A bit of History about Yunker & Cybergun co2 bb 'AK47' air rifles

[Didier]

Talking about Yunker prices:

Okay, I wouldn't be surprised to learn that the reviewer is actually on MWM Gillmann GmbH's payroll

The Yunker-4 he is reviewing is indeed out of the ordinary, though:

First off, this is not an AK74M, so I suspect the marking was added either by MWM themselves or at MWM's request.

Personally, I don't see the point of calling it an AK74M when a Yunker is an Izhmash AK variant in its own right.

Secondly, this Yunker-4 doesn't have any side-rail, which is extremely surprising, as all Yunkers were fitted with side-rails after 2002 (those that were produced before had no side-rails).

Other than that, that one is a perfectly standard Yunker-4.

So, to me, a possible explanation for the MWM AK74M marking and the missing side-rail could be that MWM Gillmann GmbH was able to grab a few unfinished Yunker-4s after the 2014 annexation of Crimea. The Yunker side-rail being a standard AK part, those were possibly rerouted towards (military) AK assembly lines at the Izhmash factory at a time when Russia was beginning to rearm more massively. If that were indeed the case, then that Yunker-4's history would be telling us something about the bigger History of the Russian Federation.

The highest Yunker-4 serial number I have found so far is 15300242, and the highest Yu-4 I have recorded for 2014 is 14301717, so SN 14301688 is undoubtedly among the last hundreds of Yunker BB guns that were ever produced by Izhmash.

 

[RedRoyRegulator]

This is what a stamped AK receiver would look like before being pressed into shape:

View attachment 915783

And this is what the aluminium chassis of one my guns looked like before being thoroughly milled into shape:

View attachment 915785
View attachment 915786
View attachment 915787

That is roughly the difference between a stamped AK receiver and a milled AK receiver.

What is the pictures of Aluminium blocks for on rifle?

Some info on receivers:

Basically, non-milled Junkers have a smooth receiver cover, without stiffening ribs. not a single Junker/Saiga has ever had reinforcement ribs.

Every AK I've seen has reinforced ribs. The Saiga, for example, seems to have no ribs.

Or maybe it's a similar receiver from a rifled Saiga (MK3) (with stampings, but only two positions for the magazine release)? Because most Saiga receivers on Junkers with two positions for the magazine release don't have stampings for the magazine. But photos online for the search term "Saiga-MK03" show variants with and without a stamping for the magazine release.

Automatic rifles have three trigger axes, while Junkers (like the Saiga) only has two, the hammer and the trigger.

Milled receivers, ended with the AKM or somewhere around there. After that, it seems like everything was stamped... Another thing is that there was a disassembly at one time and they looked at the differences between the different Junker models: the older ones were made on an AK-style receiver, the newer ones on a saiga one... But that's just a minor detail. the AK with a milled stock was a kilogram or so heavier than the AKM with a stamped stoc.

The 1st AK receivers first one (the very first one, the one with the AK-47 inscription engraved on the receiver—there were only three of them) had a milled receiver. Then, in '49, AK production began with a stamped receiver, but due to its low strength, it was soon replaced with a milled one. Then, in '59, it was replaced again with a stamped one of increased rigidity, 3 mm steel. Then in '74, with a stamped one, but less rigid, if I remember correctly, 1.5 mm. As a result, in Afghanistan, the '74 AKs suffered from severe longitudinal twisting. Consequently, the receiver was reinforced, and in this form it successfully migrated to the 100th series AK, meaning it is still in production. Cadets have this particular one, but probably only some of them are the first (unsuccessful) '74. I don't know about other options. I mean, the Junkers are not from version 74. (I think there are also some from version 100, Junker 3)

If I remember correctly, the AK-74 and AKS-74 have 1mm thick steel receivers. I don't know how thick the AKM is, but 3mm is unlikely to be too thick. The PPSh is definitely 3mm, I saw the original drawings. The AK has the same, I think. The AK-74 has 1mm... I don't believe it... it would really bend... The PPSh has definitely more than three mm. Every metal is different. Do you think metallurgy has been stagnant since 1947? And the PPSh isn't even worth mentioning—it was made of fairly soft steel, especially the military-issue ones. Which is stronger, 1 mm alloy steel or 3 mm St45?

 

[Didier]

I only posted the aluminium blocks for the sake of illustrating what the production of milled AK receivers entailed.

The only 'true' AK-74M Yunker was the fixed stock Junker/Yunker-1. All the later versions are more in line with the 100 series, although they're almost never quite identical to any of the AK100 guns - the Yunker-2 is only mimicking an AK-105, as it doesn't have the AK105 combination front sight/gas block. To me, the Yunker-2 has an AK-74M type front sight block + a fake AK-105-ish gas block, which explains why the muzzle device on the Yunker-2 indexes at 12 hours instead of the usual 11 hours, so a real AK-105 muzzle booster won't clock correctly on the Yunker-2.

AK-105 combo front sight block/gas block with correctly indexed muzzle booster (detent pin housing at 11 hours).
Note that the muzzle booster is chrome-lined.

Yunker-2 front sight block/fake gas block with correctly indexed two-position MTK compensator (no detent pin housing at 11:00).
Note that the FSB bayonet lug had to be milled off to make it less conspicuous.

Apart from their original fake muzzle devices, the only 'real' muzzle devices that can be indexed properly on a Yunker-2 are those that have the two-position indexing, at 11:00 and at 12:00.

As regards the thickness of AK-100 series receivers, I suppose the use of the much weaker 5.45x39 cartridge made the extra thickness useless. I am no expert in that field, but it seems to me that Saiga 12 and Saiga 20 guns have reinforced receivers and stronger trunnions.

Our 4.5mm BBs are so weak that a single rivet on each side of the receiver was more than enough to secure the front trunnion

 

[RedRoyRegulator]

Around 10 people used to work on these rifles on a small scale production facility who simultaneously made ATG for the assault rifles but used the same factory equipment as original real sword counterparts.

The Junker can have different receivers, be it a Saiga, a Junker made one, or an automatic one, the automatic 2001 dimpled receivers models are rarity even in Russia.

When one of the Izhmash designers (I believe Simonenko) was asked what steel they used for the AK and Saiga, he honestly replied that it was whatever they had on hand, although 30XPA is the most commonly used grade. Comparing the number of rivets is also pointless, the technology & equipment is optimised once a month

The Yu-3 was originally conceived as a training aid for the military training schools (from which all weapons, including training assault rifles, had been removed).

Therefore, more attention was paid to "similarity" (i.e., maximizing the fidelity to handling techniques of a real assault rifle) than to "combat performance." In this sense, the Yu-3 was entirely justified. However, the schools' impoverished situation and the need to purchase these Yu-3s out of pocket (at a completely inhumane price tag), as well as the replacement of military training with "live safety," completely ruined the project


The Yu-2/3 is superior to all others, only because it's all metal, relatively easy to modify to at least some ability to fire a 200-220 m/s BB, simple, durable, and long-lasting (well, this is in addition to what was already described above—it imitates handling techniques of a real AK-74).



The Yu-2/3 were taken out of production not by the efforts of the authorities, but by the laziness and clumsiness of the manufacturer, since casting plastic into a mold with minimal subsequent processing is much easier than casting aluminum and milling steel... besides, IMHO, there are no craftsmen left in production - judging by the quality of the new combat weapons that are now supplied to the troops and law enforcement agencies

All Junker-2(3)s are different, one has a rifle-style receiver, another a Saiga's, one has a sawn-off stump for a bayonet/knife, another doesn't. On the untuned one, only the hole for the gas cylinder latch and the shiny latch in the magazine on the right give away the Junker-2(3). And the bore diameter of the barrel differs from that of the AK-74M (Saiga 223) by a millimeter, so it's impossible to tell the difference with the naked eye. if it's a Saiga 223, then it doesn't have a bayonet stub.

All Junker-2(3)s are different - one has a rifle-style receiver, another a Saiga's, one has a sawn-off stump for a bayonet/knife, another doesn't. On the untuned one, only the hole for the gas cylinder latch and the shiny latch in the magazine on the right give away the Junker-2(3). And the bore diameter of the barrel differs from that of the AK-74M (Saiga 223) by a millimeter, so it's impossible to tell the difference with the naked eye. if it's a Saiga 223, then it doesn't have a bayonet stub.


The Junker is anything but a "gas-powered air rifle." The Junker's very appearance was prompted by the revival of basic military training in educational institutions, and for this, a NEW training weapon was needed (all the old ones had been confiscated and destroyed, and there were no weapons rooms). As a training aid, the Junker could have easily fulfilled this purpose (it's almost genuine in appearance, weight, and design, and can be disassembled and SIMULATE firing). What didn't work out was either the price being prohibitive for schools (and after all, more than one Junker is needed for training purposes), or the lack of a fully revived basic military training. But in a fit of desperation and a search for a commercial justification for the project, the factory began selling Junkers freely, and people started buying them! And primarily as MMGs. Later, the desire to actually fire them a bit came, not as the factory intended, but as it could be done based on the design's potential.



The biggest nonsense, in my opinion, is the Junker and Saiga rifles in wood. The Junker, like the rifled Saigas in 7.62x39 and .223 calibers, uses the AK-74M and AK-10X receivers. The last rifle produced in wood was the AK-74/AKS-74, which had a different, weaker receiver and a receiver cover with longitudinal stampings. Therefore, only the Junker-3 with the "machine gun" receiver and optics rail (since all AK-74M/AK-10X rifles have an optics rail) can be considered a 100% copy of the real rifle.

The receivers are not from a real sword, or intended for real sword but a product that was originally intended for airguns. Recoil spring rods, stocks, receiver cover, selector levers, rear sight & foresights are from real sword. How many and what kind of real sword parts it has is completely irrelevant, what matters is that it was never intended to be a real sword weapon. The Y-1 rifles are the only receivers that are of the real sword type & the blocked off barrel still has rifling. Later Y-3 models supposedly have the gas tube blocked off, whereas earlier model are not blocked

The same goes for the Cybergun rifles these were never intended for real sword either, but were manufactured directly as airguns or airsoft in the case of the real sword using either the same parts as real sword, or made using the same technology on the same equipment at the same factory.

Later they produced the Y-4 & Y-5 the Y-4 has a fixed mag housing & unique receiver, the Y-5 was an airsoft model with identical mag & housing from the Y-4.

Competing with China was foolish. They foc used on producing the PP19 and Saiga 9-19. China's arrival coincided with the start of production of the PP19 and the civilian version of the Saiga 9-19.

Prototype model

Standard Model

 

[nikvanorton]

@RedRoyRegulator - Couple of things:


I’m struggling to understand how Real Sword fits in/is connected with Yunker in your post? (see your text below).

QUOTE The receivers are not from a real sword, or intended for real sword but a product that was originally intended for airguns. Recoil spring rods, stocks, receiver cover, selector levers, rear sight & foresights are from real sword. How many and what kind of real sword parts it has is completely irrelevant, what matters is that it was never intended to be a real sword weapon. The Y-1 rifles are the only receivers that are of the real sword type & the blocked off barrel still has rifling. Later Y-3 models supposedly have the gas tube blocked off, whereas earlier model are not blocked"

QUOTE "Around 10 people used to work on these rifles on a small scale production facility who simultaneously made ATG for the assault rifles but used the same factory equipment as original real sword counterparts"

What’s the connection between Cybergun and Real Sword?
The gen1 Cyberguns are most definitely not built from airgun receivers.

QUOTE "The same goes for the Cybergun rifles these were never intended for real sword either, but were manufactured directly as airguns or airsoft in the case of the real sword using either the same parts as real sword, or made using the same technology on the same equipment at the same factory”.

 

[Didier]

As regards Yunker bayonet lugs, the conclusion I can draw from the 'study' of my four Yunkers is that they were milled off only half-heartedly: the Yunker-4 has one almost intact bayonet lug out of two whereas the lugs on the Yunker-3 are more carefully milled off. The lonely bayonet lug on the Yunker-2 carbines was milled off for cosmetic reasons, as we have seen.

Yunker-3 lugs: you can see that they were once there, though not much of them is left.

Yunker-4 bayonet lugs: the front lug is still fully operational, the rear lug is but the ghost of what it used to be.

My understanding of that is that Izhmash people were required to mill off the bayonet lugs on Yunker rifles to conform to Russian gun laws - adding a bayonet to the BB gun makes it a lethal weapon indeed.

Either the workers at Izhmash didn't want to spend too much time on that task or they only did it partially and grudgingly, to give Yunker fans a chance of fitting an AK bayonet to their Yunker setups. I would say the first option is the more plausible one, though

So we have 'deactivated' bayonet lugs on Yunker-3s and (long version) Yunker-4s, in the same way as the muzzle brakes they have were more or less deactivated. The AK-105 muzzle booster was replaced by a simple plastic thingy on Yunker-2 and short version Yunker-4 carbines simply because the booster couldn't be deactivated (well, at least, that is my personal conclusion!).

 

[Didier]

GEN1 Cybergun receivers were originally manufactured as Type 56 assault rifles receivers - they are not airsoft or airgun receivers made along the same lines or using the same tooling as the 'real' thing. We have ample proof that some of them at least were salvaged from used Chinese Type 56 assault rifles, together with some of their parts.

GEN2 Cybergun receivers are another matter altogether: they are indeed airsoft/airgun type receivers and were never intended to be used on any firearm whatsoever. That is the big difference between the GEN1 guns (which we study on here) and the GEN2 guns (which we do not study per se on this thread).

As a reminder only:

Scrubbed original Chinese Type 56 serial number on the front trunnion.

Original auto-sear hole (= third pin hole) and Chinese Type 56 export selector markings.

Original Chinese Type 56 serial number on top cover.

Original Chinese Type 56 serial number on recoil spring assembly.

Original Chinese (?) serial number on the reverse of the rear sight leaf.

Sino-Soviet rear sight leaf (actually used on some of the Chinese Type 56 production).

Chinese worker's control stamp on front trunnion.

Traces of the gas tube latch/retainer on front sight block.

Unlike Yunker rifles, the different elements of which were never part of a full-fledged firearm, GEN1 Cybergun AKs incorporate quite a lot of parts that were once used on actual live-firing assault rifles.

That said, GEN1 Cybergun AKs are not converted Type 56 assault rifles - each of them was made from parts coming from as many 'donor rifles', hence the fact that no two serial numbers present on the above Cybergun AK are the same.

From the point of view of French gun laws, all ex-full auto rifles converted to semi-auto mode had to be either destroyed or (heavily) deactivated just a few years back. The GEN1 Cybergun AK, albeit a mere 4.5 mm BB gun, is the very last legal ex-full auto AK that can be 'shot' in France, so I suppose that that makes it the very last of the Mohicans

 

[RedRoyRegulator]

@RedRoyRegulator - Couple of things:


I’m struggling to understand how Real Sword fits in/is connected with Yunker in your post? (see your text below).

QUOTE The receivers are not from a real sword, or intended for real sword but a product that was originally intended for airguns. Recoil spring rods, stocks, receiver cover, selector levers, rear sight & foresights are from real sword. How many and what kind of real sword parts it has is completely irrelevant, what matters is that it was never intended to be a real sword weapon. The Y-1 rifles are the only receivers that are of the real sword type & the blocked off barrel still has rifling. Later Y-3 models supposedly have the gas tube blocked off, whereas earlier model are not blocked"

QUOTE "Around 10 people used to work on these rifles on a small scale production facility who simultaneously made ATG for the assault rifles but used the same factory equipment as original real sword counterparts"

What’s the connection between Cybergun and Real Sword?
The gen1 Cyberguns are most definitely not built from airgun receivers.

QUOTE "The same goes for the Cybergun rifles these were never intended for real sword either, but were manufactured directly as airguns or airsoft in the case of the real sword using either the same parts as real sword, or made using the same technology on the same equipment at the same factory”.

@nikvanorton Whoa! I didn’t mention anything about gen1 Yes your right, the Taiwanese ones did but remember this! gen1 ones were never combat weapons either, but were manufactured directly as airguns (or Airsoft in the CASE of the RealSword) using either the same parts as military weapons, or made using the same technology on the same equipment at the same factory, but slightly differently, taking into account the design features of a civilian weapon. Basically, you have a bunch of parts. If you build an assault rifle out of them, you can't convert it into a hunting rifle or an airgun. But if you immediately build an airgun or hun ting carbine out of these parts, everything's fine.

As regards Yunker bayonet lugs, the conclusion I can draw from the 'study' of my four Yunkers is that they were milled off only half-heartedly: the Yunker-4 has one almost intact bayonet lug out of two whereas the lugs on the Yunker-3 are more carefully milled off. The lonely bayonet lug on the Yunker-2 carbines was milled off for cosmetic reasons, as we have seen.

View attachment 916322
Yunker-3 lugs: you can see that they were once there, though not much of them is left.

View attachment 916323
View attachment 916324

View attachment 916325
Yunker-4 bayonet lugs: the front lug is still fully operational, the rear lug is but the ghost of what it used to be.

View attachment 916327
View attachment 916329

My understanding of that is that Izhmash people were required to mill off the bayonet lugs on Yunker rifles to conform to Russian gun laws - adding a bayonet to the BB gun makes it a lethal weapon indeed.

Either the workers at Izhmash didn't want to spend too much time on that task or they only did it partially and grudgingly, to give Yunker fans a chance of fitting an AK bayonet to their Yunker setups. I would say the first option is the more plausible one, though

So we have 'deactivated' bayonet lugs on Yunker-3s and (long version) Yunker-4s, in the same way as the muzzle brakes they have were more or less deactivated. The AK-105 muzzle booster was replaced by a simple plastic thingy on Yunker-2 and short version Yunker-4 carbines simply because the booster couldn't be deactivated (well, at least, that is my personal conclusion!).

Your own study

Funny I’ve just posted that information about an hour ago & You’ve just discovered this information from my post & then took a few quick snaps & added it to your own post

All Junker-2(3)s are different, one has a rifle-style receiver, another a Saiga's, one has a sawn-off stump for a bayonet/knife, another doesn't. On the untuned one,

 

[Didier]

Your own study

Funny I’ve just posted that information about an hour ago & You’ve just discovered this information from my post & then took a few quick snaps & added it to your own post

Have you? Well, all I can say is that I am not using any AI to come to my conclusions, but, as you could see, my knowledge comes from the analysis of either the stuff I have at home or the material I can find on Russian forums, so please, stop insulting me

 

[RedRoyRegulator]

Have you? Well, all I can say is that I am not using any AI to come to my conclusions, but, as you could see, my knowledge comes from the analysis of either the stuff I have at home or the material I can find on Russian forums, so please, stop insulting me

AI C’MON GIVE ME BREAK! You really think I would put AI trash on this thread!

I’ve spent countless hours, days months of my time researching this information from Russian websites & forums, NOT AI

Funny how you’ve been researching these rifles for years on forums but only now! Tonight an hour after my post you post your own post with pretty much same info but with more detail & pictures, that’s not insulting either is it?, think you need to do more research

 

[RedRoyRegulator]

I’m done arguing about it now!

Take this information as you please but I’m sure once you do more research you’ll be adding this information in your own illustrative manner with pictures

 

[nikvanorton]

This has always been a friendly thread about shared interests and over the past couple of years it’s grown into a great source of information (admittidly some of which is uncorroborated!) on Yunker, Cybergun, Real Sword, and a few outliers like Tyrex.

But things seem to have changed, and now, even I seem to be getting drawn into a more argumentative kind of attitude. It need to stop here. If anyone prefers a more confrontational discussion, please start a separate thread.

Thanks

 

[RedRoyRegulator]

Yeah it has been a friendly thread about shared interests,

I say it how it is & I’m just trying to be honest I feel about the thread, I was thinking about posting on my own Y-3 thread due to this problem. It’s very clear lately once I post information on this thread it’s gets no likes maybe one or two on certain things, that’s not important, what is important, all the information seems to be slipped to one side then Didier adds other information straight away, not to block it from view but to make a new page so it’s not visible & the obvious recent one which he was clearly called out for, was the posts I done with tons of info that gets missed, no like then an hr later post gets added with same information I’ve just given!

 

[nikvanorton]

Yeah it has been a friendly thread about shared interests,

I say it how it is & it’s very clear lately once I post information on this thread it’s gets no likes maybe one or two on certain things, that’s not important, what is important, all the information seems to be slipped to one side then Didier adds other information straight away, not to block it from view but to make a new page so it’s not visible & the obvious recent one which he was clearly called out for, was the posts I done with tons of info that gets missed, no like then an hr later post gets added with same information I’ve just given!

Your info is great - really interesting and an asset to this thread.

People who are passionate about a subject can easily get carried away and it’s not much fun for anyone reading snarky comments.
I’m sure we can all show some restraint and try to get along, eh?

 

[Didier]

Yeah it has been a friendly thread about shared interests,

I say it how it is & it’s very clear lately once I post information on this thread it’s gets no likes maybe one or two on certain things, that’s not important, but all the important information seems to be slipped to one side then Didier adds other information straight away to not block it from view but to make a new page so it’s not visible & the obvious recent one which he was clearly called out was the posts I done with tons of info that gets missed no like then an hr later post gets added with same information I’ve just given!

There's been some kind of misunderstanding between us, I think: when I mentioned the bayonet lugs, I was only responding to what you had written a few moments before. The same goes for the Cybergun receivers. I hadn't quite understood what you were driving at in the first place.

I had been aware of that bayonet lug thing for quite a while, so I took the liberty of elaborating it somewhat. That said, I don't think I should have asked your permission for that - our common goal is not only to keep this thread alive but also to gather all the information we can about those BB guns. If I had wanted to be a forum superstar, I would have started my own thread, I suppose.

So hopefully we can get on together on here and both make the best of each other's insights, because, contrary to what you seem to imply, I am not trying to outshine you. @nikvanorton has known me for quite some time now and I think he can confirm that this is how I work, that is by responding to new ideas that have been posted on here.

 

[nikvanorton]

Here’s a picture of a very unusual gun, just to move things along in a most un-confrontational way
It doesn’t belong in this thread, but you must admit, it’s very pretty - and Russian!

 

[Didier]

Is that a PCP pistol?

 

[nikvanorton]

Is that a PCP pistol?

Yes it is, a .177, with 6 shot magazine and hot-swappable air tank.
Beautifully engineered, even the mag is machined alloy with tiny sprung ball detents.

 

[Didier]

Because this thread is devoted to Yunker & Cybergun AK BB guns, here is something that (as far as I know!) hadn't been mentioned before: two different versions of the Izhmash logo on Yunker magazines.

The long and broad arrow in a triangle (a shield, in fact), which is the standard one.

The smaller (and a tad bit slender) arrow in a triangle, which is the one I have on my 2008 Yunker-4 magazine.

K. V. Podgornov does not mention the two different arrows in his book (Автоматы и ручные пулеметы Калашникова/Kalashnikov assault rifles and light machine guns), maybe because that was... uninteresting and/or irrelevant!

What could be more relevant, though, would be to make an inventory of Yunker mag mould numbers and try to associate them with Yunker production years. So far, I can provide mould numbers 47 (2004-dated Yu-3, 2008-dated Yu-4), 49 (2003-dated Yu-3), 54 (2002-dated Yu-2) and 56 (2006-dated Yu-3). That doesn't seem to show any correlation between the mould numbers and the years of production of the Yunkers.

 

[RedRoyRegulator]

Who fancies a tour of the IZHMASH plant?

A tour of the Izhmash plant, the birthplace of the Kalashnikov assault rifle thanks to “Nevsedoma.com”



If you're interested in how Kalashnikov assault rifles are manufactured, we suggest you take a tour of the Izhmash plant, the birthplace of this legendary weapon. A photo report with detailed commentary awaits you below.



There's nothing unusual about weapons production. First, individual components are made, then everything is assembled into a rifle or, say, an aircraft cannon. This is how molds for casting certain parts are made. These models are made from a modeling compound (paraffin, stearin, and something else). Then the models are assembled into blocks.

A slurry is applied to the block, sprinkled with sand, and dried, resulting in a ceramic mold. Then a model is cast from this mold and steel is poured in.

The finished parts then need to be cleaned by hand. Everything is lovely, homey.

Parts are heated in ovens to a specific temperature, which changes the structure of the material and its hardness.

And this is a salt heat treatment bath. The parts are dipped in hot salt.

An etching line. When the weapon parts undergo heat treatment, they become glowing. This heat is removed using chemicals. The etching line is already new.

The old workshops look like this.

Look how warm everything was at the plant. Flowers, posters, tea and candy.

Now the plant is being modernized. New workshops are being built, and a large central warehouse is being constructed. New machines arrived here in December 2014. Now there will be no cacti.

Something bad happened with the machine tools, too. Due to sanctions, the number of countries that can supply us with equipment has significantly decreased. Kalashnikov is planning to refocus on domestic and Asian manufacturers.

By the way, check out the charming coat rack and the bag with strawberries!

Kalashnikov initially planned to spend 5 billion rubles on investments, but due to the weakening ruble, at least 6 billion rubles will have to be invested in modernization. The investment program is scheduled for completion in 2017.

By 2020, Kalashnikov plans to triple its output and gross revenue while cutting its production costs in half.

By 2020, Kalashnikov plans to triple its output and gross revenue while cutting its production costs in half.

The plant currently resembles a large construction site. Moreover, renovations and modernization are ongoing alongside production. In some workshops, floors and walls are being repaired simultaneously, while in others, new roofs and ceilings are being installed.

Behind the scenes, repairs are underway, while nearby, parts are still being manufactured.

Old machines are gradually being replaced with new ones.

This entire stamping section pictured below will be replaced by a single laser machine, where all the parts will now be cut.

Old

New

Let's move on to assembly! Pressing the receiver and barrel together which factory workers call “the wedding."

There are several production streams: mass production—military products and civilian weapons based on the Kalashnikov assault rifle—sniper rifles and the Tiger shotgun based on the sniper rifle. Incidentally, weapons named after animals are referred to by factory employees as "our zoo."

The streams are organized differently: in the first case, it's a conveyor belt, while in the second, it's a multi-batch assembly line, meaning each item is assembled by a single person.

During production, an assault rifle or other weapon undergoes a number of checkpoints: three at launch, seven at release, and then after each operation. For military products, for example, the interchangeability of parts is checked.

One section produces sporting and hunting weapons (the Los and Bars carbines, etc.) and the SV-98 sniper rifle.

Despite equipment modernization, the assembly principle will remain the same, with a significant amount of manual labor.

After the "wedding," the product is sent to the coating process, and from there to final assembly. The barrel and receiver are joined with the cover, buttstock, forend, grip, and other components

This section produces aircraft cannons. This type of weapon is produced only here, at the Izhevsk plant. The rate of fire of the cannons, which are installed on Russian helicopters and airplanes, is up to 1,800 rounds per minute.

The plant produces approximately 120,000 small arms per year, with a daily production rate of approximately 500 units. This is not at full capacity. The plant was initially designed to produce 600,000 weapons. In the coming years, the plant plans to introduce new product lines and increase production to 300,000 units per year

This year, the company intends to produce 20-25% more weapons than last year (120,000 in 2014).

Once the rifles are ready on the production line, rifles are picked & sent to a weapons testing center is located a 10-minute drive from the factory