Kalashnikov  Concern

As the company's new brand name suggests, it shouldn't be a suprise that Concern Kalashnikov is the current organization responsible for the production of the orginal Kalashnikov weapons. For many years Izhmash was the factory name that was exclusively related with the Russian AK production. Unfortunately the Izhmash company could not be evade economic rationalization. The well known company Izhmash went almost bankrupt and it became necessary to change course. In 2012 the original companies Izhmash and Izhevsk Mechanical Plant merged under the brandname Kalashnikov to be more precisely Concern Kalashnikov. This new industrial organization also covers the brandname Baikal well known for the Russian hunting weapons. The company's presentation and public relations is further modernized and the product portfolio extended. Military small arms products are more and more designed to respond to "different missions, different configurations", versatility of the weapon is the key. 


   

The history of Izhmash                                

There is an irrevocable relationship between Mikhail Kalashnikov and the Russian factory Izhmash. After the AK47 was accepted as a standard weapon it didn’t last long when Mikhail Kalashnikov was invited to move to Izhevsk. In Izhevsk there are several production facilities. Kalashnikov was advised to work for the Izhevsk Motor company. During the Cold War period these factories were simply designated with numbers or even given misleading names for security purposes. Izhevsk has a very interesting history.The Izhmash small arms factory is one of the production factilities of the Izhevks region. The history of the factory goes back to the 18th century the time Russia had a great progress in industrial development

The origin of the Izhmash small arms factory lies in the conflict between Izhmash it is the largest small arms producer now in Russia. It was in 1760 when the constructing of new Iron-Works began at the river Izh. During the following four years production facilities and a large dam were erected. These new factories were responsible for the production of thousands of anchors for mechant and marine vessels. The Izhevsk factories became well known for a tremendous production of thousands of tons of bar and flat iron

A great step regarding the small arms production was taken in 1807 when Tsar Alexander I gave order to the mining engineer Deryabin to start such a factory in Ural. He studied several scenarios and come to the conclusion that building such a production facility was feasible. This also happened in 1807. The establishment of the Arms office also had a major impact on the region in that the old ‘Izh-town‘ experienced great developments. Deryabin may be seen as a founder of a town. This was the beginning of the Izhmash factory as we now know the company. The small arms factories succeeded to manufacture seven thousands rifles a year directly after its establishment in 1807. In the following years several different types of rifles have been manufactured. In 1874 the rather well known Berdan rifles were manufactured. Thereafter the much more well and respected Mosin rifles were manufactured. But the greatest performance had still to come. During the First World War more than 1.5 million rifles were manufactured and during the Great Patrioric War (The Second World War) production exceeded 11 million rifles and carbines. 

 

   

   

   

     

 Izhmash from 1947 onwards                        

As from 1947 for Izhmash the golden age began with the production of the AK47. Later on this became the AKM the modernized AK47. The factory did not only produces the well known assault rifle. It also made a sniper rifle called the Dragunov (see rightest picture under designers) which has approximately a similar reputation as the Kalashnikov assault rifle. Izhmash made a number of weapons for civilian use like target shooting weapons. Izhmash now concentrates on the civilian markets even more. A wide range of Saiga hunting rifle are offered by the company. The introduction of the AK101 and the AK102 was a remarkable step for the company since both weapons are chambered for the 5.56 x 45mm NATO cartridge

 Other famous Izhmash small arms designers 

The origin of the Izhmash small arms factory lies in the conflict between Izhmash it is the largest small arms producer now in Russia. It was in 1760 when the constructing of new Iron-Works began at the river Izh. During the following four years production facilities and a large dam were erected. These new factories were responsible for the production of thousands of anchors for mechant and marine vessels. The Izhevsk factories became well known for a tremendous production of thousands of tons of bar and flat iron

Tokarev 

The designer
of the auto-loading
rifles SVT-38, SVT-40.
 

  Mosin    

The creator of
the world-famous
7,62 Mosin Nagan Rifle.

Simonov   

The designer
of the AVS rifle
and carbines.

Dragunov  

The designer
of the SVD,
Zenit, Strela, Taiga.