The Makarov pistol was Russia’s solution to the need for a modern military sidearm and caliber after World War 2. It was a replacement for the TT33 Tokarev, a pistol that was deemed too large and underpowered for practical use any more; it also lacked a manual safety, something that most military’s desire for a […]
soviet
The Polish P-64 service pistol
The Polish P-64 is a unique pistol in that it probably draws more inspiration from the Walther PPK than other Eastern Bloc designs but the influence of the Makarov remains obvious — it even uses the Russian 9x18mm round for the military variant. Developed in the late 1950s at Poland‘s Institute for Artillery Research, the P-64 was designed by a team […]
Russia’s new service rifles: Soviet firepower with an American flare
Few rifles have achieved the legendary status of the Soviet rifle of choice: the Kalashnikov AK-47. Its price, reliability and .30 caliber stopping power have made it a favorite among gunslingers everywhere from Third World dictatorships to high-end gun collections. Its legacy even continues to thrive in the Russian military today, in the form of the […]
Russian SOF Gear – Altyn helmet
In the late 80’s the Soviet KGB issued a request for a new helmet to be issued to it’s elite troops in Afghanistan. The helmet was to provide extremely good protection over most of the user’s head. As this was to be mainly used in close quarters by units rapidly deployed from helicopter or armoured […]