#Izhmash

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 9mm NATO. These guns may be displayed at the IWA Show in March next year.

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 Putin pleading for his intervention to prevent the company collapsing.

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 energy. The video also says that AN94 Akaban, SVD and PP-19-01 Vityaz airsoft guns will be coming soon.

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.

THe NYTimes’ Andrew Kramer has published an article on growing imports of Saiga rifles and shotguns from our favourite bankrupt Russian gun company …

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.

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.

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) …

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 out that this would be a blow to AK manufacturer Izhmash who are struggling to stay solvent.

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′).

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.

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 few other minor improvements.

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):

Spiegel Online reports:

Izhmash, possibly the world’s most famous arms manufacturer, has filed an application for bankruptcy with the Russian courts. Pravda reports …