Posted on 02/03/2017 2:33:09 PM PST by nickcarraway
The Kalashnikov Concern– which manufactures guns under the Kalashnikov, Baikal and Izhmash brands– announced they plan to grow their production staff by at least 30 percent in 2017.
Company officials said the plan, which will add a third shift to their factories, is to keep up with growing and potential demand for their products overseas.
“The decision to strengthen the personnel of the Kalashnikov Group was taken amid the production orders growth due to the increased volume of export orders”, said Alexey Krivoruchko, CEO of the Kalashnikov Group in a statement. “We are facing a challenging task to handle the growing demand.
The company currently employs 6,500 workers on average and is looking to expand their ranks of polishers, toolmakers, milling machine operators and other crafts to meet expanded production demands.
Kalashnikov last November was issued an A+ (long-term) credit rating from the RAEX (Expert RA) rating agency, defined as “highly credit-worthy” and the following month was visited by the Indian ambassador to discuss the development of bilateral ties including a joint venture production in that country. Kalashnikov has long been in talks with the Indian government to produce AK series rifles there to replace the unpopular Indian Small Arms Systems (INSAS) rifle, which is widely seen as unreliable.
Headquartered in Moscow, the group is owned by private investors and non-profit state-owned Rostec, the latter with a 51 percent controlling interest, and has been operating under as such since 2013. Formerly known as Izmash until 2012 when the company rebranded under the more recognizable Kalashnikov banner, the concern dates to the Izhevsk gun factory established by Tsar Alexander I in 1807 to produce muskets to fight Napoleon.
Currently prohibited from exporting guns to the U.S. due to sanctions implemented by the Obama administration four years ago over Russia’s involvement in the Ukraine, the prospect the embargo could thaw under President Trump was not addressed by Kalashnikov. Prior to 2013, 40 percent of the company’s annual rifle and shotguns production was sold abroad to U.S. importers.
On Thursday, some sanctions against Russia, specifically against the state security apparatus that replaced the KGB, were eased, though White House Spokesman Sean Spicer was quick to point out that move was done by the Treasury Department and not at the direction of the President.
“We’re not easing sanctions,” said Spicer in a press briefing. “The Treasury Department — it is, from what I understand, it’s a fairly common practice for the Treasury Department, after sanctions are put in place, to go back and to look at whether or not there needs to be specific carve-outs for either industries or products and services that need to be going back and forth.”
Wonder how big the Soros order was?
It would be nice if we dropped the Izmash/kalashnikov embargo so we can buy these again. The Polish WASR’s are nice and all, but I would love a real Izmash kalashnikov to go with my 1943 Izhevsk produced Mosin Nagant. Two guns, 70+ years apart produced in the same factory. That wold be cool.
CC
Get yourself an 1893 produced Izhevsk M1891 Mosin-Nagant. Would be even cooler.
Hex receiver with imperial proof marks? It sure would.
CC
Or as the MSM calls them “semi-automatic machine guns.”
Since they’re not making any for the U.S. market a lot of them may be full-auto.
Count me in too for wanting a Izhmash AK. And I’m going to be that guy, WASRs are Romanian not Polish. Though the Poles make a fine AK patterned rifle.
Ping
Arsenal out of Bulgaria makes a pretty worthy Kalashnikov as well. Proud to own one.
Fine by me. I should’ve just said Com-Bloc AK pattern rifles to indicate non-russian. My next purchase will be a Bulgarian Makarov.
CC
That they do. Too bad I lost mine in a tragic boating accident.
Those are very cool. I haven’t had the opportunity to handle one personally but have been eyeing them due to my fairly recent AK interest.
i need to shoot one just to understand how it works in case i am overseas and unarmed in a situation.\
i am looking at one of the STG-44s out of Georgia in 5.56 or 7.62
Classic firearms has them $299 out the door with 2 mags, 2 grips and flap holster. $20 upcharge for hand selects.
CC
Is that a picture of the late Emperor on that poster on the wall?
Beautiful!
Now we need to reverse that repulsive “ban” on imports here and that prized 7n6 ammo.
I have a Polish Tantal, a new WASR-10, and several Izhmash AK-74’s.
The Russian versions are by far the finest weapons I’ve ever had the pleasure of shooting/owning. Easily better than a cheap aluminum stamped AR-15.
The Poles know how to make quality guns too.
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