Tokagypt 58

FEG (Fegyver- es Gepgyar) · Pistol · Out Of Production · 1958

Also known as: Tokagypt, Firebird, TT-9P, Tokagypt Model 58

Overview

The Tokagypt 58 is a Hungarian pistol built by FEG and based on the Soviet Tokarev TT-33, adapted by engineer Ambrus Balogh and rechambered from 7.62x25mm Tokarev to 9x19mm Parabellum for export to Egypt. Compared with the TT-33 it adds a manual safety, a one-piece wraparound plastic grip, a finger-rest magazine baseplate, and an improved export-grade finish, while retaining the Browning short-recoil tilting-barrel action. Its name is a portmanteau of Tokarev and Egypt.

Specifications

Weight (empty)910 g (32.1 oz)
Overall Length192 mm (7.56")
Barrel Length115 mm (4.53")
Action TypeShort Recoil
Firing MechanismSingle Action
Trigger TypeSingle Action
Magazine Capacity7 rounds
Magazine TypeDetachable Box
Muzzle Velocity360 m/s (1181 fps)
Muzzle Energy480 J (354 ft·lbf)
Effective Range50 m (55 yd)
Barrel RiflingRight Hand
Number of Grooves4
Frame MaterialSteel
Slide MaterialSteel
Barrel MaterialSteel
FinishBlued

Calibers

Features

Variants

Base model

Tokarev-Tt-33

Service history

Operators

Production

Estimated total produced: 33,000 · Production years: 1958-1965

Roughly 30,000-33,590 across about seven variants; ~13,250 of the first Egyptian version delivered, the rest sold commercially as the Firebird, including a 12-round Super 12 variant

Origin

Country of origin: Hungary

Designer: Ambrus Balogh

Discontinued: 1965

Notes

Egypt contracted in 1957 for 30,000 pistols but only ~13,250 were delivered before the contract was terminated; delivered guns went largely to the Egyptian National Police. Leftover and undelivered guns were sold commercially in West Germany and the US under the name Firebird. Reported Bundesgrenzschutz / German police adoption is unconfirmed; detailed sources indicate commercial-market sales rather than formal police issue. The TT-based action is locked-breech short-recoil, not blowback.

Background

A Hungarian-built copy of a Soviet pistol, rechambered in a Western NATO round, sold to Egypt, dumped onto the West German commercial market, and ultimately turned up in the hands of 1970s European terror groups. Andreas Baader of the Red Army Faction is reported to have trained on a Tokagypt at a Palestinian Fatah camp in 1970.