[Don Joe]

I had a Tokareve once. Creepy gun, I always wondered if it had hung on an NKVD officer's belt, if it had been used to put a bullet in any prisoners' necks. And no safety! Just "half cock."

It had an "Israeli Safety" AKA "Condition Three". :)

(I watched part of a training video on some TV show a few years ago, they train their guys to work the slide as they draw, and then aim and fire the first round just as it's chambered. Supposedly they have a very good first-shot success rate. It looked amazingly natural to watch the guy draw and chamber at the same time -- perfectly smooth -- and then begin firing. It seemed like he was mostly holding the slide stationary and chambering via pushing the frame forward as he prepared to fire. When he had it in position, he snapped the slide shut, and went to work.)

[Free Trapper]

Is that really an unusual way to chamber the first round?

Besides putting you on target quicker,by making use of the "push" in your gunhand,it's easier to work the slide for a weaker person.

Perhaps I didn't understand your post correctly but it sounds like what I've done since I was a kid,if for some reason I don't have one in the tube.

[archy]

I had a Tokareve once. Creepy gun,

***** *****

It had an "Israeli Safety" AKA "Condition Three". :)

Or a New Zealand one [AKA *Condition Zero*- chamber loaded, hammer back, and thumb safety, if present [not usually on the Tok, though some have been so retrofitted] in the *fire* position.] Fairly common with some users with pistols like the Tok without a thumb safets, or like the L9A1 Browning GP/ *Hi-Power,* with a tiny one.