Welcome to another edition of TFB’s Photo Of The Day. We don’t get contributions from readers too often, but it happens. Today is such an occasion, and it’s a pretty interesting one. Mike Owen of Meridian Ordnance LLC sent us pictures of various Russian [Read More…]
TFB’s Photo Of The Day, the One And Only. Today we’re proud to show you some unique pictures. Please take your time to admire what’s on here. These firearms are owned by a private enthusiast, and I think it took some time, money, thinking and effort to [Read More…]
Welcome everyone to the 31st edition of ‘Hot Gat or Fudd Crap?’, one of our many series here on TFB. If you’re new to the series, this is where we look at the most obscure firearms that are actually for sale and ask the question – is this Gat a sweet [Read More…]
The sanctions on Russian companies have hit the American AK enthusiast hard – no longer can we import inexpensive Izhevsk Kalashnikovs to feed the beast. Yet, there is a silver lining: Domestic AK production is on the rise to meet the demand, and one company in [Read More…]
Although the Russian Kalashnikov assault rifle is the one that is most famous, it is arguably the Chinese Type 56 AK that made the bigger impression on the world in the 1960s and 70s. This rifle was initially developed with Russian technical assistance just before the [Read More…]
This is a guest article from our reader Brandon covering the development of metallic magazines for the AK-47 and AKM rifles. Thanks, Brandon! The venerable Kalashnikov rifle is easily one of the most important small arms in history. Love it or hate it, it’s one of the [Read More…]
Syvat sent this in to us. He asked the guy, that he got it from, what it was from. The anonymous guy said it is a a secret. Syvat thinks it is perhaps a customized AR lower. Anyone know Cyrilic? What do the markings say?
The AK-12 has just been approved for use in the Russian Army, but what else do we know about the weapon? TV Zvezda has released a helpful video describing the rifle to the public: The problem for monolingual English-speakers such as myself being that we cannot [Read More…]
A number of news sources (BBC, The Guardian, Moscow Times, and RT) have reported that arms maker Kalashnikov, Baikal, and Izhmash, sub divisions of Kalashnikov Group, have changed their brand logos as unveiled at an industrial meeting in Moscow. The change seems to be [Read More…]
RT produced this 25 min documentary about the Kalashnikov. For those of you who are not familiar with the AK-47 this video will give you some good background info on the infamous weapon. I dare say this video makes me want to buy a Izhmash AK now. In the [Read More…]
It deeply saddens me to write that Izhmash, which was founded over 200 years ago by Tsar Alexander I, has officially been renamed to Kalashnikov. The (Google Translated) press release is below … Based on the decision of GC “Rostekhnadzor” JSC [Read More…]
RIA reports that our favorite Russian gun maker Izhmash, makers of the AK and Saiga rifles, has just won a $400 million ($13 billion rubles) contact to produce Vikhr-1 missiles, long-range anti-tank missile usually fired from attack helicopters. This will go a long [Read More…]
Izhmash has unveiled a prototype sniper rifle called the VS-121. This bullpup rifle uses an action based on the Dragunov sniper rifle action. With its heavy profile 24.4″ barrel it weights just under 10 lbs. It will be chambered for 7.62x54mm, 7.62x51mm and a [Read More…]
Lenta.ru reports that Izhmash is working on producing a next-generation bullpup rifle along with a new cartridge for it. Title image is the Izhmash AK-12.
Izhmash will debut the long anticipated Saiga MK-107 at the IWA show in Germany tomorrow. This gun is the first ever civilian-legal variant of the AK-107 / AK-108 with its famous balanced recoil system. The balanced recoil system moves a counter weight forward when [Read More…]
Izhmash’s interim CEO Alexander Kosov has announced at a press conference that the company is developing a civilian version of the AK-107 complete with its famous balanced recoil system. They will also soon be releasing the Saiga-9, a Saiga carbine chambered in [Read More…]
The famed original AK maker Izhmash is on the brink of collapse. Production of sporting rifles has stopped, export contacts cannot be fulfilled and skilled workers are leaving the company. Mikhail Kalashnikov and 16 colleagues have written an open letter to President [Read More…]
Izhmash have created a video showing their upcoming AK-74M airsoft gun that is said to be made with many of the same parts as their “real steel” AK-74s. The AK-74M will weigh 8 lbs, has a magazine capacity of 600 6mm BBs and has up to 3 joules of muzzle [Read More…]
Lionel attended TVM 2012 in Russia and took these photos of the new AK-12 fitted out with a red dot sight, flashlight, foregrip and laser/target designator. Is it my imagintion, or does the stock looks really low compared to the optic? The distance is similar to an [Read More…]
THe NYTimes’ Andrew Kramer has published an article on growing imports of Saiga rifles and shotguns from our favourite bankrupt Russian gun company … The nickname of this town, home of the factory that makes Kalashnikov rifles, is the “Armory of Russia.” [Read More…]
Izhmash has designed an airsoft version of AK-74M. The press release seems to indicate that they designed it and will be manufacturing it. Most gun companies just license the name to an Asian manufacturer. The dimensions and weight will be the same as the real AK-74M. [Read More…]
Izhmash public relations has already begun defending the bankrupt company. A photo essay at English Russia defends the company and portrays it as a thriving company and model employer. Apparently the average monthly wage at Izhmash is $530 USD. Some specialists (which I [Read More…]
I reported back in 2009 that Russian state-owned arms maker Izhmash, manufacturer of the AK-xx and Saiga rifles, was facing bankruptcy. The company is now officially bankrupt (Google translation follows) … The claim of bankruptcy “Izhmash” gave the [Read More…]
Yesterday I blogged about the comments made by Russia’s Chief of the General Staff and First Deputy Minister of Defence General Nikolai Makarov who said that the Russian Army had too many AK-74 rifles and would not be ordering more of them until 2014. I pointed [Read More…]
My Russian (Google Translate) is not good, but it appears that Izhmash is manufacturing a carbine version of the Nagant M1895 revolver chambered in .22 LR named the KR-22 (Which according to readers is the translation of ‘KP-22′). This gun was mentioned in a [Read More…]
I am excited to report that Izhmash Arms, the official manufacturer of the AK and Saiga rifles, has launched a new series of .22 Long Rifle chambered AK-styled rifles. The new Saiga 22 comes in two flavors. The standard model is patterned after the AK-105. It features [Read More…]
Last year I reported that Izhmash would launch a new line of AK-style rifles this year. While this new line has not yet materialized, a prototype has been unveiled. It modernizes the AK-74M / AK-100 series by adding rails for optics and other accessories, as well as a [Read More…]
This is great news for Saiga rifle and shotgun fans the world over can sleep easy tonight. Backyard Safari reports (Translated in Google, emphasis mine): The fact is this: on 21.09.2009 has been reported that a company declare named Gremikha LLC “at the Economic [Read More…]
Spiegel Online reports: And now it appears that the financial difficulties facing the weapons manufacturer have reached crisis point: its very existence is threatened. A businessman in Izhevsk has filed a motion to declare Izhmash Arms bankrupt because of outstanding [Read More…]
Izhmash, possibly the world’s most famous arms manufacturer, has filed an application for bankruptcy with the Russian courts. Pravda reports … Izhmash, the pride of the nation’s defense industry, may prove to be an unprofitable enterprise. Udmurtia’s [Read More…]
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