Izhevsk Mechanical Plant (Russian: Ижевский Механический Завод, Izhevsky Mekhanicheskiy Zavod) or IZHMEKH (ИЖМЕХ) was a major firearms manufacturer founded in Izhevsk in 1942 for manufacturing small arms.
 | |
| Company type | Unitary enterprise |
|---|---|
| Industry | Defense |
| Predecessor | Plant 622 |
| Founded | Izhevsk, USSR July 20, 1942 |
| Founder | State Defense Committee |
| Defunct | 2013 |
| Fate | Merged with Izhmash to form Kalashnikov Concern |
| Headquarters | , |
| Products | Firearms, air guns |
| Revenue |  US$ 94,867,462 (2009)[1] |
| US$ 225,315 (2009)[1] | |
Number of employees | 11,633 (January 2010)[1] |
| Parent | Ministry of Industry and Trade |
| Subsidiaries | Trading House "Baikal" |
| Website | imzcorp |
In 2013, it merged with Izhmsh to form Kalashnikov Concern.
History
editIt was one of the primary factories producing Mosin–Nagant and SVT-40 rifles during World War II for standard issue to Soviet troops.
After the end of World War II, it continued producing firearms, both for military (Makarov pistols) and hunting applications, and later high-tech weapons and civilian machinery.
In 1948, the plant began production of Margolin pistols.
In 1956, the plant began production of IZh-56 combination guns.
Since 1960, Izhmekh supplied hunting shotguns for export under the trademark "Baikal". The first model that began to sell for export was IZh-54[2] In 1973 plant began production of PSM pistol, in 1978 - IZh-35 pistols.
In 1982, the plant produced a small number of double barreled shotguns IZh-41.[3] In 1980s plant began production of IZh-38 and IZh-40 air guns, since 1989 - IZh-46 air pistols.[4]
After the dissolution of the Soviet Union the range of civilian products was greatly expanded, but firearms were still its major production. In 1993, Izhmekh began production of the IZh-76 gas pistol (the first model of gas pistol made in Russian Federation),[5] IZh-81 and IZh-94 shotguns.
In 2002, Izhmekh began the production MP-461 pistols, and in 2004 the production of Makarych pistols.
In January 2004, a contract was signed between the Remington Arms company and the plant; Baikal firearms was bought by Remington and sold in USA (IZh-18MN were sold as Remington SPR 18, IZh-94 were sold as the Remington SPR94, IZh-18 were sold as the Remington Spartan 100, IZh-43-1S were sold as the Remington Spartan 210, IZh-43 were sold as the Remington Spartan 220, IZh-27 were sold as the Remington Spartan 310 and MP-153 were sold as the Remington Spartan 453).[6]
In 2008, Izhmekh made 9mm pistols (MP-443 Grach and MP-446 Viking), gas pistols, signal pistols, rifles and several models of smoothbore hunting shotguns.[7]
In 2010, Izhmekh began production of MP-353 pistols.
On August 13, 2013, Izhmash and Izhevsk Mechanical Plant were merged and formally renamed Kalashnikov Concern.[8]
References
edit- ^ a b c "Izhevsk Mechanical Plant announced financial and economic results of its activities". Archived from the original on 2012-03-09. Retrieved 2011-02-19.
- ^ Л. Е. Михайлов, Н. Л. Изметинский. Ижевские охотничьи ружья. 2-е изд., испр. и доп. Ижевск, изд-во «Удмуртия», 1982.
- ^ инженер-конструктор А. Матвеев. Новое ружье ИЖ-41 // журнал «Охота и охотничье хозяйство», № 7, 1985. стр.24-25
- ^ Галина Валеева. Эволюция продолжается. История создания спортивных пистолетов на "Ижмехе" // журнал "Калашников. Оружие. Боеприпасы. Снаряжение", № 11, 2015. стр.50-54
- ^ Алексей Тарабрин. Оружие самозащиты. // журнал «Милиция», июнь 1993, стр.29-31
- ^ Валерий Шилин. Российско-американский SPARTAN // журнал «Калашников. Оружие. Боеприпасы. Снаряжение», № 5, 2005. стр.40-43
- ^ Ижевский механический завод, ФГУП // Предприятия оборонно-промышленного комплекса России и стран СНГ. Справочник. изд. 4-е, пер. М., 2008. стр.124
- ^ "Janes | Latest defence and security news".
Literature
edit- Н. А. Мокшин. Во имя Победы. 2-е изд. Ижевск, 1975.