Partial-privatization has been good to Kalashnikov Concern. First quarter production is up 230% from the first quarter of 2013. RIA reports …

“In the first three months of the year we had a record-high volume production of small arms in the amount of 31,000 items, which makes 41 percent of the total output of similar products for 2013,” the company said.

“The current results are 230 percent higher than those in the first quarter last year,” the company added.

Positive dynamics was observed in most areas of production in the first quarter of this year.
“By the end of 2014 we expect the production of this product to increase by 27 percent compared to 2013, while in 2015 the growth should reach 17 percent compared to the previous year,” the press-service added.

Frustratingly Kalashnikov is not returning my calls, so I don’t know what this production increase is attributed to. I think the most likely explanation is an increased focus on consumer firearms, combined with increased demand in the USA along with Russian military orders for munitions. The old Izhmash was far more concerned with their shrinking military firearm sales than the less prestigious consumer market than they were for the lucrative consumer firearms and military munitions market.

Thanks to Albi for the tip.