Author Topic: Yugo M57 Tokarev Pistol (Read 13128 times)

Avyctes · « **on:** February 08, 2011, 09:07:01 AM »

I'm going to order one of these, and just wanted to share that in researching them, I found that Widener's has these, same price as J&G, but they describe them as 'excellent', and the photo of the holster is much more promising than the photo J&G shows of their holsters. They come with identical accessories and magazines as they do from J&G. Also, if you order 4 or more, they offer free shipping. Me and some other C&R buddies here at work are going in together to order five of these to take advantage of both the described condition and the free shipping. I'll have exactly $199 in it. I'll post back in a couple of weeks when I get them with info and photos.

Has anyone else ordered one of these from Widener's of Johnson City, TN? The web address is:

http://www.wideners.com

skiforce · « **Reply #1 on:** February 09, 2011, 03:11:58 AM »

I'm dying here $:-\$ . I am waiting for my C&R to come in the mail, hoping that Wideners does not run out of these, and you are ordering 5 if them. Sucks to be me. I hope you get some good ones. Let us know how they are. I would love to see pics of all of them to get an idea of what an average one looks like. I have never liked the look of these guns prior to the yugo. I let the SKS Yugos go when they were under a c-note...I do not want the same to happen to these.

threepdr · « **Reply #2 on:** February 09, 2011, 06:23:52 AM »

I got one from SOG about a year ago when they had them on sale for $189. Looks like they are drying up now. Mine was in excellent condition. Much nicer fit and finish than my Romanian TT-33, and feels much better in the hand with the longer grip. The holster was used, but in decent shape. I'm happy I got one while they are still availible.

Now I'm looking for a Zastava M70. Should of bought one of those when SOG had them.

Hodr · « **Reply #3 on:** February 09, 2011, 07:19:07 AM »

I live close enough to drive to J&G. I went over and bought a Yugo m57 Tokarev out of a random three ($199) and 2 70 rd boxes of milsurp ammo. Went home and cleaned out cosmoline with clothes steamer and WD 40, took off addon safety, then down to range. 140 rds later, accurate but loud, with no failure I went back to J&G. Picked another gun out of three offered and bought 3 milsurp 1240 rd tins of ammo. Back home, more cleaning, removed safety and down to range. I have fired over 500 rds so far with no failure. This is a pistol I worked on when an Army armorer in Germany back in the 60s when training on Warsaw pact weapons.
1 2 Tokarev M57 pistols
2 4 magazines These are not interchangeble with other Tokarevs
3 2 serviceable leather holsters
4 3920 rds milsurp ammo
$716 total price, tax included
Think about it.

I have 2 battle proven pistols, 4 magazines, two holsters, and almost 4000 rds of ammo for less than the price ($960) of 4000 rds of bulk pack 38 special. I intend to buy another 2 tins and should have a lifetime supply.
OpinionPro:
Reliable as a baseball bat, rugged, accurate, extreme ease of field maintenence, does not seem to mind, mud, snow, dust, dirt, price, price price, and my brother in law does not own one yet.
Opinion Con:
Magazines do not interchange with other Tokarev, LOUD, nightime flame thrower, can de fired if dropped just right without add on safety, Brother in law is coming to town with cash and is headed to J&G.

Hodr

ps I may have to see if I can't somehow get this rd, 7.62x25 chambered for a handirifle. It is tough to own something that works that my brother in law does not already own.

Avyctes · « **Reply #4 on:** February 09, 2011, 08:40:22 AM »

Skiforce,

I'm only ordering one for myself. The other four I'm ordering are going to other guys. One of them is ordering two. But, at this price, if I could order five and put four up for an investment, I would.

As far as the magazines go, from what I've read you can use the Yugo mags in other Tokarevs, but the Yugo will only accept it's own magazine. If you use a Yugo mag in a Romanian for instance, it would simply hang out of the bottom below the grip due to the extra length. The mag catch is at the top. But it would look dorky.

I hope Widener's doesn't run out of these either. I have to wait a week before I can call and hopefully they have my license on file by then. I had already sent it to J&G (I just renewed recently and am still mailing them out), but hadn't sent Wideners one. They really don't have a huge selection of firearms, but they got M57s.

skiforce · « **Reply #5 on:** February 09, 2011, 04:07:10 PM »

Quote from: Avyctes on February 09, 2011, 08:40:22 AM

Skiforce,

I'm only ordering one for myself. The other four I'm ordering are going to other guys. One of them is ordering two.

I am not saying that you are hording. I am just super jealous. Plus, the USAF has me in Korea until October so once I do finally get it ordered, it will sit in a box in my gun room in the states until then. So the wait for my C&R FFL is actually the short one.

Avyctes · « **Reply #6 on:** February 10, 2011, 02:47:51 AM »

Well I hope they have them for awhile and you end up with one.

But since you're in Korea maybe you could get a handful of those M1 Garands and M1 Carbines! Thanks to Hillary they won't let them back in the states.

Do you not have any gun buddies you could get to order you one of the M57s stateside and keep it for you? I know lots of dudes with C&Rs, FFLs, just plain gun lovers, etc. If I were in your position I'd just get one of them to order it for me till I could get back home.

1911crazy · « **Reply #7 on:** February 10, 2011, 03:46:08 AM »

I got one lastyear from J&G sales and its unissued, brand spanking new looking. I'm happy with what they sent me. Either way don't miss out on this great awesome buy right now.

slick willy and hillaridairy sure put the kabosh on the imported guns for us yet the cigar dipping bastard lied to us and got away with it. Yet we went after Nixon right?. The killons started with the norico imports first. I have no respect for them nor there policies. She tired to sneak in NY just to run for the white house, so did kennedy's daughter too, while the terminator tried to change the laws here to run for the white house too. The bootlegger rein of the kennedy's havinga hold on this country is all over. Uncle Ted can't give you a ride home anymore. We have lost the so called american loyalty i say screw them anyhoo. let us not forget who they were and where they came from and got there riches even today those bootleggers. There a lower cal,l of people anyway. I do respect the southern white lightening guys for sure. Its these northern yankee imitation bootleggers that suck, the wannabee's. Canada still imports them.

Sorry for the rant but it pisses me off that the honest gun owner in this great country of ours have lost the right to own the chinese norinco guns plus we can't import back the american owned, leand lease guns too. These are and were paid by us taxpayers and we loaned then out and can't have them back thats totally BS. Think about it. I need to run for politics and kick the @ss of all the seat warmers afterall they only argue amongst themselves and do nothing for us.

Avyctes · « **Reply #8 on:** February 10, 2011, 07:55:18 AM »

I agree with the rant. I was really hoping to see those M1s come home. I've got 2 M1 rifles from CMP and would love another opportunity to buy an Inland carbine. My recently passed grandma worked for the Inland Div. for 30+ years. I just want to see CMP flush with Garands and carbines and 03's and 17s again. I need a 03 and a 17 to finish out my US service rifles collection, and a Krag perhaps.

But back to your rant; the liberal party will never see passed the end of their nose on this gun issue. To ban SVTs they used the excuse that there is no 'sporting' purpose for such rifles. Pah, the Constitution doesn't mention anything about sporting requirements for any firearm, so why these? It's just an example of how they come up with any excuse to prevent something like this from entering the country. Hillary's excuse of M1 Garands and Carbines being high capacity assault rifles that could end up in the hands of criminals is so utterly beyond realism that I wonder what kind of social drug she is smoking half the time. What criminal is going to pay $500 for a 65 year old carbine when he can buy a brand new AK for $350? So you won't be left wondering I'll tell ya - none.

1911crazy · « **Reply #9 on:** February 11, 2011, 04:16:43 PM »

I recently read there going to ban the saiga 12 shotgun because there is no sporting reason for it. I guess the saiga rifles will be next. My local dealer still has the 308win saiga rifles for just $450. I see on the net there hitting $650+ for the orginal condition saiga sporting rifle. Some are hitting $750 too and i'm not sure why? Maybe i should buy the $450 ones and put them away for a few years to see where the prices are going. My first saiga's in 308win were only $307 OTD tax and all. I think the normal going rate is $500 right now. They seem to throw an after market 15rd mag on the used ones and they go up $200.

It looks to me they maybe cracking down on these so called sporting rifles. I did take my svt-40 out hunting with the barnaul 7,62x54r 203gr sp bullets once. I have heard about the boat load of svt-40's wanting to arrive here too. Well never see those i'm sure. I don't have any american surplus stuff yet because of the over pricing. Maybe someday as i get my last military surplus stuff i'll get some who knows. But right now the imported surplus military stuff is keeping me busy and content. CZY

So now there unloading the sporting rifle crap on us. We can hunt with any surplus military rifle. We can even hunt with a belt fed 30cal browning with 5rds in it right? Its silly but it can be done legally.

Avyctes · « **Reply #10 on:** February 15, 2011, 08:52:55 AM »

Four m57s are on their way from Widener's. The tech on the phone said they are excellent and had no doubt I'd be tickled with them. I'm very anxious to see them. I'll post photos of the guns and holsters.

Hodr · « **Reply #11 on:** February 15, 2011, 02:28:04 PM »

The best cleaner for the cosmoline, a combination of wax and naptha, seems to be live steam to melt and WD40 to lift water and dissolve last hard deposits. This stuff can be toxic, wear gloves and plenty of ventilation. Google "The nagant man" and he gives a video on stripping this gun down to basics. If they are for speculation, not shooting, seperate magazines and gun from leather and leave them alonebut you are going to have to learn to live with the smell.

Hodr

GreyRotten · « **Reply #12 on:** February 18, 2011, 06:42:31 PM »

If they are anything like the one I got from them, a couple of weeks ago, you are truly going to be pleased. The one I have received is BRAND NEW, and I have since ordered another. Compared to the one I got from JG last year there is no comparison. This, from Winders, is again BRAND NEW. They also have a great deal on the CZ82, got one of those too. I was out shooting the JG Zastava today and I'm now thinking I will not shoot at least one of the Winders ones, at least the one I already have in hand. They have had a problem with labeling shipments and things are running behind. Hope it shows up soon. I'm not hording, I will sell the JG one or give it to Son in Laws. I, for now, love to go shooting it and CZ52 as I have been reloading for accuracy for the both (that is a whole nother story). You get the right size pill in them and they will shoot right along (probably outshoot) with any firearm (pistol) made, that is comparable in barrel length etc. You and your buddys enjoy your new toys.

GreyRotten · « **Reply #13 on:** February 18, 2011, 06:48:30 PM »

Oh, I forgot to add for the rest of you following this, shipping was only $15 to my door. And, SOG has the Romanian ones for cheaper $189.95. I wonder what they are like?

skiforce · « **Reply #14 on:** February 18, 2011, 10:26:16 PM »

Quote from: GreyRotten on February 18, 2011, 06:42:31 PM

They also have a great deal on the CZ82, got one of those too.

They had a great deal on the 82. They just sold out yesterday.

Guess I have to get one from somewhere else...

Avyctes · « **Reply #15 on:** February 21, 2011, 01:50:53 AM »

I forgot to mention that Widener's told me their CZ82s were sold out. When I told them I wanted to order a handgun, the tech real quickly asked 'Which one!?', then when I said the Yugo, she was like 'Ah, good, we still got those, but we just sold out of the CZ82s'.

1911crazy · « **Reply #16 on:** February 21, 2011, 06:25:20 AM »

Christmas is over and the cost of the holidays isw paid off now with most of us. So its time to shop again. This is why were seeing this stuff running out. If you want it you better jump on itsoon before they run out and the prices go up on gunbay(GUNSAMERICA/GUNBROKER/AUCTIONARMS). Heck we see them already there at much higher prices already.

Avyctes · « **Reply #17 on:** February 21, 2011, 07:51:13 AM »

When these come in, I'll have a Romanian and a Yugoslavian Tokarev. Need a Soviet, Chinese and a Polish to round it out

GreyRotten · « **Reply #18 on:** February 21, 2011, 09:53:40 AM »

Quote from: GreyRotten on February 18, 2011, 06:42:31 PM

If they are anything like the one I got from them, a couple of weeks ago, you are truly going to be pleased. The one I have received is BRAND NEW, and I have since ordered another. Compared to the one I got from JG last year there is no comparison. This, from Winders, is again BRAND NEW. They also have a great deal on the CZ82, got one of those too. I was out shooting the JG Zastava today and I'm now thinking I will not shoot at least one of the Winders ones, at least the one I already have in hand. They have had a problem with labeling shipments and things are running behind. Hope it shows up soon. I'm not hording, I will sell the JG one or give it to Son in Laws. I, for now, love to go shooting it and CZ52 as I have been reloading for accuracy for the both (that is a whole nother story). You get the right size pill in them and they will shoot right along (probably outshoot) with any firearm (pistol) made, that is comparable in barrel length etc. You and your buddys enjoy your new toys.

Got the second one, and it is almost as nice as the one I got a couple of weeks ago. They are both NEW (not some arsenal refinish, but new). I'm a happy camper. I think I will get one of the Romanian ones from SOG, because I want it.

Mikey · « **Reply #19 on:** February 21, 2011, 02:00:06 PM »

GreyRotten: Gun Tests magazine recently compared the Yugo M57 to the Romanian made Tok and the Yugo came out way ahead. It didn't seem that the Romanian was at all well made and there was a problem with peening on the frame, I believe. I think the article is worth reading if you can access it. I think that if I were to purchase another trokarev it would be a Yugo pistol.

GreyRotten · « **Reply #20 on:** February 21, 2011, 03:14:17 PM »

Quote from: Mikey on February 21, 2011, 02:00:06 PM

GreyRotten: Gun Tests magazine recently compared the Yugo M57 to the Romanian made Tok and the Yugo came out way ahead. It didn't seem that the Romanian was at all well made and there was a problem with peening on the frame, I believe. I think the article is worth reading if you can access it. I think that if I were to purchase another trokarev it would be a Yugo pistol.

Mikey, thanks. I will definitely check it out. They need to be serviceable pieces. I know from experience the Yugo is.

Avyctes · « **Reply #21 on:** February 24, 2011, 02:39:00 AM »

Ok, I promised photographs of these when they arrived, and they arrived. First here's some textual description.

The guns: 3 of the 4 look fantastic while one exhibits probably 25% finish loss. Not high gloss loss (as in lots of bare metal), but the finish just appears very thin, especially on the gripstraps.

The holsters: 1 was unissued, 2 were in good but obviously used condition with some molding, and the fourth was pretty rough (the one with the magazine pouch that looks mangled).

The magazines: The magazines and cleaning rod came wrapped in newspaper with 2 mags and 1 rod per wrapping. The magazines were mostly new appearing with the exception of 2 which exhibited heavy finish loss along the back strap of the magazine. Over all nice magazines.

Cosmoline: As Widener's description says, these are very heavily coated in cosmoline. The cosmoline on the magazines was so thick with it they were actually tearing the newspaper apart on a couple of the wrapped up bundles where it was sticking to them so bad. Be prepared for some detailed cleaning with some mineral spirits or some such.

Over all happy with them, but expected nicer holsters, and wasn't expecting the one with all the finish loss from the description on Widener's web site, which describes them as 'excellent'. In my book, 'excellent' wouldn't exhibit this much finish loss, but that's just me.

Now for some photos.

Avyctes · « **Reply #22 on:** February 28, 2011, 04:54:34 AM »

Worked on these some this weekend. One guy reports that his cleaned up fantastic, and functions flawlessly. Of the magazines I've cleaned (four so far), one would only hold 8 rounds. I've cleaned one pistol so far, and it cleaned up really nice and seems to function fine, but haven't fired yet. It does exhibit some minor scratches and dings, nothing major. I'll add more info as I get it.

Over all these seem to be very nice pistols, but in ordering four of them and getting varying conditions I think I've demonstrated that these are still surplus pistols, and prone to show their age and wear. Not too concerned over the magazine problem. I marked an '8' on the bottom of it with a white out pen (same white out pen I use to label my ammo cans).

Now, if anyone out there is interested, a buddy of mine found this fella making new Yugo M57 magazines. I'll post the link in case anyone wants a spare. As the original magazines sell for about $70-$90, at $28.95 these sound pretty attractive. US made to boot.

http://www.ccsportingarms.com/category.sc;jsessionid=418CBCAFED2C737AB0D83D310F3BB86C.qscstrfrnt02?categoryId=14 ?

Avyctes · « **Reply #23 on:** March 03, 2011, 03:42:23 AM »

Well I ended up pairing the worse looking pistol with the worse looking holster, and have been working on these the last couple of days. I'll have to post more photos when I'm done.

I ended up re-blueing the front and rear grip straps on this one (the one with all the finish loss), and blending with the original finish which I had left alone. Turned out really good. It now looks as good as the other pistols do finish-wise.

The holster was the worse condition of the four. I got a sink full of scalding hot soapy water (used shampoo, all I had on hand!), and went at it with a pair of rubber gloves and a old wash cloth. Boy did she clean up! As to the mangled mag pouch and flap and closure strap, they're all ironing out fine. I started out by drying with a towel, wrapped a mag and the gun with cellophane and inserted back into the holster to reshape it, and just spent all evening off and on rubbing the holster with the dry cloth, working it. After it dries completely I'll go at it with some Rawling's glove oil to re-oil the leather to prevent it from becoming too dry and it should be a very nice set. After a couple days, when I can take the gun out and unwrap it, and get the holster oiled, I'll get some more photos. There is one area that has a patch of small wrinkles that I don't think will go away, but that's ok. I have salvaged a very trashed looking original m57 holster that most people would just cull and get a new one.

GreyRotten · « **Reply #24 on:** March 03, 2011, 03:57:50 AM »

Quote from: Avyctes on February 28, 2011, 04:54:34 AM

Now, if anyone out there is interested, a buddy of mine found this fella making new Yugo M57 magazines. I'll post the link in case anyone wants a spare. As the original magazines sell for about $70-$90, at $28.95 these sound pretty attractive. US made to boot.

http://www.ccsportingarms.com/category.sc;jsessionid=418CBCAFED2C737AB0D83D310F3BB86C.qscstrfrnt02?categoryId=14 ?

There is information (do a google search) on converting CZ52 mags for the Zastava. I have not done it yet, but the CZ mags are plentiful. All that is involved is cutting a notch for the mag release in the CZ mag. Gunbroker has new 52 mags if you want to go that way. Just an FYI

Avyctes · « **Reply #25 on:** March 03, 2011, 04:23:37 AM »

For me that would be a last ditch kind of solution. This guy sells brand new US made mags for $28.95, and you just get them and use them without having to do any kind of conversion.

I may have to compare a CZ52 mag tho', for curiosity sake, to a yugo mag, and see how they look side by side. Curious about the over all dimensions.

GreyRotten · « **Reply #26 on:** March 03, 2011, 09:05:56 AM »

Quote from: Avyctes on March 03, 2011, 04:23:37 AM

I may have to compare a CZ52 mag tho', for curiosity sake, to a yugo mag, and see how they look side by side. Curious about the over all dimensions.

Must be very close as I was out shooting and mistakenly put the CZ mag in the M57 (of course it wasn't latched in but fit fine and shot fine until it fell out) CZ works with the mag with the notch cut in it, just fine. Also, I see a bunch on Auction Arms (CZ mags) , for around 20 bucks.

Avyctes · « **Reply #27 on:** March 04, 2011, 04:30:40 AM »

Yep, I verified it myself yesterday when I got home. I held a 52 and a 57 mag up side by side. Borderline identical but for the notch. Be another source of mags for these. Thanks for reminding me.

Chris.

Avyctes · « **Reply #28 on:** March 08, 2011, 09:07:58 AM »

Some photos of what was the worse looking handgun (the one with the finish loss) which I paired with the worse looking holster (the one I scrubbed and reshaped). The first 3 photos are of the holster drying after it was washed, and the last three are of the gun after touching up the blue and having oiled the cleaned and reshaped holster. The holster did not turn out perfect, it was just so crumpled it had developed some probably permanent wrinkles. Not sure, maybe steam would have taken them out. I really worked with it, this was the best I could do using the above described methods.

I have one left, my favorite, and the one I picked out for myself. After it's cleaned up I'll revisit this post and post images of it as well.

Note the handgun and magazine are still wrapped in saran wrap while the holster dries.

JRBEAR · « **Reply #29 on:** March 08, 2011, 12:47:52 PM »

I just got my M57 from Widener's and was bigtime disappointed in the holster I received.
The pistol & mags looked good but the cleaning rod was broken and the holster looked like it had spent time in a swamp somewhere. Beware if you are expecting a holster that looks "similar" to the one pictured on the web site. I e-mailed Wideners and this is what I was told "We are sorry that you are unhappy with the condition of the holster. All of the holsters are in similar condition to the one you received." If you are thinking of ordering be warned. Please see the attached pics of the holster I received. These pics were taken as soon as I got it out of the shipping box.