The collection of the Zimovniki Museum of Local History houses the barrel of a Degtyaryov hand-held machine gun. It was named after its creator, the designer of the Kovrov Machine Gun Plant Vasily Degtyaryov.
The development of the machine gun began in 1923. After World War I and the Civil War, it became obvious that the Russian army needed new weapons. Soldiers used the obsolete Mosin rifle and Maxim recoil-operated machine gun, which were uncomfortable and often overheated during firing.
In the 1920s, the government announced a competition: engineers submitted designs for a hand-held machine gun. The first tests of the new model were held in 1924. The idea of Vasily Degtyaryov, which was selected in the competition, needed refinement, and in 1927, the second test was held. It appeared to be successful, and right after the commission’s conclusion, the Red Army ordered a trial batch of 100 pieces for army tests. Then commanders recommended that the machine gun be produced and the army rearmed.
The design of the Degtyaryov machine gun was simple and reliable, requiring two soldiers to operate it. It was powered from a disc magazine with a capacity of 47 shells of 7.62 millimeter caliber. It was mounted on top of the barrel. Next to was a flame arrestor, which minimized the flash from the shot.
The weapon was 127.2 centimeters long and the barrel was 87 centimeters long. The Degtyaryov machine gun was used for long-range shooting, from 800 to 2,500 meters. The initial velocity of the bullet was 840 meters per second. To make shooting as comfortable as possible, the weapon was placed on special removable portable supports. The total weight of the machine gun including the supports was more than nine kilograms.
The Degtyaryov machine hand-held gun was used in all wars fought by the USSR up to the mid-20th century. During the Soviet-Finnish war, this model was used not only by our soldiers but also by the Finns, who often chose captured Degtyaryov machine guns over their own weapons. In the 1940s, the design was improved and continued to be used in the Soviet army until the 1960s, later it was replaced by the more advanced Kalashnikov machine gun.
The development of the machine gun began in 1923. After World War I and the Civil War, it became obvious that the Russian army needed new weapons. Soldiers used the obsolete Mosin rifle and Maxim recoil-operated machine gun, which were uncomfortable and often overheated during firing.
In the 1920s, the government announced a competition: engineers submitted designs for a hand-held machine gun. The first tests of the new model were held in 1924. The idea of Vasily Degtyaryov, which was selected in the competition, needed refinement, and in 1927, the second test was held. It appeared to be successful, and right after the commission’s conclusion, the Red Army ordered a trial batch of 100 pieces for army tests. Then commanders recommended that the machine gun be produced and the army rearmed.
The design of the Degtyaryov machine gun was simple and reliable, requiring two soldiers to operate it. It was powered from a disc magazine with a capacity of 47 shells of 7.62 millimeter caliber. It was mounted on top of the barrel. Next to was a flame arrestor, which minimized the flash from the shot.
The weapon was 127.2 centimeters long and the barrel was 87 centimeters long. The Degtyaryov machine gun was used for long-range shooting, from 800 to 2,500 meters. The initial velocity of the bullet was 840 meters per second. To make shooting as comfortable as possible, the weapon was placed on special removable portable supports. The total weight of the machine gun including the supports was more than nine kilograms.
The Degtyaryov machine hand-held gun was used in all wars fought by the USSR up to the mid-20th century. During the Soviet-Finnish war, this model was used not only by our soldiers but also by the Finns, who often chose captured Degtyaryov machine guns over their own weapons. In the 1940s, the design was improved and continued to be used in the Soviet army until the 1960s, later it was replaced by the more advanced Kalashnikov machine gun.
