Izhevsk Mechanical Plant


Izhevsk Mechanical Plant or IZHMEKH was a major firearms manufacturer founded in Izhevsk in 1942 for manufacturing small arms.

History

It was one of the primary factories producing Mosin–Nagant and SVT-40 rifles during World War II for standard issue to Soviet troops. It also made SPSh-44 flare pistols.
After the end of World War II it continued producing firearms, both for military and hunting applications, and later high-tech weapons and civilian machinery.
In 1948 plant began production Margolin pistols.
In 1956 plant began production 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 In 1973 plant began production of PSM pistol, in 1978 - IZh-35 pistols.
In 1980s plant began production of IZh-38 and IZh-40 air guns, since 1989 - IZh-46 air pistols.
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 IZh-76 gas pistol, IZh-81 and IZh-94 shotguns.
In 2002 Izhmekh began production MP-461 pistols, in 2004 - 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.
In 2008 Izhmekh made 9mm pistols, gas pistols, signal pistols, rifles and several models of smoothbore hunting shotguns.
In 2010 Izhmekh began production :ru:MP-353|MP-353 pistols.
On August 13, 2013, Izhmash and Izhevsk Mechanical Plant were merged and formally renamed Kalashnikov Concern.

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