Pictured (from left to right): Vladimir Valentinovich — design-engineer, E.M. Saifutdinova — design-engineer, Vitaliy Nikolayevich Pushin — chief of the bureau, Alexei Dmitrievich Kryakushin — chief of the design bureau, Mikhail Timofeevich Kalashnikov — deputy chief designer, K.B. Yudintseva — design-engineer.
In 1957, Mr. Kalashnikov became the head of the design bureau of the Izhevsk Machine-Building Plant, and in 10 years, in 1967, he became deputy chief designer of this enterprise.
Since 1975 till 1984 Vladimir Valentinovich Kamzolov was the head of the design bureau of the Izhmash production group. He came to the enterprise in 1962 after several years of work at the Molot plant in the town of Vyatskiye Polyany. He started as an ordinary designer, but soon took part in research works, related to the upgrade of technical characteristics of machine guns. Owing to his ideas, the labour intensity of their production was reduced considerably, and the ergonomic and combat characteristics of the weapon became better. In 1969, an upgraded PKM machine gun passed trials successfully and was put in the inventory of the Armed Forces.
Vladimir Kamzolov also became an author of a hand-held machine gun, created on the basis of a tank one, compact magazines, capable of accepting 100 rounds, a combined system of their feeding ‘belt plus magazine’. He also managed to increase the range of fire of machine guns.
Vladimir Kamzolov was a practitioner, as well an excellent theorist, having received 22 certificates for his inventions.
Alexei Dmitrievich Kryakushin came to the Izhevsk Machine-Building Plant as a 17-year old guy. He started as an ordinary turner, but in parallel he studied — first at a technical school, later — at a mechanical institute. In 1956 he joined a group of designers of Izhmash, which was dealing with the launch of serial production of machine guns and assault rifles. He became one of the creators of the firearms, for which he was awarded the Lenin Prize in 1964. It was his idea to create a four-rifled bore, extending the service life of the firearm barrel. He also developed a solution helping to provide high accuracy of fire. He is an author of a new shape of buttstock and foregrip. Since 1969 till 1986 he was the head of the planning and design bureau of Izhevmash, he has 20 author’s certificates for inventions in the area of firearms.
Vitaliy Nikolayevich Pushin — one of the apprentices of Mikhail Timofeevich Kalashnikov. He came to Izhmash in 1945 as an assistant to a metalworker, and in 1955 became a full-fledged member of the design bureau, created at the enterprise. He took part in the development of RPK-74 and RPKS-74 and some models of the Kalashnikov assault rifle. He was the main developer of the design bureau’s technical documentation. He was awarded the Lenin Prize for taking part in the designing and creation of the AK-74 assault rifle.
In 1957, Mr. Kalashnikov became the head of the design bureau of the Izhevsk Machine-Building Plant, and in 10 years, in 1967, he became deputy chief designer of this enterprise.
Since 1975 till 1984 Vladimir Valentinovich Kamzolov was the head of the design bureau of the Izhmash production group. He came to the enterprise in 1962 after several years of work at the Molot plant in the town of Vyatskiye Polyany. He started as an ordinary designer, but soon took part in research works, related to the upgrade of technical characteristics of machine guns. Owing to his ideas, the labour intensity of their production was reduced considerably, and the ergonomic and combat characteristics of the weapon became better. In 1969, an upgraded PKM machine gun passed trials successfully and was put in the inventory of the Armed Forces.
Vladimir Kamzolov also became an author of a hand-held machine gun, created on the basis of a tank one, compact magazines, capable of accepting 100 rounds, a combined system of their feeding ‘belt plus magazine’. He also managed to increase the range of fire of machine guns.
Vladimir Kamzolov was a practitioner, as well an excellent theorist, having received 22 certificates for his inventions.
Alexei Dmitrievich Kryakushin came to the Izhevsk Machine-Building Plant as a 17-year old guy. He started as an ordinary turner, but in parallel he studied — first at a technical school, later — at a mechanical institute. In 1956 he joined a group of designers of Izhmash, which was dealing with the launch of serial production of machine guns and assault rifles. He became one of the creators of the firearms, for which he was awarded the Lenin Prize in 1964. It was his idea to create a four-rifled bore, extending the service life of the firearm barrel. He also developed a solution helping to provide high accuracy of fire. He is an author of a new shape of buttstock and foregrip. Since 1969 till 1986 he was the head of the planning and design bureau of Izhevmash, he has 20 author’s certificates for inventions in the area of firearms.
Vitaliy Nikolayevich Pushin — one of the apprentices of Mikhail Timofeevich Kalashnikov. He came to Izhmash in 1945 as an assistant to a metalworker, and in 1955 became a full-fledged member of the design bureau, created at the enterprise. He took part in the development of RPK-74 and RPKS-74 and some models of the Kalashnikov assault rifle. He was the main developer of the design bureau’s technical documentation. He was awarded the Lenin Prize for taking part in the designing and creation of the AK-74 assault rifle.
