Russian Tokarevs had black plastic grips and a lanyard loop on the left side of the grip.  Unlike most self-loading pistols, Tokarevs had no manual safety.  The Tokarev design is very similar in outline to the Browning 1903 pistol, but mechanically the Tokarev is completely different.  This is the pistol that the Makarov PM replaced.

 

The Makarov story begins in 1945, when a request for proposals was issued for a new pistol  to replace the then-standard 7.62-mm Tokarev (TT-30 and TT-33) pistols.  The Tokarev TT was felt to be too heavy and lacking in dependability. The new pistol had to be either 7.65x17mmSR (7.65 Browning caliber) or in 9mm.  The new pistol was also to be more compact and lighter in weight, have greater accuracy and greater reliability than the TT pistol.  The new pistol had to retain the TT pistol’s stopping power.  A new 9.2x18mm pistol cartridge was similar in its characteristics to the 9mm Browning Short (9x17mm or .380 ACP) or German 9x18 Ultra (used by the Walther PP) for police use.

Russian Makarovs had brown plastic, one-piece grips and a lanyard loop on the left side of the grip.  Note the position of the safety; DOWN (fire), UP (safe).  [The hammer is cocked on this pistol.]

The trigger guard of the Makarov hinges down at the front to allow stripping of the pistol for maintenance.  All military Makarovs have fixed front and rear sights.  Barrels are chrome plated on the interiors to resist the effects of corrosive-primed ammunition.

The winning pistol was a 9mm designed by Nikolay F. Makarov from Tula. The gun was designated as PM (Pistolet Makarova or Makarov pistol) and adopted by the Soviet Army in 1951. The Izhevsky Mechanichesky Zavod began producing the PM in 1949 and continued it in production with few variations.  Nikolay Makarov designed a 7.65mm handgun in parallel with the 9mm pistol.  Although the 7.65mm pistol successfully passed all tests, it was turned down and preference was given to the 9mm version.

The pistol’s design was inspired by the popular Walther PP.  It is blowback operated and double-action.  That is, the pistol can be carried with the chamber loaded and with the safety UP (ON) and hammer down.  When drawn from its holster for firing, the safety is moved DOWN (FIRE) and the trigger pulled to cock the hammer and fire the first shot.  After the first shot, the slide re-cocks the hammer.  Magazine capacity is eight rounds, plus one round in the chamber for a total of nine.

Compared to the Tokarev TT, the Makarov PM has smaller overall dimensions and weight from the use of a new, shorter length cartridge.  Due to the larger caliber bullet, a Makarov delivers the same power as the TT.  The Makarov is more accurate than TT. The Makarov is simple in design, comfortable to operate, can be easily field-stripped and assembled without any additional tools.

The pistol is carried in a leather belt-type holster with a buttoned flap.  The flap protects the pistol and also keeps it from falling out of the holster. The holster has a pocket for a second magazine and provision for two carry straps. The standard Makarov holster is a traditional military design that was very common before World War 2.  The leather holster’s exterior finish is in either black or brown matte.

 For a 9mm handgun, Makarov is small and lightweight, easy to operate and highly reliable. The Makarov is very simple; it has only 25 parts.  Makarovs are also a standard firearm for law enforcement personnel.  While the standard holster was adequate for field use under combat conditions, it was ill-suited to police work.  Today, an assortment of holsters can be found for use with Makarovs.  These holsters were designed both for law enforcement and for private security agencies.  Many are designed for concealed carry on the belt, underarm, and inside-the-waistband, as well as the standard hip holster type.

Although the Makarov PM was never particularly popular outside Russia, it has been adopted as standard military issue firearm in 12 countries, including former Soviet bloc nations, China and a number of developing countries.  Makarov pistols were produced by:

• China – as the Type 59;
• Bulgaria – as the Makarov with “Code 10” logo identifying it as military manufacture; for export as the Arsenal P-M01; 
• Russia – as the PM and PMM (12-round variant; for export as IJ-70;
• East Germany – as the Pistole M

Other countries have produced pistols similar in design to the Makarov, but are of differing internal construction.  These guns have been used for para-military and export sale.

• Poland – as the P-64 and P-83
• Czech Republic  – as the CZ-83

Specifications:

Ammunition	9.2х18mm (PM)
System of Operation	Blowback, semi-automatic
Capacity	Single stack 8-round magazine
Weight, empty magazine, kg	0,73 (1.61 lbs)
Weight, loaded, kg	0,81 (1.79 lbs)
Overall length, mm	161 (6.34 inch)
Height, mm	126,75 (4.99 inch)
Width, mm	30,5 (1.20 inch)
Barrel length, mm	93 (3.66 inch)
Grooves	4 (right-hand twist)
Muzzle velocity, m / sec	315 (1,033 fps)
Combat rate of fire, shots / min	30
Effective range, m.	50 (55 yds)