M1896

M1896 is a Russian semi-automatic pistol designed by Fyodor Tokarev in 1896. It was the first semi-automatic pistol adopted by the Russian military and was in service until the early 20th century. The M1896 was a direct influence on subsequent Tokarev pistols and served as the basis for further design improvements.

The M1896 was chambered for the 9x17mm Browning Short cartridge, a shortened version of the.380 ACP cartridge. It featured a toggle-locking mechanism, which was a precursor to the more common blowback operating system found in many modern pistols. The M1896 was constructed from steel and had a magazine capacity of 7 rounds.

Although the M1896 saw service during the Russo-Japanese War, it did not prove to be as reliable as earlier systems. The Russian military eventually phased out the M1896 in favor of the M1908, which was an improved version of the design. However, the M1896 continued to be used in some capacity until the early 20th century.

Today, the M1896 is largely forgotten outside of historical circles. Its influence can be seen in later designs by Fyodor Tokarev, such as the TT pistol. While not without its flaws, the M1896 represented a significant step forward in the development of semi-automatic pistols and paved the way for further innovations in the field.