Rifleman Q&A: Soviet Tula-Korovin Pistol

russian.jpg

Q: Can you help confirm the manufacturing origin of a pistol I have? I believe it to be Russian-made, but other than that, I'm not sure what it is.

certificate

A: Your pistol is a Tula-Korovin, or TK, so named for its manufacturer and designer, respectively. The small circle on the left side of the frame, just above the front of the trigger guard, is the mark of the TO3 (pronounced TOZ) factory in Tula, Russia.

It is difficult to decipher, and I have attached a good photo of the mark. TOZ are the initials for Тула Оружные Завод (Tula Ororuzheiny Zavod), or Tula Small Arms factory.

The Tula-Korovin pistol is the first semi-automatic handgun designed and built in the Soviet Union. Sergei Aleksandrovich Korovin was an experienced engineer who had worked under John Moses Browning at the FN factory in Belgium.

In 1914, he left Belgium and returned to Russia, where he tried and failed to obtain a position at the Tula Arms Factory. Following the October Revolution and the emergence of the Soviet Union, Korovin was hired at the Tula factory and designed his first semi-automatic pistol by 1921.

The Tula-Korovin pistol was a single-action, blowback-operated handgun chambered initially in 7.65 mm Browning (.32 ACP). However, a 1923 test by the Soviet Artillery Committee determined the gun was too heavy and complex for military service.

In 1926, Korovin redesigned the gun to chamber the smaller 6.35 mm Browning (.25 ACP). This gun was still not adopted for official military service, but it saw use throughout the late 1920s and early 1930s as an officer's pistol, as well as a sidearm for agents of the infamous NKVD.

The Soviets produced the Tula-Korovin until 1935. By that point, the more powerful and well-known TT-33 had entered service.

Latest

Creedmoor Sports Multi-Caliber Bullet Comparator
Creedmoor Sports Multi-Caliber Bullet Comparator

Preview: Creedmoor Sports Multi-Caliber Bullet Comparator

When loading rounds tailored for a precision rifle, ensuring the bullet is loaded until it sits just off the lands is a crucial component of accuracy. Measuring this distance involves the use of a bullet comparator tool.

Mike Fuljenz Wins Highest Numismatic Honor

Prominent rare-coin and precious-metals dealer Michael Fuljenz of Beaumont, Texas, an NRA Golden Ring of Freedom member, is the 2023 recipient of the Chester L. Krause Distinguished Service Award—the highest honor bestowed by the congressionally chartered American Numismatic Ass’n, the largest organization of coin-collecting enthusiasts in the United States.

Colt's Rarest Clandestine Pistol?

According to advanced Colt collectors, only about 35 or so of the original 400 factory Colt 1911s chambered for .38 Super have surfaced in the United States postwar, with only about a dozen of those remaining in their issued condition with their original finish, and given that the war officially ended on August 14, 1945, and since the OSS was dissolved on October 1, 1945, it isn’t likely any of them were issued before the Armistice. 

New For 2023: Taurus 917C

Taurus is re-introducing a Beretta 92 clone in the form of its 917C, and this compact variant provides a "Commander-sized" option for fans of the DA/SA semi-automatic pistol.

Preview: Springfield Armory Hellcat Pro 17-Round Magazine

Springfield Armory’s Hellcat Pro is a slightly larger, yet still easily carried, version of its micro-compact Hellcat for personal defense, and the gun’s flush-fit magazine capacity was also increased to 15 rounds.

Gun Of The Week: Browning X-Bolt Target Max

Watch American Rifleman staff on the range this week to get a close look at an improved X-Bolt rifle from Browning. The Target Max is the latest iteration of the famed X-Bolt action, and it’s designed for long-range work, thanks to its Target Max customizable stock, adjustable trigger, bull barrel and more.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.