Latest batch of Wa Shan Guns...

Now Wa Shan decided to drop all the trademarks on the grips - so apart from the Colt .45 others just doesn't feel right ...

Thanks for the photos, nice to see all models together and on closeup :-)

You are right that plain grips are just not right, they do make a visual part of the weapon.

Original Tokarev had several different designs of grip panels. The most widely known is the one with Soviet star, of course. Models produced in Poland had plain grips just like WaShan, so for me this one also looks ok ;-) This type of grips is also available locally from surplus for about 10-15$.
http://50ae.net/collection/tt33/

Initial production in Poland had different grips with "FB" ("Fabryka Broni", Weapons Factory) logo of Radom factory, just like our famous pre-war Vis wz.35 pistols. Other communist block countries also had their own variations, you can find them here:
ttp://imageevent.com/willyp/russiansovietcomblocsection/comparisonalbumsofcomblocweapons/tt30tt33tokarevvariants

The biggest problem with TT grips on WaShan is that they do not have a central rivet that keeps a springing metal on the other side, holding grip panels to the frame. Without this feature it does not look right, and is probably difficult to replace - are they glued onto frame?

PS: these guys make nice afermarket wooden grips:
http://www.marschalgrips.com/

Is the quallity better/worse than their older models

8ace

smootik wrote:

Original Tokarev had several different designs of grip panels. The most widely known is the one with Soviet star, of course. Models produced in Poland had plain grips just like WaShan, so for me this one also looks ok ;-) This type of grips is also available locally from surplus for about 10-15$.
http://50ae.net/collection/tt33/

The biggest problem with TT grips on WaShan is that they do not have a central rivet that keeps a springing metal on the other side, holding grip panels to the frame. Without this feature it does not look right, and is probably difficult to replace - are they glued onto frame?

The Chinese Type 54 have the same star on the grips - only "CCCP" was dropped...

I've managed to get the original and Hudson's plastic grips for replacement (don't really like the original pot metal grips with black paint keeps peeling off)...but god damn it I can't take the grips out!

8ace wrote:

Is the quallity better/worse than their older models

8ace

From what I can see - quality is similar...only now these guns are sold as dummies instead of firing models...

jim wrote:

I've managed to get the original and Hudson's plastic grips for replacement (don't really like the original pot metal grips with black paint keeps peeling off)...but god damn it I can't take the grips out!

Does WaShan use the same attachment method as in original TT-33 (see below) or they just glue/fix it in place otherwise?

http://curioandrelicfirearmsforum.yuku.com/sreply/92643/t/Romanian-TT-33-Grip-Removal.html

Quote :

only now these guns are sold as dummies instead of firing models...

They're not making anymore firing models?

On close inspection - they look as though ther're made of rubber They do look realy cheap and crap:!:

This is dissapointing news, WaShan pfc firing models were good performers. My Beretta M9 Dolphin is one of my best firers.

Dummy models won't have anything like the same appeal unless they're really well made and accurate replicas.

If they're no longer making cap firers that'll be an end to the disposable round too I suppose

I cant believe that Hawsan are going down this road; I don't know if the Taiwanese goverment are clamping down on this type of model.

Supposedly Wa Shan can now only sells what used to be as full metal pfcs as dummies unless they're fitted with plastic upper (i.e. slide & barrel)...but as I'd mentioned before the solid firing pin blocks are detachable and therefore shopkeepers can sell you functional firing pin blocks as replacements (that is if he/she trust you enough that you as the customers won't dobbed them in)...

If posssible - denisonsmock can pay a visit to the Wa Shan Pro Shop situated in Chung Shan East Road or the smaller shop inside Shilin Night Market and see what really happened (that's if you're still in Taipei)...the Taiwanese Nationalist Government is too busy on other issues (i.e. try to keep a safe distance from China but at the same time repairing the relationship) so at the mean time they won't pay too much attention on replica guns...

Firing ability wise - export models shall not be affected...

smootik wrote:

jim wrote:

I've managed to get the original and Hudson's plastic grips for replacement (don't really like the original pot metal grips with black paint keeps peeling off)...but god damn it I can't take the grips out!

Does WaShan use the same attachment method as in original TT-33 (see below) or they just glue/fix it in place otherwise?

http://curioandrelicfirearmsforum.yuku.com/sreply/92643/t/Romanian-TT-33-Grip-Removal.html

Can't figure out - I'm afraid the frame and the grips are all made in one piece...

denisonsmock wrote:

On close inspection - they look as though ther're made of rubber

Black finish is not very even, it's a bit rough, like Denix. Is this what makes it look like rubber?

jim wrote:

Can't figure out - I'm afraid the frame and the grips are all made in one piece...

Dremel time then? ;-(

Quote :

If posssible - denisonsmock can pay a visit to the Wa Shan Pro Shop situated in Chung Shan East Road or the smaller shop inside Shilin Night Market and see what really happened (that's if you're still in Taipei)...the Taiwanese Nationalist Government is too busy on other issues (i.e. try to keep a safe distance from China but at the same time repairing the relationship) so at the mean time they won't pay too much attention on replica guns...

Yeah I'm still in Taiwan. I'll take a walk down to the Toys shop and find out what is happening with Hawsan. Most of the time they do not have an English speaker in the shop, so its a case of "lost in translation"

Here is a link into what I think could be their bid page. Open up in IE8 with translation on.

http://goods.ruten.com.tw/item/show?21005287993961

Here is the main link.
http://class.ruten.com.tw/user/index00.php?s=toycity168&d=514128&o=0&m=1

Did you eventually hit an English speaking person?

I'm curious what's going on with WaShan...