Pictured (from left to right): L.P. Dyatlov — casting workshop manager, Ivan Efimovich Semenovykh — chief designer of a section, Boris Fedorovich Faizulin — technical director and chief engineer, Mikhail Kalashnikov — chief designer, V.E. Stivens — deputy director general for quality, Mikhail Iosifovich Miller — chief technologist, S.F. Shcherbakov — chief steelworks engineer.
Ivan Efimovich Semenovykh (1927–1995) was the chief designer of the Izhmash production group in very interesting years, i.e. since 1966 until 1988. He was only 19 years of age when, after graduation from the Industrial Technical School, he came to work in the office of chief designer. He received his higher education by correspondence. In 1957 he was appointed head of the sporting weapons bureau, where a self-loading sniper rifle was being developed.
Under the supervision of Ivan Efimovich, the ‘biathlon’ rifle and hunting self-loading carbines for new cartridges of increased power were created, free rifles were upgraded. They launched production of standard small-caliber rifles, new assault rifles and weapons for the caliber of 5.45 mm. The sniper rifles reached the accuracy of fire and reliability, which had been achieved for 30 preceding years. Servicemen of the Soviet Army were equipped with the SVD rifles.
Managing the design bureau of 30 people, Ivan Semenovykh worked on sporting and hunting weapons and firearms. In 1966 he was appointed chief designer of Izhmash. The plant was creating complexes of universal weapons for cartridges to assault and automatic rifles. Prior to the Olympic Games of 1980, the bureau developed new models of rifles, with which our biathlonists won their gold medals.
Ivan Efimovich was in charge of designing sporting weapons with quick reload, which had been providing superiority of our cross-country skiers in international competitions for a long time. He personally received 30 inventorʼs certificates.
Few more words need to be said about Mikhail Kalashnikov as an engineer and a person. Evgeniy Vasilievich Bogdanov, who worked with Kalashnikov on upgrading the famous AK, recalled that it was a pleasure to work with Mikhail Timofeevich hand in hand. He was very hard-working and also liked to do metalworks. If he had come across a new model of weapons anywhere or taken a glance at a new technical innovation, he would have remembered everything down to the smallest details. He would have noticed the distinctive features if there were any. Probably, this was the reason why his own assault rifle turned out to be really outstanding. Once Mr. Kalashnikov stood up for Evgeniy, when he was yet a young guy and wasn’t paid entirely for his overtime work. So, Mikhail Timofeevich took care about people, not only he was interested in assault rifles.
Ivan Efimovich Semenovykh (1927–1995) was the chief designer of the Izhmash production group in very interesting years, i.e. since 1966 until 1988. He was only 19 years of age when, after graduation from the Industrial Technical School, he came to work in the office of chief designer. He received his higher education by correspondence. In 1957 he was appointed head of the sporting weapons bureau, where a self-loading sniper rifle was being developed.
Under the supervision of Ivan Efimovich, the ‘biathlon’ rifle and hunting self-loading carbines for new cartridges of increased power were created, free rifles were upgraded. They launched production of standard small-caliber rifles, new assault rifles and weapons for the caliber of 5.45 mm. The sniper rifles reached the accuracy of fire and reliability, which had been achieved for 30 preceding years. Servicemen of the Soviet Army were equipped with the SVD rifles.
Managing the design bureau of 30 people, Ivan Semenovykh worked on sporting and hunting weapons and firearms. In 1966 he was appointed chief designer of Izhmash. The plant was creating complexes of universal weapons for cartridges to assault and automatic rifles. Prior to the Olympic Games of 1980, the bureau developed new models of rifles, with which our biathlonists won their gold medals.
Ivan Efimovich was in charge of designing sporting weapons with quick reload, which had been providing superiority of our cross-country skiers in international competitions for a long time. He personally received 30 inventorʼs certificates.
Few more words need to be said about Mikhail Kalashnikov as an engineer and a person. Evgeniy Vasilievich Bogdanov, who worked with Kalashnikov on upgrading the famous AK, recalled that it was a pleasure to work with Mikhail Timofeevich hand in hand. He was very hard-working and also liked to do metalworks. If he had come across a new model of weapons anywhere or taken a glance at a new technical innovation, he would have remembered everything down to the smallest details. He would have noticed the distinctive features if there were any. Probably, this was the reason why his own assault rifle turned out to be really outstanding. Once Mr. Kalashnikov stood up for Evgeniy, when he was yet a young guy and wasn’t paid entirely for his overtime work. So, Mikhail Timofeevich took care about people, not only he was interested in assault rifles.
