Pakistani artisans collect artisanal copies of the Soviet TT self-loading pistol, but sell it under the Mauser brand.
Peshawar, the administrative center of the country's northwestern provinces on the border with Afghanistan, is famous for its gunsmiths. Their workshops are located in small hangars, more like garages, and the products are sold on the local market. Pashtuns inhabit Peshawar, for men of this nationality, a pistol is a mandatory attribute.
Back in the days of British colonization, local artisans, having obtained weapons, disassembled them and copied them by eye - drawings are not in use here. The technology is unchanged until now: from 8 to 15 people work on one gun, each has its own operations, which the master knows by heart. All parts are manufactured locally, only plastic pads on the handle are purchased in China.
From the assembly comes out two pistols a day, they write " Tula brands ". Finished samples are tested in a garage-dash, branded "Mauser. Made in China" and sent to the market. The fact that the gun is actually called TT, the Peshawar people do not know, among themselves they call it "30-caliber". The Pakistani TT costs 6000 rupees ($35).
TT (Tula Tokareva) is a Soviet 7.62 mm self-loading pistol designed by Fyodor Tokarev and adopted in 1930. The simplicity of the design allows it to be produced at low cost, and a powerful pointed cartridge penetrates army helmets and light bulletproof vests. TT is still used by security and collection units in a number of countries.
Anton Valagin
