1953 Romanian TT-33 Minus the Add-on Defective Safety

[tjtM38]

I purchased this nice Romanian Tokarev several years ago. I haven't shot it a lot, but it has a really nice trigger and a great looking finish on it. These pistols were refurbished and the stupid safety installed in order to allow import to the US on the surplus market. It's never made any sense to me why someone would dictate a modification to add a safety to a firearm that was never designed to have one. I have a Polish TTC that's very similar.

After shooting this one today with the safety switch moving on it's own to "safe" with the recoil of every shot, I couldn't stand it anymore. Upon cleaning, I removed the safety, never to be installed again. Now my previously nice looking piece has an ugly hole in the frame where the safety was. I saw some guy on YouTube drill the frame out, tapped it for screws and then welded the ends off. His gun looked worse than before. If anybody has any ideas on how to cover the holes, let me know. Oh, well; if it has to stay this way, it will be a much better shooter.

[tomaustin]

the catch phrase is..."and the stupid safety installed in order to allow import to the US on the surplus market....

you could run into issues by altering the weapon..."allow import to the US"...could bring questions you don't want to have to answer.....

removing a safety device from any weapon is clearly not a well-thought-out choice....

would not recommend flashing it around if you continue to leave it in the altered condition.........Tom

[tjtM38]

the catch phrase is..."and the stupid safety installed in order to allow import to the US on the surplus market....

you could run into issues by altering the weapon..."allow import to the US"...could bring questions you don't want to have to answer.....

removing a safety device from any weapon is clearly not a well-thought-out choice....

would not recommend flashing it around if you continue to leave it in the altered condition.........Tom

Well, I can't have it malfunctioning every time I shoot it. The safety that was installed is obviously defective. It makes the gun less safe. Therefore, I'll take whatever action I feel is appropriate to mitigate the defect.

[Junk Yard Dog]

Crazy glue the damn thing in the off position and leave it that way. Nanny state bullshit.

[SA1911a1]

Removing the safety would probably only become an issue if you accidently (negligently) shot someone. I don't think that altering the piece would cause any legal troubles otherwise, but I am no attorney. I am with the OP on this one, if I had a decent way to cover the hole, I would toss mine in the junk drawer and replace the buggered grip. Jim's solution is probably the best available.

[tomaustin]

I would immediately retire any weapon with a malfunctioning safety. When repaired, restore to service.

"Accidently (negligently) shot someone" is exactly what I am talking about....when an accident occurs, you were not aware it was going to happen---hence ACCIDENT................it is not worth the risk.....

[tjtM38]

I reinstalled the safety in the Romanian TT-33. It was hell getting it back in there; has a spring and a small detent that was difficult to get positioned in the frame. I just couldn't stand the hole in the frame with it removed. It is functional, but will probably flip to safe on it's own when I shoot it at the range. It is what it is and what can you expect for a cold war relic that only cost $220.

[tomaustin]

tjtM38, it is what it is when we all love old weapons.....protecting yourself is the smart move.....it probably should be a wall-hanger...I have several of those kind of weapons.....and NO ammo within shouting distance......no mistakes, no accidents, no regrets, no apologies........Tom

[tjtM38]

tjtM38, it is what it is when we all love old weapons.....protecting yourself is the smart move.....it probably should be a wall-hanger...I have several of those kind of weapons.....and NO ammo within shouting distance......no mistakes, no accidents, no regrets, no apologies........Tom

Yeah; I think it is just an occasional shooter at best. The Polish TTC is much better as far as function and reliability. I actually trust the installed safety on that gun and would even consider it as a carry weapon, although there much better modern pistols in my safe for that purpose. In addition, 7.62x25 round is getting real expensive and I am not going to reload this caliber. These guns will be fired little in the future, but will just be admired for their curio and relic attributes.

[tomaustin]

Incidentally, I grew-up in the Delta.................

[tjtM38]

Incidentally, I grew-up in the Delta.................

I did too; on the Arkansas side. It was a little town called Forrest City about 45 miles west of Memphis just the other sided of Crowley's Ridge. Over there it was massive farms of cotton, soybean and rice. It is still pretty much the same after all these years.

[tomaustin]

greenwood---major farming in the 40-50-60's period before California and Texas got into it big-time.............

[Rongo]

I had to fiddle with the safety on my Romanian as it too would be problematic. after a little trial & error with a file it flips on & off well & stays off when shooting.

[steelbuttplate]

I kept my Romanian, sold the Norinco. The Romy a little more accurate but I never could figure why.

[Darryl]

Removing the safety would probably only become an issue if you accidently (negligently) shot someone. I don't think that altering the piece would cause any legal troubles otherwise, but I am no attorney. I am with the OP on this one, if I had a decent way to cover the hole, I would toss mine in the junk drawer and replace the buggered grip. Jim's solution is probably the best available.

I think you are correct. There are no laws on altering a weapon like that but, if something goes wrong, there may be liability issues.

I have the same pistol. My safety works perfectly. I guess I an lucky!

Darryl

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