The initial production batch featured a lightweight alloy frame, which proved to be unable to withstand the shock of the relatively high-powered 9×19mm Parabellum round in the long run.

Despite intense pressure and incentives from the Soviet bloc, Tokarev's challenger, dubbed the "Tokagypt," was produced in comparatively small quantities.

Other countries to have adopted the M1951 include Egypt—where it has been produced by the local firm Maadi as the Helwan—Israel, Iraq—where it is license-built as the Tariq), Nigeria, Libya and Tunisia.

A cross-bolt safety mounted on the weapon's frame (beneath the hammer) provides safe operation with a cartridge introduced into the chamber.

In the “weapon safe” position (the safety's button pushed in to the left) the slide catch is disabled.

The pistol uses fixed iron sights set for engaging targets at 50 m. These consist of a forward blade and rear notch.

Produced for sales to sport shooters in Italy in order to comply with restrictions forbidding ownership of military caliber pistols.

The "Target" version of the 952 incorporated modifications to the grips, sights and barrel that had originally been introduced on the "Berhama" target-shooting model of the 9mm 951 made specially for the Egyptians.

Additionally, the weapon has a heavier slide, a folding wooden forward grip, the barrel was extended, and so was the magazine, increasing capacity to 10 rounds.

The M951R was issued to several Italian special forces and to a lesser extent to the Carabinieri and the Polizia di Stato all along the 1960s; it had poor success and quickly went out of production, as it was plagued by several defects: the ammunition capacity was low compared to the rate of fire and, with the selector on the "AUT" position, the M951R fired in full-automatic mode rather than by three-rounds bursts as other similar products of the following years; this produced high recoil and resulted in poor controllability and scarce accuracy.