Izhevsky Mekhanichesky Zavod (Izhevsky Manufacturing Plant, better known today as Baikal, an actual company trademark) was founded in July 1942 in the small city of Izhevsk. During World War II it produced countless Tokarev 1933 pistols, Nagant 1895 revolvers, Degtyaryov and Simonov anti-tank rifles and other military armament, including rocket launchers.

After the war, in an effort to establish a military industrial complex, the plant was transformed and re-equipped. More

The science of projectiles in motion More

A table describing ammunition test performance. Includes bullet weight, type, and ammunition manufacturer; test gun barrel length; bullet velocity, energy, and midrange trajectory. More

A bench designed to drastically reduce human error in aiming. Allows for more precise sighting. More

One of two main types of centerfire priming systems. This system was pattented in 1858 by Hiram Berdan. Berdan primers are essentially small cups with priming compound in the bottom. They fit into case primer pockets in which the anvil against which the priming compound is crushed is part of the cartridge case. There are typically two small flash holes in the case on either side of the anvil to allow the fire from the primer to ignite the main powder charge. More

A total of 4,840 M1910 Bergmann Bayards was delivered to the Danish Army by AEP before the start of World War I.

The M1910 was the final evolution of the Bergmann Bayard design and featured a new S-shaped hammer mainspring, a semicircular cutout in the magazine well to permit easier removal of the six-round clip and a new grip design. More

Popular in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, the blunderbuss was a versatile firearm. Its flared muzzled allowed for ease of loading. Rocks, nails, shot of every size -- all could be dumped down its barrel, which make thge blunderbuss the weapon of choice in a close-range confrontation. More

The interior of the barrel More

A line through the center of the bore More

Boxer primers are one of two main types of centerfire priming systems in use today. This system was patented in 1858 by Edward Boxer. Boxer primers are small cups with a priming compound covered by a small, integral anvil. Boxer-primed cases are readily identifiable by the central hole in the primer pocket through which the primer flame passes to ignite the main charge. Boxer-primed cases are the primary type of centerfire cases that are reloaded, as it is a simple matter to push the spent primer out with the decapping pin in a resizing die. More

The Browning Hi-Power is a notable handgun of the last century for a number of reasons. It was John M. Browning's final pistol design. It introduced the concept of the high-capacity double-column magazine. It is considered by many to be an improvement of the famous Colt Government Model of 1911. Finally, it is one of the most-used military service pistols of all time. More

The Belgian-made Medalist was produced from 1964 to 1975. Oddly, as serious a target gun as it is, the pistol never dominated competition in the days when it was made. More