Production of Kalashnikov assault rifle

• Production of a Kalashnikov

Having read in the news about the disaster "Izhmash" factory, I decided to see for myself how to live and breathe today than the legendary producer of "Kalash". He lifted old ties and eventually got an invitation to a private company.

Finally fulfilled my boyhood dream - I was allowed to take pictures of the shop, workers and, of course, the weapon itself. And while everything written about bankruptcy and imminent death of the plant, I suddenly clearly understood that the "Izhmash" very much alive - worked two centuries and as many more will stand. I tried to convey this feeling in his modest photo essay. So, my day in Izhevsk began as soon as I got off the train.

Many Muscovites used to think that reigns in the regions continuous decline. I have not been in Udmurtia and is not expected to see a brand-new St. Michael's Cathedral.

The old building in 1937, suffered a sad fate of Christ the Savior in Moscow - it was destroyed. But in 2004 at the same place we laid another cathedral and it was built in just three years.

Of course, I could not visit the monument of military and labor glory devoted to exploit the inhabitants of Udmurtia in the Great Patriotic War. The monument is located on an area of ​​50 October.

But the main purpose of my visit - to get acquainted with the Izhevsk industry, in particular, with the defense giant "Izhmash" products which taught me to love the army stronger own girl.

As early as 1941, the center of production of small arms placed on the eastern outskirts of Izhevsk, an area of ​​96 hectares - for understanding, is twice the Vatican, well, or half of the European principality of Monaco. Power "Izhmash" stretch to the horizon.

Perhaps some will be surprised to learn that "Kalashnikovs" assembled by hand. On the one hand, skeptics easily complain about the lack of automation. But this did not prevent "Izhmash" to produce 50 million machines in the last 60 years.

It just seems that the work flows slowly. In the best years "Izhmash" gave on 95 machines per hour. Here are these very hands!

The barrel is connected to the fore. An employee in blue overalls told me that although the implementation of this simple action, there are special tools, he sometimes manages ordinary hammer. But this can only afford a real guru, whose hand does not tremble.

Details are processed. Today the plant is testing two types of nano - one of them prevents corrosion, the second reduces friction in the moving mechanism to make it easier to recharge. All this with knowledge of the matter told me a stern woman.

An employee assembles the receiver box and inserts into it the bolt carrier - the first time for this manual adjustment is required. Please note that this is a quite a young man. Myths about aging staff and dispels the following picture.

This cute girl is spinning all the cogs when the mechanism has already been adjusted by hand specialist. The design center "Izhmash" 15 students working now.

to the subject, already looked like a weapon, in the final stages of attached butt - with a light hand harmless "hostess", which is easier to imagine on a dairy farm, rather than in the assembly shop of the plant defense.

I can not say that the plant is not at all no automation. Even Vitali Klitschko could not tighten all the bolts as tight as this indifferent machine.

So ​​the weapon in the hands of the skilled worker. He survived not only one general secretary and the three presidents, but also a few factory directors. On previous - Vladimir Grodetsky, who worked until 2010 - speaks disapprovingly. He says that the main destruction fell on him: the plant has lost many platforms, and wages were not paid for months.

His words were confirmed by the build quality controller. According to her, in the last year and a half the situation in the "Izhmash" has begun to improve. Today, the average salary - 16 thousand rubles. Grodetsky when she was at a subsistence level - 5-6 thousand rubles. And even such meager money had to wait for months.

This employee - something like the final inspection. Her opinion depends on whether the weapon shop will leave or go to completion. Colleagues are waiting for the verdict with bated breath.

But the nice guy, oddly enough, is the big boss. Alexander 21 and he is a senior master. As explained to me, the key to a rapid career - a higher education. Sasha studies at the Izhevsk State Technical University. Has not yet decided - stay here or leave after studying in Germany, it was too fond of their city.

The final touches are applied - the barrels are polished to a shine. Now the "Izhmash" can show showmanship. Export contracts have always helped the company to stay afloat even in the most difficult years - plant products are delivered to 27 countries. Now a large consignment of AK can purchase Indians. But they want the machines have interchangeable barrels and fired bullets of various calibers. "Izhmash" is ready to fulfill these requirements.

I propose a game: let's count the number of trunks on a trolley.

The head of "Izhmash" Maxim Kuzyuk won me over is the fact that freely allowed to come to his office and take a picture of the work. I could not resist and asked whether it was true that the company may close. Kuzyuk said figures: after the "Izhmash" came under the wing of the state corporation "Russian Technologies", revenue increased by 40% compared with the 2010th, wages increased by 21%, and some designers receive a bonus of 50% of salary. Is it like a dying plant? I think he was even a little offended.

According to this young worker, too, can not be said that it is working on a depressed industry. It deals with an engraving on the weapon, that is responsible for the aesthetic component production. Fight or hunt, too, must the soul.

I asked for something to write on the memory, and a student for 10 minutes engraved on a piece of iron month names.

But any professional heights she ever reached, if it is a lot of practice and study.

On the gun "Saiga-12" sank even the Americans - they recently purchased a batch of weapons for its police. In 2011, sales of sporting and hunting weapons "Izhmash" earned US $ 15 million.

Before you sell weapons, it must be experienced. My age Alexander great authority in this area. We can say that the dog ate it Kalashnikov on automatic checks - over the years never missed a defective sample.

"Kalash" in the fire does not burn and water do not rust. I. First, thoroughly wets machine under artificial rain ...

Then he freezes in an environment which both enemy does not want ...

and heated it in the oven ...

But the torment did not end with the AK - in the finals he will have three to five times with a scope shmyaknut on a concrete slab.

And after all this weapon fires as if nothing had happened! If in 2012 will happen all the same end of the world, and after a couple of centuries, our descendants will dig up in the area of ​​Izhevsk Kalashnikov, they need to be careful - because he will still be in working order.

In general, conducted by the factory day, I got a lot of fun. On the "Izhmash" I met a lot of smiling people, despite the fact that I'm not the president or the minister - one for me Potemkin villages do not line up.

When I went through the checkpoint into the fresh air, I saw all the same industrial landscape, but in the evening light. It was time to return home - to share with the people the truth about the "Izhmash".