Russian Tokarov Pistol 1942

[Blitzkrieg70]

I was working at a gun shop and a gentleman came in with a Russian Tokarov pistol in 7.62 x 25. I asked him how he acquired the pistol and he said there are some things you just want to forget. He seemed he did not want to talk about it. He was on his way out the door and I could not contain my curiosity. I told him that I was fascinated with the pistol and I would love to hear how he acquired the pistol. He said he picked up the pistol in Bolivia in the 1960's. Then he proceeded out the door to his car. I was even more curious so I followed him out the door. I said just one more question. How did you find this pistol in Bolivia? Ok here is the story. He said he was in Bolivia in the 1960's on a special operations team. He said he and his team were going through the jungle and they were fired upon. He said he returned fire with his 1911 pistol firing until the magazine was empty. When the team searched the area where they received in coming fire they found a Cuban soldier with a Russian Tokarov in his belt and a Ak-47 rifle by his side. I have no idea why he would use a pistol to fire back at this individual. I never heard of the United States being in Bolivia in the 1960's. I am also skeptical that it was a Cuban soldier that was shot in Bolivia carrying a WWII Tokarov pistol. I then thought maybe he just told me this story so I would just leave him alone. I know I should not be a stalker. He said he had paperwork that allowed him to bring back the pistol. But my curiosity got the best of me and we all know where curiousity got the cat. Unfortunately the gun shop did not buy the firearm. I did not buy the firearm because I want to make sure it is legal to do so. The gentleman said he had paperwork that allowed him to bring back the pistol from Bolivia in the 1960's. Was this pistol legal to buy? I know this may be naïve of me but I just want to be sure to do everything in the accordance with the law.

[herd118]

I'd buy it.
Btw, US special forces and CIA were in Bolivia in the mid 60's during the hunt for Che and associates. So, short story, it's possible.

[Alan Smith]

In prior decades, the U.S. DOD had regulations in place whereby U.S. military personnel could lawfully import weapons from overseas. This procedure was centered around use of a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms Form 6. This procedure was in place up until about the time of the First Gulf War when the regulations were either changed and/or another policy was put in place to prohibit service members from bringing back war trophy firearms.

Interestingly, the Form 6 is still used (by civilians) to import firearms . . . it is the military guys who (by U.S. military regulations) are prohibited from bringing in the war trophies. So, as a civilian, I can lawfully import the exact same weapon (e.g. semi-automatic pistol) that a military person who captured it in combat is prohibited from sending home.

I see no reason to doubt the pistol owner's story . . . . sounds like it would have been a nice item to acquire . . . especially if you could gain the vet's trust and work with him to document his service history associated with the pistol.

I have a guy here at work who was with the 5th Special Forces Group in the mid-1980's . . . . he spent a lot of time on missions in South America that sound very similar to what the Tokarov pistol owner described to you.

[Blitzkrieg70]

Tokarov Pistol

Thanks for information and clarification. It is very much appreciated.