SPSh-44
Russian pistol
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The SPSh-44 (26-мм сигнальный пистолет СПШ-44) is a Soviet signal pistol.[3][1]
| SPSh-44 | |
|---|---|
| |
| Type | Flare gun |
| Place of origin | Soviet Union |
| Service history | |
| In service | Current |
| Wars | World War II[1] |
| Production history | |
| Designed | 1942-1944[1] |
| Produced | since 1944[1] |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 0.87 - 0.88 kg[1] |
| Length | 220mm[2] |
| Barrel length | 150mm[2] |
| Caliber | 26 mm[1][2] (4 bore) |
| Barrels | 1 |
| Action | Break action[1] |
| Rate of fire | Variable |
History
The gun was designed by G. S. Shpagin as a replacement for the previous models of the Red Army signal pistol.[1]
In 1943 he made first version of the gun - 26mm SPSh-43 flare (signal) pistol (26-мм осветительный (сигнальный) пистолет СПШ-43). In January 1944, The second version of this pistol was made - SPSh-2 (СПШ-2).
After tests and trials, in 1944 SPSh-2 flare gun was officially adopted as the new standard Red Army signal pistol. In May 1944 it began mass production as SPSh-44 signal pistol.[1]
Later it became the standard flare gun in all Warsaw Pact countries.
In the mid-1970s, experimental cartridges for immobilization of wild animals for SPSh-44 signal pistol were made and tested.[4]
Design
The SPSh-44 is a single-shot break-action smoothbore flare gun.[1][2]
Variants
- OSSh-42 (ОСШ-42) - the first test prototype with 140mm barrel (1.09 kg)[1]
- Pistolet sygnałowy wz. 1944 - copy of SPSh-44, made since 1948 by Zakłady Metalowe im. gen. "Waltera" in Polish People's Republic[1][5]
- Type 57 - copy of SPSh-44, made in the People's Republic of China
- SPSh-26M KZ (СПШ-26М KZ) - copy of SPSh-44, made by Uralsk machine-building plant "Metallist" (in Uralsk, Kazakhstan).[6]
- Keserű Muvek Rubber Protector - is a single-shot traumatic pistol manufactured by the Hungarian company " Keserű " by reworking the SPSh. It has separate loading with a 28-mm rubber bullet and a blank cartridge .380 Knall, and can be owned without license in Hungary[7]
