I have one of those "new" Polish TT33s, manufactured in 1954. With the magazine out, the slightest touch on the slide stop is enough to release the slide. While shooting last week, just laying the gun down on a shooting mat caused the slide to slam shut twice. It seems way too touchy to me. Has anyone else had this problem with their gun?
TT33 touchy slide stop
- Thread starter Otto V
- Start date
I dont have this problem with mine, but do find if I slam the mag in with a bit of force the slide releases and chambers a round. I actually dont mind, as a relatively gentle insertion doesnt cause this and having the option to "autochamber" is a bit of a feature. Just wondering if that is normal as well?
Most of the TTs I handled when you slam loaded magazine home will send slide to battery. I do not think this was intentional feature built into since some of the guns didn't work like that. But most of them do work like that. You can take file to that notch or let it be.
I've heard a few other people mention this problem with the Polish TT33s here.
The 1953 model I sent back with a pitted barrel had the same problem. The slide stop just barely held the slide with the mag in. With the mag out it didn't hold at all. The stop thingy doesn't sit parallel to the frame like it should. It's like the angle between the link pin and the slide stop are more than 90 degrees. The piece on mine didn't appear to be bent like that (I didn't actually measure the angle), but for some reason the slide stop sits angled out from the frame and doesn't lock the slide as well as it should.
My Russian TT33, on the other hand, has no such problem. It locks good. I took the slide stop from it and put it in the Polish gun and it worked perfect there. So it seems like maybe the Polish slide stops weren't made properly or something. And now it's 60 years too late to complain to the manufacturer.
Before I decided to send the Polish TT back I considered just putting the slide lock pin in a vise and gently bending the lock angle in a bit. That's a bit dangerous, but if it didn't break it would probably solve the problem.
Last edited:
That won't help - at least not completely. Here's a very rough diagram of the problem - much exaggerated to make it clear. In real life the slide lock doesn't actually stick out that far - only about half to three quarters of the thickness of the slide or so. It only catches the outer edge of the slide, so it's very prone to slipping off. On the gun I had (which had been shot) the slide notch and lock metal was peened from all the pressure catching on that little corner of the notch (and I assume from it slipping occasionally when someone shot it back in the 50's).
Last edited:
That won't help - at least not completely. Here's a very rough diagram of the problem - much exaggerated to make it clear. In real life the slide lock doesn't actually stick out that far - only about half to three quarters of the thickness of the slide or so. It only catches the outer edge of the slide, so it's very prone to slipping off. On the gun I had (which had been shot) the slide notch and lock metal was peened from all the pressure catching on that little corner of the notch (and I assume from it slipping occasionally when someone shot it back in the 50's).
That is a secondary issue then, as what's happening is the rounded notch is pushing the slide stop down and out of engagement. My Pole has the same issue, and I'm sure once squared up it will work as it should.
My two cents would be to avoid messing with the slide. Rather round off the top of the slip stop lever so that it moves further up into the slide stop. It would be natural to think that the curvature would be more likely slip but I think you may be surprised at how well it holds under pressure.
I think it's a top view diagram. (OP correct me if i'm wrong) It makes sense why it's not holding then.
Thanks for all the replies (I would have responded sooner but I was out shooting this evening). Futz, I don't think my slide lock is bent but I will check.
Both of my original pics were side views, as below.
It would make sense that the notch in the slide should be "square" but I don't want to mess with the slide.
Tilley, re rounding the slide stop lever . . . have you made that modification to one of these Toks?
Both of my original pics were side views, as below.
It would make sense that the notch in the slide should be "square" but I don't want to mess with the slide.
Tilley, re rounding the slide stop lever . . . have you made that modification to one of these Toks?
This may be a good idea, if you slowly remove metal to see what happens, plus its easier and cheaper to replace the stop than the slide, if it doesn't work out!
I think I will give this a try and see what happens.
You may just have a magazine problem.
One of my magazines works like it is supposed to but the other one has problems, similar to what you mentioned.
Try a couple of other magazines before altering the pistol.
One of my magazines works like it is supposed to but the other one has problems, similar to what you mentioned.
Try a couple of other magazines before altering the pistol.
Thanks, but my problem right now is not magazine related . . . my slide stop is not engaging properly with the magazine out.
Got my Polish TT-33. Actually "PW wz. 33" or "Pistolet Wojskowy wzór 33" is what they call it. It simply means "Military Pistol model 33."
Anyway, I see what you mean about the touchy slide stop. My catch seems to engage pretty well, and you can hit the bottom of the gun with your hand without it releasing, but the slightest touch on the release and it lets go. Also, any backwards pressure on the slide will release it.
It's good enough that I'm not going to mess with it.
I got a 1953.
Anyway, I see what you mean about the touchy slide stop. My catch seems to engage pretty well, and you can hit the bottom of the gun with your hand without it releasing, but the slightest touch on the release and it lets go. Also, any backwards pressure on the slide will release it.
It's good enough that I'm not going to mess with it.
I got a 1953.
