Combat psm. PSM pistol: photos, technical characteristics
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The Imperial Order of the Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called is the first Russian order to be established, the highest award Russian Empire until 1917.
Established in 1698 (or 1699) by Peter I and until 1714, when the Order of St. Catherine was established, it was the only order of the Russian Empire. The first holder of the order was diplomat Fyodor Golovin in 1699.
The insignia of the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called consisted of: 1) a cross sign, the main image of which was St. Andrew, crucified, according to legend, on a cross of an X-shaped configuration; on the four ends of the cross are the letters: S.A.P.R. (Sanctus Andreus Patronus Russiae - Saint Andrew, patron of Russia; 2) a silver eight-pointed star with the motto of the order “For Faith and Fidelity” placed in its central medallion.
The badge of the order was worn on a wide blue ribbon over the right shoulder, and the star was placed on the left side of the chest. On especially solemn occasions, the sign of the order was worn on the chest on a gold figured chain covered with multi-colored enamels. The only one of all Russian orders that had a chain.
The order was established by Peter I on August 30, 1698, according to one certificate. IN modern literature November 30 is indicated as the day of establishment of the order, although in fact this date is the day of remembrance of St. Apostle Andrew the First-Called according to the old style. It is assumed that Peter I, who had just returned from the Great Embassy, wanted to have in his state an order similar to those that he learned about in England, where he met with monarchs, with the nobility, and saw them expensive rewards worn on special occasions. Stars studded with diamonds, gold chains on the chest, colored ribbons - all these brilliant insignia testified not only to the high merits of the person, noted personally by the monarch, but also to the great mercy towards him.
The choice of Saint Andrew did not fall by chance. He was an apostle faithful to Christian teaching, he did a lot to spread the new doctrine, visited the lands of Rus', the places of the future city of Novgorod, where he erected a cross on the banks of the Volkhov River, and sailed to the island of Valaam. In 70, the Roman Emperor Nero demanded his abdication. Andrey did not agree. And as punishment, he was crucified on an oblique cross. And so that the stubborn preacher would suffer more, the cross was turned over along with him, placed upside down.
Although the order began to be awarded, there was no officially approved statute. The draft statute of 1720 is known, then there was the draft statute of 1744 (which contained differences from the statute of 1720), but only in 1797, under Paul I, the statute was approved and published for the first time. The first draft of its charter, drawn up with the direct participation of Peter I, stated for what merits a person should be awarded: “... in reward and reward for loyalty, courage and various services rendered to us and the fatherland, everyone should have a decent fortune. But there were exceptions.
The first to receive the order was Peter's comrade-in-arms, Count Fyodor Golovin, on March 20, 1699, about which I.-G. left his testimony. Korb, secretary of the Austrian embassy. Golovin explained to Korb the content of the statute of the Order of St. Apostle Andrew the First-Called, but this initial project of Peter I has not reached our time. Under Emperor Paul I, the cross was replaced with a double-headed eagle. And subsequently the order underwent some changes. The second person to receive this high award in 1700 was the Ukrainian Hetman Mazepa. Peter I personally hung a valuable order on his chest. For betrayal, Peter in 1708 deprived him of his reward.
Peter himself was awarded the Order of the Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called No. b in 1703 for personally leading the capture of two Swedish warships at the mouth of the Neva. The award to the Tsar, who had the official military rank of captain, was presented by the first St. Andrew's Knight F.A. Golovin. For participation in this battle, the future prince, Peter's associate, who was then lieutenant bombardier, A.D. Menshikov, received the same award. During the reign of Peter, this award was received secretly - for his sympathies towards Russia - by the “Wallachian ruler” Constantin Brincoveanu, who was not included in the official lists of award recipients. In total, in Peter’s time, 38 people received the order, including four for distinction in the Battle of Poltava.
Initially, the eight-pointed star of the order was not metal, but embroidered (“The eight-pointed star of the Order should be sewn on the caftan and epanche, in the middle of it golden field, in which there is a silver cross"). Only the badge of the order was issued. Historically, the concept of order denoted an organization whose members wore signs of belonging to this organization. Although historians claim that stars began to be made of silver only in early XIX century under Alexander I, in the portrait of Peter I the star does not look like cloth.
From the description of the badge of the order before the reign of Paul I: “The badge of the order has two sides: the front one represents the image of St. Andrew hanging on the so-called St. Andrew’s Cross, represented by an oblong image in the form of an oblique cross on which this holy Apostle was crucified…. On the back side there is a double-headed eagle with three gold crowns, indicated by a gold and bluish shadow on the wings... This cross should be gold with diamonds, enamel, decorated with a diamond crown, costing about 85 rubles, hung through hooks on loops made of solid gold. The angels holding the crown over him should be embroidered in silver, the crown in gold, and the words “For faith and fidelity” serve as an inscription or motto. However, the gentleman can give several diamonds and other expensive stones to the Treasurer for use on the cross and decorate it at his own will.”
Knights of the order, according to the Charter, must have the highest noble or state rank, military rank not lower than a general. The recipient of the order had the right to the rank of lieutenant general if he was in a lower rank. The gentlemen were required to have a considerable fortune in order to “support the importance of this event.” At the same time, no more than 12 Russians could be holders of the order. Total number holders of the order (Russian and foreign subjects) should not exceed twenty-four people.
Under Paul I, there was a ban on decorating the order with precious stones at one’s discretion. In total, before 1797 (the accession of Paul I to the throne), that is, in almost 100 years, 231 people became holders of the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called. Among the holders of the Order of St. Andrew are the commanders Pyotr Rumyantsev-Zadunaisky and Alexander Suvorov (became a holder of the order on November 9, 1787 for the battle of Kinburn; in 1789 for the battle of Rymnik he was awarded diamond badges to the order), statesmen Fyodor Apraksin and Grigory Potemkin. Over two centuries, from 900 to 1100 people received the order.
On April 5 (17), 1797, Emperor Paul I signed a special Establishment, which became the first official Statute of the Imperial Order of St. Andrew the First-Called Apostle. Paul I was the first to bestow orders on clergy. Paul also legalized the awarding of all male infants without exception - the Grand Dukes with the Order of Andrew at baptism, and the princes of the imperial blood - upon reaching adulthood.
In 1798, the order's attire of the Knights was also approved. It consisted of a green velvet cloak lined with white fabric, a collar made of silver brocade with silver cords and the same tassels. On the left side of the cloak there is an embroidered Star of the Order. The clothes under the cloak are made of white brocade, trimmed with gold braid and with a cross on the chest made of the same braid. Cashmere pants, white silk stockings, a black velvet hat with white and red feathers and a St. Andrew's Cross made of sky blue ribbon.
During the reign of Emperor Alexander I, in 1807, on the occasion of the ratification of the Peace of Tilsit, the order was awarded to Napoleon I, his brother Jerome Bonaparte, Marshals Berthier and Murat, and Prince Talleyrand. King Gustav IV Adolf of Sweden, having learned about the award of the order to Napoleon, returned his Order of St. Andrew the First-Called back as a sign of protest.
Behind Patriotic War In 1812, the only cavalier was General A.P. Tormasov for his distinction in the battle of Krasnoye. Further awards were for distinctions in the foreign campaign of the Russian army in 1813-1814. Among famous foreigners The English commander Duke of Wellington was also awarded this order in 1815.
Since 1855, the insignia of the order received for military exploits was joined by two crossed golden swords placed on top of the cross and on the upper ray of the star. Since 1732, the capitular church has been St. Andrew's Cathedral in St. Petersburg.
Excerpts from the Order's Statute of 1892:
* No exact merits are determined by law for achieving this order, and the award thereof depends solely on the Royal attention to the service and distinctions of senior government officials.
* Has only one degree. Consists of a cross, a silver star and a blue ribbon over the right shoulder. At the ends of the St. Andrew's cross there are four Latin letters “S.” A.P.R." It means "Saint Andrew - Patron of Russia."
* Cavaliers of the order are considered to be all in the 3rd class of government ranks, that is, on a par with lieutenant generals, even if they were lower in service.
* Twelve holders of the Order of St. Andrew, including three clergy, receive annual pensions of 1000 rubles (the three oldest) or 800 rubles (the rest). The amount of the pension coincides with that established for the St. George Knights of the 1st class.
The last holder of the order was, by birthright, the prince of the imperial blood, Roman Petrovich (1896-1978). After February Revolution 1917 The Provisional Government made some changes to appearance order: some monarchical symbols, such as crowns, were removed from it, and the royal eagle was replaced with a “republican” one without crowns. But there were no awards with this order in 1917.
St. Andrew's Cathedral St. Petersburg. St. Andrew's Order with angels above the entrance to the church.
In 1917 Soviet Russia The awarding of the order was discontinued. The order was preserved by the House of Romanov in exile as a dynastic award, but it was extremely rarely complained about. On July 1, 1998, by decree of the President of the Russian Federation Boris Yeltsin (No. 757), the new Order of St. Apostle Andrew the First-Called was established as the highest award in Russia.
It is a common custom to bandage male infants with ribbon. blue color goes back to the above-mentioned custom of awarding every Grand Duke born with the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called.
Badge of the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called Apostle.
And the imperial order of St. Apostle Andrew the First-Called was highest award in the Russian Empire. The first to receive it was Peter I's comrade-in-arms, Count Fyodor Golovin, in 1699. In Soviet times, the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called was not awarded. And the award was restored only in 1998 - as the highest in the Russian Federation.
The oldest in the Russian state
When Peter the Great undertook to reshape his state in a European manner, he needed to establish official awards - after all, the order system did not exist in the Russian kingdom.
The Order of St. Andrew was created in 1698 or 1699 - after the return of Tsar Peter from the Great Embassy to Europe, where he carefully studied how everything worked among his neighbors. Thus, it became clear that due to the inconsistency of our diplomatic ceremonies, the Russians seemed barbaric to foreigners - in particular, due to the fact that we could not present our orders in response to those presented. In Europe young Peter they wanted to award him the Brandenburg Order of Generosity and the British Order of the Garter, but he refused them, since he could not respond “on equal terms” with his order.
Peter I with the sign of the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called on a blue St. Andrew's ribbon and with a star on his chest. Painting by J.-M. Nattier. 1717. Hermitage
Dmitry Levitsky. Portrait of Empress Catherine II (1794, Novgorod Museum)
Dmitry Vladimirovich Golitsyn. Hood. Franz Riess, 1835
Portrait of Alexander I as a child. Artist: Dmitry Levitsky.
Portrait of Grand Dukes Alexander Pavlovich and Konstantin Pavlovich as children. Artist Heide. 1790
Oblique Order Cross
The badge of the order is an oblique, so-called St. Andrew's cross. According to legend, the Apostle Andrew, condemned to torture, chose him out of humility, so as not to imitate Jesus Christ in his death. (And the Apostle Peter, for the same reason, asked to be crucified upside down.)
The Apostle Andrew died around 70 AD. e. in Patras, on the territory modern Greece, at the site of his death there now stands a cathedral in his honor. An Orthodox relic is also kept there - the wooden cross of Andrew, which was taken from Byzantium by the crusaders in 1250, was kept in Marseille and only in 1980 was transferred to Greece.
Latin abbreviation
At the four ends of the order’s cross are the Latin letters “S.A.P.R.”, which stands for “Sanctus Andreus Patronus Russiae” (“St. Andrew, Patron of Russia”), because, according to legend, the apostle preached the gospel in Rus'.
It is also decorated with the motto “For Faith and Fidelity.” The heraldic figure of a double-headed eagle did not appear in the design of the order immediately. The order was worn on a blue moire ribbon, and on special occasions - on an order chain.
Star of the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called. Kremlin, XVIII century
Ribbon of the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called
Chain of the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called. Kremlin.
Star of the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called
Gift for baby
The order quickly became a symbol of imperial power. Already in the Peter the Great era, the image of a chain with the St. Andrew's Cross appeared on state seals.
Starting with Ioann Antonovich, all members imperial family males received the order at birth. Princes of imperial blood (the title appeared in the 2nd half of the 19th century) were given it upon coming of age. Romanov girls were similarly given the highest female order of the country - St. Catherine.
Nikolay Lomtev. Apostle Andrew the First-Called erects a cross on the Kyiv mountains
Badge of the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called. OK. 1800. Hermitage
Badge of the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called with swords. Kremlin, 19th century
Cross of the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called. Kremlin, XVIII century
Required for coronation
The Order of St. Andrew was not only awarded to subjects of the empire and foreigners for their merits. Along with the crown, mantle, orb and scepter, it became a necessary regalia during the coronations of emperors.
This custom arose in the 18th century - the era of palace coups, in order to legitimize the occupation of the throne by pretenders who did not have legal law to the throne. This was especially true for women - autocratic empresses, who did not receive the order in advance, at birth, and placed its signs on themselves.
Russian coronation regalia. Coronation album of Alexander II. 1856
Small plate from the service of the Order of the Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called (St. Andrew's service). 1778–1780. Hermitage
Basically, these imperial orders are kept in the collection of the Moscow Kremlin Museums. Some, however, were sold by the Bolsheviks (especially those decorated with diamonds). The situation is improving: for example, on December 9, 2015, in the Grand Kremlin Palace, as part of ceremonial events, dedicated to the Day Heroes of the Fatherland, gifts from patrons of the arts were transferred to the museum funds - a badge of the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called made of smoky quartz, which belonged to the heir to the throne Pavel Petrovich - the future Emperor Paul I and Catherine the Great.
The Order of the Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called is the highest state award of the Russian Federation.
The Order of the Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called is awarded to outstanding government and public figures and other citizens of the Russian Federation for exceptional services contributing to the prosperity, greatness and glory of Russia.
The Order of the Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called can be awarded for outstanding services to the Russian Federation to the heads and heads of governments of foreign states.
The badge of the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called Apostle is worn on the order chain or on the shoulder ribbon. Wearing the badge of the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called on the order chain is allowed on especially solemn occasions. When wearing the badge of the Order of St. Andrew the Apostle on the shoulder ribbon, it passes over the right shoulder. The star of the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called Apostle is located on the left side of the chest, to the left of the orders below the order blocks.
Those awarded for distinction in military operations are awarded the badge and star of the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called Apostle with swords.
When wearing the ribbon of the Order of St. Andrew the Apostle on the bar, it is located above other order ribbons.
Description of the order
The Order of the Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called has a badge, a star, an order chain and an order ribbon.
The badge of the order is an oblong oblique cross made of silver with gilding, covered with blue enamel, with the image of the crucified Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called on it. At the ends of the cross there are golden letters “S”, “A”, “P”, “R” (Sanctus Andreas Patronus Russiae - Saint Andrew the Patron of Russia). The cross is superimposed on a relief gilded double-headed eagle, crowned with three crowns and supporting the lower ends of the oblique cross with its paws. On back side sign on the eagle's chest white field, the motto of the order is applied in black enamel: “FOR FAITH AND LOYALTY.” The cross is suspended on a blue enamel ribbon from the middle crown, which has a ribbon eyelet on the reverse side. Sign height - 86 mm, width - 60 mm.
The order's ribbon is silk, moire, blue, 100 mm wide.
Silver star, eight-pointed. In the center of the star, in a round medallion covered with red enamel, there is a gilded relief image of a double-headed eagle crowned with three crowns; on the eagle's chest there is an image of the St. Andrew's cross (oblique, covered with blue enamel). At the top along the circumference, on a blue enamel background with gilded edging, is the order’s motto in gold: “FOR FAITH AND LOYALTY”; below is an image of two crossed laurel branches, covered with green enamel and tied with a gilded ribbon. The distance between the opposite ends of the star is 82 mm. The star is attached to clothing using a pin.
The order chain consists of 17 alternating links of three types: gilded image State emblem Russian Federation in the form of a double-headed eagle with a round shield on the chest with a rider, made in color; crowned with a crown and framed with military fittings, a cartouche filled with blue enamel, in the center of which is placed the gilded monogram of Peter I; rosette covered with red enamel and divided by gilded stripes in the form of a radiance. A St. Andrew's cross (oblique, covered with blue enamel) passes through the middle of the rosette, between the ends of which the letters “S”, “A”, “P”, “R” are placed. The chain links are connected by rings. The chain is made of silver with gilding and hot enamels.
For those awarded for distinction in military operations, two crossed gilded swords are added to the badge and star of the order. When attaching swords to the badge of the order, they are located under the middle crown above the double-headed eagle. The length of each sword is 47 mm, width is 3 mm. When attaching the swords to the star of the order, they are placed behind its central medallion, on top of the middle rays of the diagonal ends of the star. The length of each sword is 54 mm, width is 3 mm.
A ribbon without an order on uniform is worn on a bar 12 mm high, the width of the ribbon is 45 mm. For those awarded for distinction in military operations, the ribbon additionally contains two miniature crossed gilded swords.
A ribbon without an order on civilian clothes is worn in the form of a rosette. The diameter of the socket is 22 mm.
The small-sized PSM pistol, influenced by the design of the German Walter PPK, was intended for use as self-defense by high-ranking army leaders. Weapons were used during special operations security forces.
The weapon is still used for its intended purpose, retaining the title of the thinnest pistol in the world. Released in large number in the 90s, gas and traumatic versions of PSM were relatively easily converted into military weapons, which, unfortunately, were used in the commission of a number of high-profile crimes and murders.
Development history
At the end of the 60s, TsNIITOCHMASH began work on developing a pistol small sizes. One of the reasons was the increasing number of cases of aircraft hijackings, and KGB or Ministry of Internal Affairs officers needed weapons that would be inconspicuous when wearing civilian clothes. The pistol was also intended to arm senior officers Soviet army. One of the customer's requirements was a smooth side surface of the pistol.
The weapon itself was supposed to be kept in the smallest possible size and weight, but at the same time ensure confident destruction of targets at a distance of up to 25 m. The width of the weapon was separately specified (no more than 17-18 mm).
The available cartridges did not meet the requirements, so a special ammunition with a size of 5.45 * 18 mm was created for the pistol, equipped with a metal sleeve with a characteristic bottle-shaped configuration.
The product went into production under the code 7N7 MPC. The expanded designation stands for small-sized centerfire pistol cartridge.
In terms of its parameters, the ammunition was no worse large cartridge from PM. The bullet with a sharp head had good stopping characteristics and pierced light body armor at short distances (up to 5-6 m).
The bullet design uses a steel core covered on top with an aerodynamic light alloy body. Additionally, a lead insert is installed, which improves the ballistics of the bullet. The charge used is pyroxylin based. Later, a “civilian” version of the bullet appeared, equipped only with a lead core.
Despite the increase in mass and muzzle energy(from 129 to 134 J), the bullet’s penetration characteristics decreased noticeably. Army ammunition was produced by a cartridge factory in the city of Yuryuzan ( Chelyabinsk region) until 1990. After the collapse of the enterprise, a shortage of cartridges arose, which was partially compensated only after the start of their production in Tula.
The developments for the new pistol were received by TsKIBSOO (Tula).
Design documentation for the new weapon was prepared by developers T. I. Lashnev, L. L. Kulikov and A. A. Simarin. In general, the developments for the new pistol were received by TsKIBSOO (Tula). pistol and mechanics, as already mentioned, the influence of the German Walter RRK can be traced. Full package of drawings and prototype were ready by 1972.
During the competition, the weapon defeated the experienced BV-025, created by weapons designer V.I. Babkin from TsNIITochMash (Podolsk). Both pistols used the same cartridge, but the competitor was unable to provide reliable operation automation.
After correcting some comments, the weapon entered a cycle of state tests, which lasted two years. Serial production of PSM (GRAU index 6P23) began in 1974.
Design
The PSM pistol operates on the principle of blowback recoil. To lock the chamber, the inertial force of the massive bolt part is used. An additional increase in locking force is provided by the return spring. The pistol is equipped with a redundant (double) action trigger mechanism.
The weapon is designed to fire only single shots.
Trigger The PSM is capable of operating both with and without pre-cocking. After firing a shot, you must release completely trigger, and then click on it again.
The PSM design is based on a steel frame. On the top of the part there is a protrusion intended for installing the barrel. The parts are secured using a steel pin. To ensure a reliable connection, the frames and barrels are divided into two size groups, the group number is stamped on the frame body. To mark the barrel, one or two dots are used on the back, indicating the group number.
The PSM barrel has inner surface six screw rifling. In the rear part there is a channel for installing a cartridge case; to simplify the supply of ammunition from the magazine, an angular cutout is made on the barrel part. A return spring is placed on the outer cylindrical surface of the barrel.
The geometry of the end coils of the spring ensures reliable fixation on the barrel and reliable transmission of force to the bolt part installed on top of the barrel. The PSM shutter is equipped with external fixed sighting devices. The design of the unit includes a cartridge ejector, a firing pin and a safety mechanism. The bolt part is equipped with special projections and grooves that ensure stopping during recoil, re-cocking the hammer and loading a new cartridge from the magazine into the chamber cavity.
After the last cartridge has been fired, the feeder comes out of the magazine and acts on a special stop that locks the bolt in extreme point rollback
Shutter and outer part award PSMs are decorated with ornaments; standard weapons have a blued surface.
mitigation of descent from accidental impact. At the same time, the bracket holds the moving parts of the gun mechanism. On the front upper part of the bracket there is a protrusion used as a stop that limits the rollback of the shutter. There is a lever on the bottom that locks the bracket in a certain position after installing the magazine in the handle.
The design of the PSM pistol has a safety lock that limits the mobility of the trigger and at the same time fixes the bolt, as well as the trigger (in the extreme forward position). Disabling the safety switch puts the weapon on safety cock, which is an additional safety measure. The fuse is controlled using a rotary switch mounted on outside shutter
The close proximity of parts leads to pinching of the skin on the thumb. In later releases, the knot was modified, which reduced the likelihood of injury. The PSM trigger is mounted on the back of the frame on a steel axis. Nearby is the mainspring, as well as the sear. There is a rod for joint interaction of the hammer with the trigger.
Side surfaces The frames of the PSM pistol are covered with removable cheeks.
The handle of the early version of the pistol is equipped with metal plates. Later, weapons with plastic parts that had an increased size and rounded edges began to be produced. The width of the handle has increased to 20 mm, which has improved ergonomics.
For award weapons cheeks with a different pattern or ornament are used. There is a special stopper on the PSM handle, used to fix the linings and as a travel limiter for the magazine latch. The store is a stamped steel structure. Inside there is a spring-loaded cartridge feeder, a lid on the bottom and a protrusion that serves to hold the magazine in the handle.
Below is a comparison table of characteristics Soviet weapons with the closest German equivalent Walther P.P.K. Domestic PSM has minimal weight and caliber, which is why destructive force the bullet is small.
Parameter | PSM | WaltherPPK |
---|---|---|
Weight, g | 460 | 590 |
Overall length, mm | 155 | 155 |
Barrel length, mm | 84,6 | 83 |
Gun width, mm | 18 (20) | 25 |
Gun height, mm | 117 | 109 |
Chuck type | 5,45*18 | 6,35*15/7,65*17/9*17 |
Store capacity, pcs. | 8 | 9/7/6 |
Initial bullet speed, m/s | 315 | 310 |
Sighting range, m | 25 | 40 |
Plus German weapons is the presence of three options for different cartridges. Due to heavier bullets, the firing range is longer, although in this case the accuracy and experience of the shooter comes first.
Combat use and variations on a theme
The PSM pistol does not have any vivid combat stories, although it was often used by operational services. There is only evidence that the criminals who received severe or fatal wounds continued to run away or return fire. Therefore, the main method effective application weapon is a targeted shot to the head.
During operation, it turned out that the weapon was not suitable for wearing in the outer side pocket of a jacket due to its weight; the suit was distorted. But the pistol fits well in the inside pocket of any jacket, and is almost invisible to others. The PSM fits into the pockets of winter outerwear without any problems.
In the early 90s, production of a number of pistols began, with appearance military military weapons, but a different caliber or ammunition. A typical representative is the IZH-75, designed to fire “civilian” 5.45*18 mm cartridges (although nothing prevents the use of military ones). The weapon was sold on the territory of the Russian Federation, and also went abroad under the designation Izh-75 or MP-75.
Later, the Baikal-441 variant appeared, featuring a barrel designed for 6.35 * 15 mm Browning standard cartridges. Visually, the weapon is distinguished by an extended grip and a sight that can be adjusted in two planes. For operational safety, an indicator is installed that the cartridge is in the chamber cavity.
Since 1993, the circulation of weapons intended for self-defense by firing gas cartridges has been permitted on Russian territory.
At the same time, production of watered-down versions of military weapons began in Izhevsk. One of these pistols was the 6P37, equipped with a smooth barrel chambered for a 7.62 mm gas cartridge.
The geometry of the sleeve changed slightly, which allowed the bolt design to remain unchanged. Early pistols had an empty barrel, but then a plate began to be installed in it to additionally swirl the gas flow. A number of barrels were produced, adapted for imported 8 mm caliber cartridges.
Quite quickly, the plant realized the ease with which the 6P37 can be converted into a full-fledged combat version of the PSM. To do this, it was necessary to carefully remove the separator from the chamber, remove the bushing and modify the bore.
New option under the designation Izh-78, they were equipped with a weakened barrel made of steel of obviously low quality. The pistols were chambered for 7.62 and 8 mm calibers. But the problem with the ease of conversion into a combat version did not go away - it was enough to simply change the barrel. Therefore, in the early 2000s, the production of weapons ceased.
But in 2004, the Izh-78-9T entered the market under the trade designation “Kolchuga”. The weapon was intended to use 9 mm RA-type cartridges equipped with a rubber traumatic bullet. The caliber of the barrel has changed accordingly; there are two welded protrusions in the bore that prevent the firing of other ammunition.
The increased size of the cartridge led to a reduction in the magazine capacity to 6 shots (with independent modification, the capacity increases by one cartridge). The modernized pistol is currently produced under the designation Izh-78-9TM, and is nicknamed “PSMych” among its owners.
After the collapse of the USSR, a number of PSM pistols remained in storage warehouses in the former republics.
In Ukraine, as in Russia, the issue was resolved simply by starting the production of weapons converted to 9 mm traumatic cartridge. The production of weapons called PSM-R was carried out by the Kharkov enterprise Sobr.
According to some reports, the weapon was a variant of the Kolchuga pistol, created specifically for the Ukrainian market. A special feature of the design is a smooth barrel that does not have welded protrusions. Years of manufacture and exact number alterations are unknown.
To date, PSMs have remained in service with representatives of the tax police of the Russian Federation, Federal service security, courier, collection services. PSM is included in the list of weapons recommended for bailiffs and prosecutors. The production of special versions of the pistol, which is officially included in the list of award weapons, continues.
Pistols are used in Belarus as weapons for customs officers, Kazakhstan, Mongolia and Kyrgyzstan. Since a successor for PSM has not been created, a pistol with more than 40 summer history will continue to carry out his difficult service.
Video
In 1970, an order was issued to develop a small-sized pistol. It was necessary to create a pistol for concealed carry by operatives law enforcement, accordingly, it had to be flat, without protruding parts on the side surfaces, weighing no more than 0.5 kg with cartridges. The requirements also implied the creation of a new small-caliber cartridge, i.e., the entire pistol complex. The caliber was determined to be 5.45 mm, and it was a completely new type of small-caliber cartridge. The MPC cartridge case, developed at TsNIITOCHMASH by designers A. I. Bochin (work leader), A. D. Denisova, L. S. Nikolaeva, G. P. Shamina, is bottle-type with a slight taper, the bullet has an ogive head and a small flat platform at the top. A bullet with a steel core has a mass of 2.4 g, with a lead core - 2.6 g. Note that, compared to the 6.35 mm Browning cartridge, the 5.45 mm cartridge, with a lower mass and comparable dimensions, has a 1.4 - 1.5 times more power(119 J for a bullet with a steel core and 129 J for a bullet with a lead core versus 83-86 J for a bullet with a lead core of the Browning cartridge). This also determined a fairly good penetrating effect of the bullet.
The pistol was developed at TsKIBSOO (Tula) by a design team consisting of T. I. Lashnev, A. A. Simarin and L. L. Kulikov. The 5.45-mm pistol passed state tests from the first presentation, and in December 1972 it was put into service under the designation PSM (“small-sized self-loading pistol”, index 6P23). Serial production of PSM since 1976 was mastered by the Izhevsk Mechanical Plant. PSM was intended for the operational services of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the KGB, but was also adopted for arming the senior command staff of the Armed Forces, and entered service with the security services, protection of government leaders, and Garage drivers special purpose and so on.
The automatic operation of the pistol operates due to the recoil of the free bolt. The barrel of the pistol is fixedly mounted on a ledge in the middle part of the frame. The return spring is mounted on the barrel. The rearward movement of the shutter is limited by the protrusion of the trigger guard. When disassembling the pistol, the spring-loaded trigger guard is deflected downward.
The impact mechanism is hammer-operated, with an open trigger. The cylindrical helical mainspring is connected to the trigger by a rod. The firing pin is mounted in the bolt. The trigger mechanism allows single firing with both pre-cocking and self-cocking. The trigger has a safety cock, which allows you to carry a weapon ready to fire with the safety off, without fear of an unintentional shot if the weapon is accidentally dropped or strongly shaken. The sear has a protrusion that interacts with the fuse, and a hook for interacting with the trigger rod. A non-automatic flag-type safety mounted in the bolt blocks the sear, bolt and trigger in the forward position, while simultaneously releasing the hammer and blocking the firing pin from the action of the hammer. The location of the safety flag protruding above the back of the bolt allows you to turn off the safety and cock the hammer in one motion thumb shooting hand or the palm of the other hand.
When firing with the hammer pre-cocked, when the trigger is pressed, the trigger rod moves forward, rises, turning the sear with its tooth, and disengages it from the trigger tooth. The trigger, freed from the sear, under the action of the mainspring through the trigger rod, sharply turns forward and strikes the firing pin, which hits the cartridge primer with its striker. The bolt, moving backward under the action of recoil, presses down the releasing protrusion of the trigger rod, the rod lowers and disconnects from the trigger tooth of the sear, the trigger turns and moves the trigger rod down, squeezing mainspring. The released sear, under the action of its spring, is pressed against the trigger and, with further rotation, sinks with a protrusion under the trigger tooth. When firing by self-cocking, the hammer is cocked and released by pressing the trigger: the trigger rod moves forward, its tooth engages with the self-cocking tooth of the hammer, the hammer rotates and, cocking, squeezes the trigger rod out of engagement with it; the trigger rod removes the sear from the zone of passage of the safety and combat teeth of the trigger; at the moment of complete disengagement from the rod, the trigger turns forward, striking the firing pin.
Extraction spent cartridge case from the chamber and its removal is carried out using an ejector mounted in the bolt and a reflective stop protrusion.
The cartridges are fed from a single-row magazine with a capacity of 8 rounds, inserted into the pistol grip. The magazine has large side windows that accommodate the feeder lugs, equipped with a notch for fingers to facilitate loading the magazine. The rear protrusion of the trigger guard rests against the front wall of the magazine, so it is impossible to fold the trigger guard down and disassemble the pistol without removing the magazine, which increases the safety of handling the pistol. When the cartridges are used up, the magazine feeder switches on a stop that holds the bolt in the rear position.
Located on the shutter sighting device, including a front sight and a constant sight.
The location of the pistol's controls makes it easy to operate the weapon with one hand. An original feature was the manufacture of the handle cheeks from metal and their fastening to the frame with a stopper instead of a screw - replacement threaded connection, requiring use during disassembly and assembly special tool, a stopper simplified the assembly and disassembly of the pistol and ensured reliable fastening of the handle to the pistol. The wrap-around handle covers the side windows and the back of the frame, closes and secures the axles from falling out during operation.
The pistol is compact, its flat shape without parts protruding to the side and smooth contours make it easier concealed carry and quick draw of weapons. A relatively long - 85 mm (15.5 caliber) - barrel and a powerful cartridge for such a small caliber provided good ballistic performance at ranges of use of “pocket” weapons.
To use PSM as an auxiliary weapon, a number of belt, thigh and ankle holsters have been created.
However, the “flattening” affected the service qualities of the weapon - the small size of the handle makes its fit in the palm insufficiently tight. Full contact of the palm with the handle is not possible, and you have to press the trigger with the middle phalanx of the index finger. Therefore, during production, the flat cheeks of the aluminum alloy handle were replaced with plastic cheeks with fins that were increased in length and width, making holding the pistol noticeably more convenient. The stability of the pistol increases when fired and after the shot, and therefore accuracy. The new grip increased the overall width of the weapon by 2 mm.
In the 1990s, Izhevsky mechanical plant proposed for export a version of the pistol under the designation IZH-75, and then the MP-441 pistol (“Baikal-441”) - a modification of the PSM for the 6.35-mm Browning cartridge (.25 ACP), common abroad. The pistol has become noticeably wider. There is an indicator of the presence of a cartridge in the chamber. A curious feature of this modification was the installation of an adjustable sight on the “pocket” pistol.
There are also gas versions of the pistol. The first was the 6P37 pistol developed by V. A. Yarygin. The version for the domestic 7.62 mm gas cartridge was initially produced with a barrel bore smooth along the entire length, then with a separator spring in the barrel bore. Later, an option for an 8 mm gas cartridge was added. From 1996-1997 modifications of the IZH-78 and IZH-78-8 gas pistols (chambered for an 8-mm cartridge) were produced with additionally “weakened” barrel walls made of inferior steel - such gas pistol it was more difficult to convert it to a live cartridge.
The development of the IZH-78 was the traumatic IZH-78-9T, which appeared in 2004 (in common parlance - “Pe-se-emych”) chambered for the Emm RA cartridge with a rubber bullet or gas.