Tokarev Cleaning

The Tokarev TT-33 pistol was developed for the Soviet military and adopted into service in 1933. The pistol bears many similarities to the Colt M1911 developed by John Browning. The Tokarev can be taken apart and cleaned easily. Having the right tools and knowing how to use them is very important.

  1. Disassembly

    • Cleaning any handgun means taking it apart. Disassembly is similar to that of the popular Colt 1911. Field stripping is all that is necessary, and this can be accomplished by removing the recoil spring, barrel bushing, slide stop and slide assembly.

    Tools

    • Most handgun cleaning tools are universal. A few are divided by caliber. The Tokarev comes in several calibers. The caliber determines the barrel brush you should use. A variety of synthetic all-in-one oils and lubricants are available, and any of these will clean well. Cotton patches, rods, jags and brass patch holders are all common cleaning tools for the Tokarev.

    Method

    • The barrel is a common place to start cleaning. With the weapon field stripped (partially disassembled), the brush is run back and forth through the barrel on the end of a cleaning rod. This loosens any powder residue which may have developed. Then a clean cotton patch is run through using a rod and holder, followed by an oiled patch. Use oil and patches to clean the rest of the gun's surfaces.

    Reassembly

    • Cotton patches are used to clear any remaining oil residue from the gun's surfaces. The gun is reassembled piece by piece, with care taken to also wipe off oil left by the owner's fingers before each piece takes its place within the gun.