined and remains bright with sharp rifling and light erosion, rating 8.5/10 in this writer’s opinion. The ribbed polymer grips with CCCP star emblems are worn but intact, with minor chips and dents. The action cycles correctly, and the pistol includes a proper Soviet-pattern holster, cleaning rod, lanyard, and a second magazine, making it a complete kit.
For collectors of early Soviet arms or World War II military sidearms, this TT-30 offers a rare opportunity to own a genuine pre-war Tula production pistol. With matching parts, its original finish, and a full accessory set, it’s a fantastic representative of the Red Army’s interwar modernization and the rugged, utilitarian firearms that helped shape the Eastern Front. -R.E.
