Tula Arms Plant


Tula Arms Plant is a Russian weapons manufacturer founded by Tsar Peter I of Russia in 1712 in Tula, Tula Oblast as Tula Arsenal. Throughout its history, it has produced weapons for the Russian state. Its name was changed from Tula Arsenal to Tula Arms Plant during the Soviet era.

History of the plant

Historically, the plant produced a wide variety of arms and sports weapons for the Imperial Russian Army.
Originally, the plant was created to provide arms to the citizens of Tula in order to defend against nomads' invasions, because they did not have enough weapons, which were produced in Moscow. The plant was created by decree by Peter the Great in 1712. The factory was equipped with then-progressive equipment such as: water machines, "trochanteric" machines for drilling shafts, grapes, hammers, machines for "scrubbing" - exterior and interior finishes trunks.

18th century

In the 18th century Tula Arms Plant was recognized as setting the standard for Russian Arms Production. In 1720 the plant produced 22 thousand light infantry and dragoon rifles and flintlock pistols for the Russian army. In 1749, the plant started mass production of edged weapons—knives, sabres, broadswords, and swords. The plant flourished in the second half of the 18th century, as demand for artistically decorated weapons increased. In this era Tula Arms Plant developed a unique and elegant "Diamond Line" metal embellishment, and many other secrets of decoration on metal and wood. By the end of 18th century, it was home to such renowned gunsmiths as Ivan Pushkin, Ivan Lialin, and Ivan Pauline, the designer who created one of the first repeating-firearms shops.

19th and early 20th century

Reconstructed in the 19th century Tula Arms Factory became one of the most prominent arms factories in Europe. In 1879 the plant started production of the famous Berdan rifle with an improved bolt. Workshop was organized by a model where created their own models of small arms and hunting weapons. Increased production of various products: single- and double-barrel muzzle-loading shotguns, breech-loading center-fire rifles. Designer Sergei Ivanovich Mosin took part in devising damascus steel technology used in production of barrels. He also designed a bolt-action rifle which was put to testing along with a rifle developed by Émile Nagant. In 1891, as a result of complex tests Mosin's entry was chosen over the Belgian design and it was adopted by the Imperial Russian Army as the three-line rifle of 1891.
In 1902 the factory was re-organized, fully mechanized mass production of hunting rifles.
In 1910 the factory started the production of Maxim machine gun.
In 1920s and 30s the plant had developed and produced a range of different firearms, such as the.22 caliber single-shot cadet rifles TOZ-1, TOZ-2, TOZ-7 and TOZ-8. They also made the Model P and TOZ-10 shotguns, as well as the NK-8,2 carbine.
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. Between 1932 and 1939 the plant mastered the production of milling machines, and started to massively produce three models of them. In 1939 Fedor Tokarev created a self-loading rifle SVT-38, which served as a basis for the SVT-40. In the years 1927–1939 besides producing SVT-38 rifles, UB and ShKAS machine guns, the factory also produced B-2 cannons.

Importance during World War II

During World War II, Axis countries invaded USSR as part of Operation Barbarossa. By December 5th 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. Consequently, Tula weapons of World War II are considered more valuable by collectors.
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

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.
The Cold War period was a period of fruitful work in a different kinds of sporting and hunting weapons. In this years were established models of guns such as a double-barreled hammerless T03-25, a double trigger "BM", small-caliber cadet rifle TOZ-8M, TOZ-12, TOZ-16, TOZ-17 and TOZ-78. At the same time, the plant also produced the Simonov SKS carbine.
In 1965 constructors N. I. Korovyakov and V.P. Ochneva created a reliable double-barreled over-and-under shotgun TOZ-34.
During 1960s–1980s, the plant received an order for production of the world-famous Kalashnikov assault rifles, anti-tank guided missiles - 9M14 Malyutka, 9M133 Kornet, 9M113 Konkurs and the Bonfire underslung grenade launcher. It also began producing the TOZ-35 competition "free pistol" used in 50m pistol events at the Olympics.

Products

During the early to mid Soviet era, Tula Arms Plant produced a variety military rifles, including the Mosin–Nagant, SVT-40, SKS, and AK-47. It also produced the Nagant M1895 revolver.
From the early 1980s, the factory continued to produce the AK-47 as well as AK-74, and also manufactured 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