The revolver of the Nagant system is one of the most famous examples of hand firearms of the first half of the 20th century.
The 1895 revolver of the Nagant system was seven-shot. Brothers Emile and Leon Nagant, Belgian industrialists, developed this model specifically for supplies to the Russian Empire. After the revolution, the revolver continued to be widely used in the troops of the Red Army.
In Russia, the production of revolvers and handguns was established at the Tula Arms Plant and was maintained at approximately the same level. From 1932 to 1941 more than 700 thousand revolvers were produced at the plant. In 1941, the Tula Arms Plant was evacuated to Udmurtia, to the city of Izhevsk, where the production of revolvers continued. The following year, the plant was partially re-evacuated from Izhevsk back to Tula.
Many experienced front-line officers preferred the Nagant revolver. It had a number of advantages — it did not get jammed, was always ready to fire, in the event of a cartridge misfire, it was easy to fire the next shot. But the most important advantage, according to the recollections of the front-line soldiers, is the high accuracy of fire. The revolver had a comfortable grip and a good center of gravity, always giving a close grouping. There were no risks of damaging the revolver if it was dropped into the trench mud or sand.
In the period from 1942 to 1950, more than 370 thousand revolvers were produced. The Nagant revolver was used by the Red Army, as well as by the NKVD troops.
The 1895 revolver of the Nagant system was seven-shot. Brothers Emile and Leon Nagant, Belgian industrialists, developed this model specifically for supplies to the Russian Empire. After the revolution, the revolver continued to be widely used in the troops of the Red Army.
In Russia, the production of revolvers and handguns was established at the Tula Arms Plant and was maintained at approximately the same level. From 1932 to 1941 more than 700 thousand revolvers were produced at the plant. In 1941, the Tula Arms Plant was evacuated to Udmurtia, to the city of Izhevsk, where the production of revolvers continued. The following year, the plant was partially re-evacuated from Izhevsk back to Tula.
Many experienced front-line officers preferred the Nagant revolver. It had a number of advantages — it did not get jammed, was always ready to fire, in the event of a cartridge misfire, it was easy to fire the next shot. But the most important advantage, according to the recollections of the front-line soldiers, is the high accuracy of fire. The revolver had a comfortable grip and a good center of gravity, always giving a close grouping. There were no risks of damaging the revolver if it was dropped into the trench mud or sand.
In the period from 1942 to 1950, more than 370 thousand revolvers were produced. The Nagant revolver was used by the Red Army, as well as by the NKVD troops.
