PISTOL COLLECTION

French St. Etienne Modele 1892 Lebel - c. 1895


Revolveur 8mm Modele d'Ordonnance M1892 - c. 1895

This revolver was a development of the Mle 173 (qv) and was fielded in 1893, remaining in service with the French Army until World War I and with the French police for some years after, as well. Its official designation was the Revolveur 8mm Modele d'Ordonnance M1892, although it was more usually known simply as the Lebel after a colonel of that name, who was deeply involved with military weapons at the time of its design. It was devoloped by and produced at the government aresenal at St. Etienne. It was a solid frame pistol with a cylinder on a separate frame, which, somewhat unusually, swung out to the right for loading and unloading. When closed the cylinder was held in place by a large, hinged lever on the right-hand side of the frame, while the mechanism could be inspected by removing a plate on the left-hand side. The revolver was reliable but its cartridge - 8x27mm Lebel - was generally considered to be somewhat underpowered. The Mle 1892 was also produced in Belgium and Spain, and there were some minor variations over the years; for example, some have round barrels, while others have hexagonal.

This French M1892 service revolver was manufactured d'Armes de St Etienne in 1895 when 21,200 were made. It has the director proof mark of MB for Lt-Col. Mouret. Other proofmarks include a C in a circle on the right side of the hammer, F in a shield, 2, K, B in a circle, M and some others that are hard to describe. It has an original finish and in incredible condition. This gun, in the original finish (circa 1893) was temper blued and the serial numbers were stamped through the finish showing white metal. Sometime later, maybe in late 1893 or early 1894, they began using Bronze Noir de Guerre, or as we know it here, rust blue. This was applied over the stamped serial and left no white metal showing in the stampings. After this time, earlier guns that had the temper blue were refinished with rust blue. In addition local rebuild facilities in the French Colonies rust blued these guns until sometime in the 20's or 30's when they started parkerizing and painting them. This was a more suitable finish in tropical humid climates than any type of oxide finish, which of course, would rust more readily than paint over phosphate. This gun has an original rust blued example and is in fine condition.

It came with 100 rounds of modern Fiocchi 8 Lebel rounds and 6 rounds of 3 different headstamps of original cartridges...ECP 2-93, ECP 2 12, S.I 2 35.

Iver Johnson's Arms & Cycle Works Top Break


Iver Johnson Top Break - c. 1900


Belgium FN Browning 1900 - c. 1909

Fabrique Nationale Browning 1900 c. 1909

The FN / Browning model 1900 pistol was a first of a long and extremely successful series of the Belgian-made pistols, designed by the American firearms genius John Moses Browning. The first semi-automatic, blowback operated pistol was designed by J. M. Browning circa 1896 and latter improved by the 1897. He offered his design to Belgian company FN Herstal circa 1898, and production began in 1899, as the Modele 1899. in 1900, this pistol, in slightly modified form (with barrel shortened from 122 to 102 mm), was adopted by Belgium as Mle.1900.

Relatively simple and well designed, this pistol is also known as the Browning Number 1 pistol (Browning No.1). Widely used across Europe as a civilian and police sidearm, this was chambered for a new smokeless round, 7.62x17mm SR, which is also known in Americas as the .32ACP (.32 Colt Automatic). FN - Browning M1900 was widely copied in many countries, especially in S-E Asia. It was manufactured until the 1911 or so, with more than 700 000 pistols made.

To some, the best source of information for these pistols can be found in The Belgian Browning Pistols 1889 to 1949 by Anthony Vanderlinden. In it he indicates that:

Near the end of 1901 there had been up to about 10,000 Model 1900's produced.

By the end of 1902 the total production (i.e. serial number) was at about 31,700.

By the end of 1903 total production was at about 71,700.

Serial Number 100,000 was produced with great cermony on about August 1904.

By the end of 1907 total production was at about 400,000.

By the end of 1910 total production had gone to about 675,000.

By the end of production near the end of 1914 about 724,550 had been produced in total at least according to that book.

The M1900 is a blowback operated, semi-automatic (self-loading) pistol. The barrel is fixed to the frame. The recoil spring is located within the slide and above the barrel. This spring, via special lever, also acts as a firing pin spring. M1900 is a striker fired, single action weapon. Unlike all latter designs, the ejection port is cut in the frame, and not in the slide. Safety switch is located at the left side, above the grip panel. Magazine is removable, is inserted into the pistol handle and holds 7 rounds. Magazine catch lever is located at the heel of the grip. Sights are fixed.

This Browning 1900 7.65mm has all original parts including the grips and the magazine. The blue comes in at about 50% and the bore is very good plus. The numbered magazine is usually associated with police issue pistols. This is in excellent mechanical condition.

American Colt Model 1903 Hammerless - c. 1905


Colt Model 1903 Hammerless - c. 1905

Colt's first pocket self-loading pistol appeared in 1903, but it did not prove entirely popular and was replaced in the same year by a new weapon designed by the famous John M. Browning. This was a success - and with various modifications it remained in manufacture: before that date, the barrel, which was rather thin, was held in place by a device being required for the 0.32 ACP cardige, and had a concelaed hammer. It was also the first Colt self-loading pistol to be fitted with a grip saftey. Most models have vulcanite grips bearing the word COLT and the rearing-horse trademark. In 1926, a saftey disconnector, which separated the sear from the trigger when the magazine was removed, was incorporated into the design. This was an unusually handy and well-blanced pistol and well deserves its popularity. The Colt 1903 Pocket Hammerless is a fine gun, beautifully made, classic in design and with a rich history.

Though the Colt 1903 saw military use, this particular one does not have the U.S. Property mark. It's serial number tells me that it was made in 1905, a Second Year issue that has the old barrel bushing like the 1911s. It has the hard rubber grips with the Colt very visible, the Colt horse still crisp. The bore is very good. Blueing is at less than 50% I would say. Overall, it is mechanically sound. It took some time to get used the VERY small sights but managed to pull off a quarter-sized group at a close 5 yards off hand using Aguila 71gr.

Dreyse Model 1907 - c. 1907


Dreyse Model 1907 - c. 1907

Dreyse Model 1907 Pistol. 32 acp caliber overall condition is fine. Chips missing from both grips. crown proofs. Left side of frame above grips had some markings that were removed. Serial number 29100.

Rheinmetall had been producing their M1907 since 1907. The military had procured about 80,000 by 1918.

Colt Model 1908 Vest Pocket - c. 1912

Colt Model 1908 Vest Pocekt .25 ACP - c. 1912

This Colt Model N Standard Blued Variation have characteristics that include a high polished blued finish, early Type I black hard rubber stocks, full blued barrel, no rampant Colt present on rear of slide (16 slide serrations), sight groove on top of slide has transverse lines, and slide marking ending with Jan. 25 1910 patent date. The serian number dates this example to 1912 where only 20400 were made. Production ran from 1908 to 1948 with no production during WWII (1943-1945).

GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS

LENGTH OF BARREL: 2 inches
CAPACITY OF MAGAZINE: 6 Cartridges
LENGTH OVERALL: 4 1/2 inches
SIGHTS: Fixed.
STOCKS: Black Checkered Hard Rubber, Checked Walnut, Special Order Grip Materials
FINISH: Blued with case hardened trigger, slide lock safety and grip safety, Nickel, Special Order finishes.
WEIGHT: 13 Ounces

SPECIAL FEATURES
Grip especially well shaped for ladies' hands
Three safety features
Non-slipping checkered walnut stocks
Weight only thirteen ounces

German Mauser Model 1910 - c. 1919

Mauser Model 1919 - c. 1919

This example of the Mauser model 1910, 6.35mm (25 ACP), is Portuguese Contract as denoted by an encircled triangle mark on the rear of the frame below the serial number. It has the Mauser banner with seven serations on the rear of the slide. They command a higher premium usually priced in the $600 range in very good+ condition.

Portugal was always a good customer of German made F/Arms. In Roy Pender's, Mauser Pocket Pistols 1910-1946, pg. 64, he states "The observed serials indicate that Portugal purchased pistols from the beginning of the postwar commercial production and continued to do so for 7 or 8 years. No 7.65mm pistols have been observed with the Portuguese marking." He then lists 10 S/N's intermittently ranging from #207286 to #331238.

In John LaCroix's, AutoMag, Vol. XXXII-Issue 3 (6/'99), pg. 51 expands the range of examples found with "Triangle in a Circle" rear frame marking to 150876 (Frame #37068) to 374792(Frame #[1]94466). However he continues with the observation "Based on their features, characteristics, Frame#'s & Sm Parts S/N enumeration, pistols in the S/N range 150000 thru 156000 appear to have been produced concurrent w/ pistols in the S/N range 205000 thru 223xxx. This was contemporary to the first four S/N's in Pender's list."

German Mauser Model 1914 - c. 1927

Mauser Model 1914 - c. Post WWI

Mauser model 1914, 7.65mm (32 ACP) approx 85% nice orginial blue, grips are excellent, bore is bright and shiny. Shoots excellent, doesen't load once and awhile, I think it is the wrong clip bottom of the clip is not marked Mauser, so I don't think it is the orginial clip. Other than that the gun is 100%.

Serial numbers between 200,000 and 403,000 have dates of manufacture between 1919 and 1934. The latter figures include 1914 models in both 6.35mm and the larger 7.65mm (.32 ACP), added to Mauser's pocketpistol offerings in July 1914.

Mauser was also in production of the M1914 when WW1 started. By 1918 the military had procured over 100,000 of these pistols.

65418 - 1916
68737 - 1916
105021 - 1917
107179 - 1917
140028 - 1918 (very early)
159608 - 1918
185000 - 1918 (highest)
223683 - 1920
231000 - 1921 (lowest)
261925 - 1922
262393 - 1922
289534 - 1923
318005 - 1924
342528 - 1925
356794 - 1926 (early)
379623 - 1926
385649 - 1927 (mine!)
407142 - 1928 (early)
428120 - 1928
466221 - 1930
490298 - 1933 (early)
554730 - 1938
556275 - 1938
574351 - 1939

Russian Nagant Model 1895 Revolver - c. 1916


Nagant M1895 Tula PTG - c. 1916

Complete set up, Nagant pistol , tula arsonal dated 1916 ( Peter the greats marks were scrubbed over on the frame of the pistol, after the Civil War). The riflings are crisp and square with a bright and shiny bore. The bluing condition is rearsonaled excelent 95%.

Hungarian Fegyvergyar Frommer Stop Model 1920 - c. 1920


FEG Hungarian Frommer Stop - c. 1920

Hungarian Frommer Stop pistol, caliber .32 ACP (7.65mm). Manufactured at the Fegyvergyar factory in Budapest. Hungarian military proof mark on the trigger guard. Proof mark and serial number date this gun to early 1920's. Original finish, and nice original wood grips. Magazine is correct Frommer mag, but has been refinished.

An order was also placed with Fegyvergyar in Budapest, Hungary, for the M1912 Frommer Stop. The first production received both the Crown B and a smaller Crown D acceptance stamp on the trigger guard. The rest of the order had just the Crown D stamp.

Original service pistols mostly chambered the 7.65 Frommer cartridge (7.65mm acp loaded hot), some chambered the 9mm Frommer cartridge (.380 acp loaded hot) and always bear an official acceptance mark on the left front side of the trigger guard: `Bp` (for Budapest), followed by the Austro-Hungarian or Hungarian crest and the last two figures of the year of manufacture. The grips are marked "FS".Left side markings: FEGYVERGYAR - BUDAPEST - FROMMER - PAT. STOP CAL.7.65m/m (.32).

Manufactured by Femaru-Fegyver es Gepgyar (FEG) in Budapest, the Frommer STOP (right) is an interesting oddity, being a long-recoil handgun in a caliber which really doesn't require such a stout system.

Designed by Rudolf Frommer, the S.T.O.P. was originally developed in a 7.65, but don't mistake that 7.65 for a standard .32acp. It's original design was adopted as the Pisztoly 12M during 1912 for the Honved -- Hungary's contribution to the Austro-Hungarian Empire's reserve forces. In various forms, they were manufactured and used in the Hungarian Armed Forces from 1912 until 1945. There were some Pisztoly 12Ms produced in 9mm short (.380) caliber during World War I, however, the vast majority of production was in the 7.65 cal. Here again, what has been identified as 9mm kurz calibre by some authorities is somewhat misleading. The Frommers actually utilized "proprietary" cartridges very similar to the .32 and the 9kurz. Similar, however, ain't "The Same."

According to a note from Peter Stadlmaier, a collector from Vienna, "Its original caliber was not .32acp or 9mm short, it was 7,65mm Frommer and 9mm Frommer. They have the same size like .32acp/9mm short but the shell is crimped and they are "hot" loaded. Thats why an unmodified Frommer Stop will not work correct with modern ammo." the 7.65 slug was similar in construction. There is a slight "crimp" in the case at the point where the base of the bullet sits within the case.

Production of the second "S.T.O.P." variant began in 1919 and was exclusively in the 7.65Frommer caliber. They are marked FEGYVERGYAR - BUDAPEST * FROMMER - PAT. STOP. CAL. 7.65m/m (.32).

The S.T.O.P. Pisztoly 19M was also adopted and used as the official Hungarian Army sidearm and continued in production until 1939.

The final variant of the STOP, the Pisztoly 39M was in 9mm short (.380) caliber but was not adopted as a service pistol.

What makes the STOP a rather odd duck is the design of the complex long-recoil system. Unlike most semi-automatic pistols, the "slide" doesn't slide. As a matter of fact, there really is no slide. The bolt body is connected to a long recoil rod at the rear breech-block. Upon firing, the recoil spring forces the bold body (firing pin, extractor and all) backward until the ejection-port is clear. Thereupon, the ejector throws the spent shell and a new round is chambered. The solid, slideless barrel topped by a smaller cylinder for the recoil rod.

The STOP is an accurate weapon, however the sights are extremely small. The small sights and the slight caliber make these more of a point-and-shoot, close-quarter defensive pistol as opposed to a readily-targeted competition shooter.

The STOP has a length of almost 7 inches (165mm) with a 4-groove right-twist barrel of not quite 4 inches (95mm). It weighs a bit over 1.5 lb. (0.61kg) empty. The magazine is a 7-round detachable box. The 7.65mm (.32cal) develops a muzzle velocity of approximately 920fps.

Czech Model CZ-24 - c. 1937


Czech Model CZ-24 - c. 1937

CZ 24 pistol-380 semi auto"J37"proofed. Lanyard ring on mag release. Blue thinning on slide, front strap and edges. Rates at 80%. Cal .380 SER# 1305XX. No import marks. Nice bright bore. Frame and slide match,the mag is unmarked. No other numbers on gun.

Czech Model 1938 - c. 1939



Here is a very nice example of an all original Czech Model 38 semi auto pistol. This example, as with most Czech pistols, is of very good quality and well made. It is cartridged also in 9mm short or .380 caliber. This gun is in very good plus condition the matching serial numbers on the slide and receiver. I would have to say the bluing is 90% or better with very little bluing wear. The bore is a mirror perfect. This gun is single action only and is blowback operated. The grips, while they show use, are not damaged in any way with no cracks or chips. This gun has been in a single collection for many years and this one is one of the nicer ones I have seen.

Spanish Astra Model BDD/43 - c. 1943


Astra Model 600/43 - c. 1943

The Spanish Astra is pretty popular in some circles. My example is a good one with a little light rust. It as an Astra 600/43 in 9mm parabellum. The land and grooves are fine and the bore is good.

Astra, in Spain, was producing several models of auto pistols for the commercial market. The Astra 300 was a small pistol made in both .32 acp & .380 acp. Between October 1941 & July 1944 Germany bought 63,000 of the .380 pistols & 22,390 of the .32 acp ones. The .380 chambered pistols have a German acceptance stamp but the .32 acp ones don’t. The Astra records list the S/Ns shipped to Germany & that is the only way to identify a German procured .32 acp Astra 300.

Spain had adopted the Astra 400 as the M1921 for their military. Even though it is chambered for the non standard 9X23 Largo Germany bought 6,000 Astra 400s for the army. None have a German acceptance stamp. Astra records show that they were all in the 92851 to 98850 S/N range.

At the request of the German military, who wanted a smaller pistol than the Astra 400 in 9X19, Astra designed their Model 600 in 1943. Between the 16th of May & 16th of July, 1944, 10,540 Astra 600 pistols were delivered to the German military across the Spanish/French border. Another 28,000 had been purchased but the allied advance in France prevented their delivery. Only the first 10,540 have German acceptance stamps.

This particular example is a post-war West German police issue. Only up to serial number 10,500 made it into the Nazi hands, the rest of the Astra 600 contract sat in a Spanish arsenal until the early 1950s when they were sold to the West German police.

Spanish Llama Model I - c. 1943

Llama Model I - c. 1943

Nazi World War Two commercial contract Spanish Gabilondo Y Cia "Llama" Model I semi-auto pistol. Imported to Nazi Germany during the World War Two by Gustav Genschow AG in Hamburg, and accordingly marked on the left side of the frame "GECO". These pistols were made available for purchase by military personnel and by civil servants, especially Germans working in occupied territories. Manufactured by GABILONDO Y CIA, ELGOIBAR (ESPANA) in 1943, and accordingly marked on the left side of the slide and frame (Spanish date code). The caliber is stamped just below the maker's name, "CAL 7.65M/M (32) "LLAMA"". LLama Model I was a blowback pistol based on Browning designs and was introduced in 1933.

This example is in good condition...mechanically sound, good bore, markings aren't that crisp but are readable. The magazine appears original based on consistent finish.

Cal.7.65mm
GABILONDO Y CIA, ELGOIBAR (ESPANA) CAL 7.65M/M (32) "LLAMA"GECO
Late Eibar Automatic Pistol Proof
Late Eibar House Proof
Ñ 1943 Spanish Date Code
GC for GABILONDO Y CIA Manufacturer

Belgium Fabrique Nationale Model 1922 - c. 1940


FN Model 1922 - c. 1940

Nazi-marked gun. Shows overall finish wear. The FN M1922 pistol was a modified M1910 Browning. The barrel was lengthened and an extension put on the end of the slide to bring it to the same length. In addition the grip was extended to accommodate a longer magazine holding 9 rounds of .32 acp instead of the 7 used in the M1910. After the German invasion around 3200 sets of parts were found in the FN plant that were in .380 acp. These were finished by the Germans and issued with acceptance stamps. This example has WaA140 for Fabrique Nationale d'armes de guerre (F.N.), Lüttich (Liège), Belgien (ch) indicating late 1941-1944. The parts for the .32 acp version were used up and new production undertaken. By September, 1944, about 363,000 M1922 pistols were accepted by the German military.

Czech Model CZ-27 - c. 1944


Czech Model CZ-27 - c. 1944

This CZ27 is in good condition with eagle stamped on barrel and on top of the slide. Also, there is a faint Nazi Waffenamt stamped on the frame, WaA 76, above the grip on the right side. Left side of the slide is marked, fnh Pistole Modell 27 Kal. 7.65. Correct Nazi marked eight shot magazine marked, P. Mod. 27. Original military brown plastic grips with crips CZ logo. All matching serial numbers.

By March, 1939, Germany had annexed most of Czechoslovakia. The CZ27 pistol, although never adopted by the Czech military, had been in commercial production since 1927. The Germans kept the CZ27 in production until the end of the war. A total of about 455,000 pistols were procured.

The Vz 27 is a Czech semi-automatic postol based on the Vz 24 and chambered for 7.65 Browning / .32 ACP. It is often and incorrectly known as the CZ 27, after the naming scheme used by the Ceska Zbrojovka factory for post-WWII commercial products. However, it is correctly known as Vz 27, an abbreviation of the Czech "Vzor 27", or "Model 27". After the German occupation of Czechoslovakia in 1938 the pistol was folded into the German armed and police forces as the P27. Construction of the pistol continued in Czechoslovakia until the 1950s. Allegedly, the Czech military sold five and a half thousand surplus Vz 27s to the Swiss in 1973 for half a million marks.

The CZ27 was an excellent police and military firearm designed by Ceska Zbrojovka in 1927. It was sufficiently well-thought-of that it was ordered kept in military production by the Germans during their World War II occupation of Czechoslovakia. While the Germans ordered no mechanical changes to these firearms, the occupation pistols can be identified by the initials ''fnh'' stamped on the left slide as well as the presence of German military ''waffenamt'' or military acceptance markings.

In full, the slide stamp of the more highly sought-after German Occupation models will read fnh Pistole Modell 27 Kal. 7.65. This military .32cal was produced beginning in 1927 and ceased production in 1950. It was phased out of service to be replaced by the CZ52 as the Czech standard service sidearm.

Argentine Colt Sistema 1911 M27 - c. 1952



Manufactured under Colt license in Argentina from 1927 until around 1960, these guns are rugged and exactly interchangeable with other government models, unlike Ballester-Molinas which also come from Argentina. Along the left side of the Sistema’s slide you will find a row of letters: “D.G.F.M. (F.M.A.P.).” These stand for Direccion General de Fabricaciones Militares (Fabric Militar de Armas Portatiles). On the right side is “SIST. COLT 11.25 mm MOD. 1927.

After obtaining a license for the production of the Colt Model 1927 pistol from Colt, manufacture of the Sistema Colt Modelo 1927 was undertaken at the Military Small Arms Factory in Rosario, Argentina. Manufacture is believed to have started in March 1945 and deliveries shortly thereafter. The Sistema is a carbon copy of the Colt Government Model/M1911A1, with complete interchangeability of parts.

Mechanism Type: Recoil Operated Semiautomatic

Caliber: .45 ACP

Weight: 2.43"

Barrel Length: 5 in. (127mm)

Overall Length: 8.62"

Magazine Capacity: 7 rounds

Sights: Blade front, V notch rear drift adjustable for windage

Rifling: 4 grooves, .005 in (.127 mm) deep and .165 in (4.19 mm) wide, right twist, one turn in 9.84" (249.9 mm)

Markings: Manufacture markings on left side of slide, model, ownership and caliber markings on right of slide and frame. Argentine coat of arms and owning service on right side of slide. Serial numbers on top of slide, right side of frame, right side of slide.

In my example, the internal workings are surprisingly good, with a good bore though weak rifling, and no significant pitting overall. What's more, it is matching in frame, slide and barrell. The magazine, unfortunately, does not match. There are no cracks on the original black hard rubbers grips but the left is worn. The slide stop, hammer, grip safety, trigger and saftey lock retains some blue along with areas of the frame. Other areas have patinaed. There is a very obtrusive R.S.A. import mark. It chambers and extracts rounds just fine and the slide to frame fit is tight. And there is a very crisp Argentine crest and other markings.

Numbers Produced at FMAP Rosario with Serial Numbers between years 1945-1966:

1945 - 6,000 - #24,001 - #30,000
1946 - 7,628 - #30,001 - #37,628
1947 - 5,000 - #37,629 - #42,628
1948 - 7,000 - #42,629 - #49,628
1949 - 5,000 - #49,629 - #54,628
1950 - 8,000 - #54,629 - #62,628
1951 - 8,011 - #62,629 - #70,639
1952 - 7,016 - #70,640 - #77,655 (mine!)
1953 - 2,500 - #77,656 - #80,155
1954 - 5,000 - #80,156 - #85,155
1955 - 2,500 - #85,156 - #87,655
1956 - 2,500 - #87,656 - #90,155
1957 - 5,626 - #90,156 - #95,781
1958 - 5,547 - #95,782 - #101,328
1959 - 5,000 - #101,329 - #106,328
1960 - 2,066 - #106,329 - #108,394
1961 - 1,000 - #108,395 - #109,394
1962 - 0
1963 - 600 - #109395 - #109,994
1964 - 750 - #109,995 - #110,744
1965 - 1,250 - #110,745 - #111,994
1966 - 500 - #111,995 - #112,494

I grabbed a box of the cheapest .45ACP ammo I had...Winchester 230 gr. FMJ target/range 100 round value pack from Walmart. I loaded one round into the magazine that came with the pistol and immediately experienced a failure to feed. I replaced the magazine with a GI 7 round magazine and surprisingly out of 99 rounds left I had NO FTFs and FTEs. Very pleased! The spents were ejecting pretty consistently back and to the right though a few landed on my head. The pics show the best I could do at only 7 and 10 yards respectively. More me than the pistol IMO.

Chinese Norinco Model 213 - c. 1990?


Chinese Norinco Model 213 - c. 1960

Here's a short history lesson on the Norinco M213's evolution.

TT-30 - Russian, 7.62X25, Tula, military, TT-30 (1933 some 1934) grips have very little clearance at the lanyard ring, sometime you will even see mold markings(about 4) on the face side of the grips, usually about about 11 vertical lines cut into the grips

TT-33 - Russian, 7.62X25, Tula, military, TT-33 (1934-1938) grips design changed to provide more clearance at the lanyard ring, have about 12 vertical lines cut in the grips, TT-33 (1938-1945) Same as above but, even more clearance space was added between the lanyard ring and the grip-plate, Izhevsk (c. 1945) has the checkerd hard rubber grips (common on very late war guns) with about 100,000 made that year

All pre-war and WW2 grips are made of black hard-rubber(composition). All with a framed circle with a five pointed star and the letters CCCP located in the center, all are secured to the frame with spring steel clips that pivot on a rivet

Post War - Made of black plastic, with about 12-13 vertical lines, some with logo's and some without based on the country (Chinese & Polish have both depending on year of mfg.)

Fakes - I dont think their are many fakes, I think you might find NEW manufactured replacements grips currently being made, they generally will be made of average quality, perhaps made in China

TT-48 - Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary produced, military, police

TT-54 - China, 9mm Luger, no frame safety, thin slots for gripping the slide doing away with the wide slots of the TT-33, added the wrap around barrel lugs the TT-33, military, Factory 66TT-54-1 - China, 7.62X25, typically no frame safety (some do have), military, Factory 66Model

Model 58 (Tokagypt) - Hungarian export to the Egyptian National Police, sear block safety added, wrap around grips added, 9mm Luger, Factory 99

Model 213 - China export to the US, a modified TT-54 with added sear block safety, blocked magazine well, short magazines, Norinco, Factory 66, 9mm Luger, commercial

Model 213-B - China export to the US, same as Model 213 but with the wrap-around grips, Norinco, Factory 66, 9mm Luger, commercial

TU-90 - Chinese made copies of the Tokagypt, basically a 9mm caliber Tokarev copy with wrap around plastic grips and added safety, the Chinese built them for Navy Arms which was the sole importer, made in 7.62x25 and 9mm

Norinco makes two types of clips...a narrow 213a 1-1/4" wide where there is a spacer in the pistol frame and the other is a 213b that is 1-1/2 wide with a spacer in the clip.

General rule of thumb for T54 dating - can be dated by serial number with anything under 1 million is 1954, under 2 million 1955, and each million addition is another year so that my 20 million series is 1975 for example. Also, 1954+13xxxxxx-1=1966 as example.