Tula Arms Plant

Historically, the plant produced a wide variety of sports weapons and arms for the Imperial Russian Army.

18th century

In the 18th century, Tula Arms Plant was recognized as setting the standard for Russian Arms Production.

19th and early 20th century

Reconstructed in the 19th century Tula Arms Factory became one of the most prominent arms factories in Europe.

In 1910 the factory started production of the Maxim machine gun.

In 1927 planning and design office was established in order to improve the work of all of the plant's designers, the result of which was the development of aircraft machine guns - PV-1 and ShKAS. Between 1927 and 1938 the plant built the country's first spinning machines.

Importance during World War II

During World War II, Axis countries invaded USSR as part of Operation Barbarossa. By December 5, 1941, the German 2nd Panzer Division had advanced to within a few kilometers of Tula, forcing the Soviets to evacuate Tula Arms Plant. As a result, far fewer weapons were produced there than at other Soviet factories such as Izhevsk Mechanical Plant.

In 1941-1945, working under the slogan "Everything for the front, everything for victory", Tula gunsmiths produced Mosin–Nagant 91/30 rifles, SVT-40 self-loading rifles, ShVAK aircraft guns, Nagant revolvers and Tokarev pistols.

Cold War

Tula was strategically important to the Soviet Union during the Cold War. Significant ore deposits were situated relatively close to it and it had access to ample transportation routes like the Upa River and many rail lines coming in and out of the city.

During the early to mid-Soviet era, Tula Arms Plant produced a variety military rifles, including the Mosin–Nagant, SVT-40, SKS, and AKM. It also produced the Nagant M1895 revolver.

From the late 1970s to the early 1980s, the factory produced the AK-74, and went on to manufacture the VSS Vintorez, AS Val, OTs-14 Groza, and TOZ rifle weapons designed by TsNIITochMash. The plant also produces large quantities of small arms ammunition for the military as well as for commercial sale.

The factory has also manufactured a number of pistols over the years such as the Korovin pistol, TT pistol, Stechkin automatic pistol, SPP-1 underwater pistol, and MSP Groza silent pistol.

Notable products

Knives