Tula craftsmen made miniature weapons from the very first day the production of arms was established in the region. These working miniature copies testified to their maker’s skill. In some workshops, creating miniatures served as an official exam, after which the apprentice could be granted a higher position and received the right to start their own workshop.
All products made by Tula gunsmiths were operational. Weapon miniatures look exactly like real ones: guns could be loaded and fire real bullets, edged weapons were made of the same high-quality steel as their larger counterparts. However, larger mechanisms do not transfer that well onto miniatures. For example, there has yet to be a miniature machine gun capable of automatic fire.
Back in the 19th century, gunsmiths and jewelers lived in Zarechye — a separate district of Tula where regular cityfolk were not allowed to settle. Gunsmiths were held in high esteem and represented a fairly wealthy group of the urban population. With the outbreak of the revolution and the nationalization of factories, there was no longer a need to demonstrate one’s skill by making miniatures. For many years this art was all but forgotten, with isolated instances appearing here and there. Knowledge and experience of the art of creating miniatures was no longer passed from generation to generation, from teacher to student, except for exceedingly rare cases. Yet, despite this, the people of Tula have revived this almost forgotten craft.
The maker of this gun is unknown, however, most of the miniature weapons presented in the museum were made by Konstantin Sushkin, a hereditary Tula gunsmith, and a recognized master of this craft. Fate itself decided that Konstantin should make miniature weapons. In 1999, he was awarded the Kalashnikov Medal for outstanding achievements in the arms industry. Sushkin’s miniatures are known all over the world. “I make both modern and historical weapons, ” says the master gunsmith, “I like historical weapons more: a completely different aesthetic. They were beautifully decorated.” Sushkin’s creations: elaborately made handles and carved stocks, barrels with engravings and niello — can be seen in state museums and private collections.
