Here’s an interesting new addition to the Varnum Memorial Armory Museum‘s World War II collection: a 1941 Soviet-made Model TT-33 “Tokarev” pistol. Known for its rugged and reliable design, this pistol (chambered in 7.62 x 25mm) was developed in the 1930s by Fedor Tokarev to replace the aging Model 1895 Nagant revolver. The pistol saw widespread use during World War II by the Soviet Union, our ally against the Axis powers of Germany and Japan.

The TT-33 was eventually replaced by the 9mm Makarov pistol in the mid-1950s, but it continued to see widespread use up to present day by other communist nations such as the People’s Republic of China and North Korea.

The black-and-white picture shows Soviet officer Alexey Yeremenko leading his men into combat against the Germans in World War II, armed with a Tokarev TT-33. He was reportedly killed minutes after this photo was taken.