Books & more: Kalashnikov and companions

Russian shooting device? All clear, Kalashnikov. – In hardly any country has the name of a designer become so established and synonymous with the "typical" weapon of the country. However, the cosmos of Russian armaments is much larger. The book "Russian Firearms - Types, Technology, Data" by Ilya Shaydurov provides a comprehensive overview, from pistols to submachine guns, from assault rifles to machine guns. Included are the common favorites, from AKM to RPK, but also many prototypes and development lines that were not pursued further. Each description includes a general history of the weapon and an explanatory technical-constructive part. The illustrations are very good. Anyone who wants to delve into the cosmos of Russian firearms cannot avoid this excellent book.

“Russian Firearms: Types. Technology. Data“, by Ilya Shaydurov, Motorbuch Verlag, 2010, 400 pages. The book costs around €49.90 in bookstores or on Amazon.