"Nagan" - a pistol created by gunsmiths from Belgium brothers Emil (1830-1902) and Leon (1833-1900) Nagans. This weapon was made in some countries at the end of the 19th - mid-20th centuries. It was used to arm the army.
History of creation
At the end of the 19th century, many countries pondered the rearmament of their troops. In those days, revolvers showed great promise: this personal short-barreled firearm combined sufficient simplicity of the device, reliability and multi-charge. The focus of European arms production was the city of Liege, located in Belgium. Since 1859, the factory of Leon and Emil Nagan worked in it. It was a small family workshop in which Dutch pistols were repaired, and sometimes even developed firearms.
The first unique revolver was introduced by the elder brother Emil for testing by the Belgian military. They decided to use it as an officer and non-commissioned weapon, called the “1878 model revolver." This 1878 9mm pistol was six-digit. It was equipped with a “double-effect device”: the cock was cocked either by the hand of an arrow, or by pulling the trigger.
Non-commissioned infantry officers, cavalry and auxiliary personnel of the Belgian army believed that the Nagan was a top-class pistol! And indeed, on the instructions of the leadership of this brave army, a 9-mm Nagan M / 1883 pistol with intentionally deteriorated combat qualities was designed: the design has a new part that excludes self-cocking. Simply put, when firing from this sample it was necessary to cock the trigger after each shot.
As a result, another 2-3 modifications of different caliber and barrel length were made. After a while, Emil Nagan fell seriously ill and completely lost his sight. Now Leon Nagan has taken up the main work on improving the device.
1886 sample
So, we study further "Nagan". The 1886 pistol weighed a little less than its predecessors. It was more reliable, and the design has become more technologically advanced. In this model, in the trigger device, four springs were replaced by one two-gear. In addition, the new product took into account the tendency to develop weapons in the direction of decreasing caliber: specialists chose the most popular 7.5-mm charge with smokeless gunpowder in those days.
The most important problem that the designers of the revolvers needed to solve was the penetration of powder gases into the gap formed by the front end of the drum and the breech section of the barrel.
The Belgian gunsmith Henri Pieper found a solution to the obturation problem: the trigger of his invention moved the drum forward before firing. The revolver Henry had a special design, in it the bullet was completely hidden in the sleeve, the shutter was the barrel of the sleeve, which was distributed by powder gases and pressed to the barrel channel at the time of the volley - this action prevented the breakthrough of gases.
This rule, with an impressive simplification of the device pushing the barrel onto the barrel, was applied by Leon Nagan in 1892. Under a new model of a revolver, he developed a charge with a sleeve equipped with a long muzzle. What has the Nagan turned into? This gun has now become a classic model, and subsequent models have not undergone significant changes in design.
Device
All Nagan revolvers have a common base and properties:
- The trigger device with a double effect allows you to shoot both cocking the trigger and self-cocking. The only exceptions are the "soldier" and "non-commissioned" pre-revolutionary models, in which the self-cocking mechanism is blocked in order to reduce the consumption of ammunition.
- One-piece monolithic frame.
- A door that opens the drum chambers with a side turn. Only sample 1910 is exceptional, in which the door leans back and releases the drum, which leans to the right.
- The trunk on a blind landing, screwed into the frame.
- Ramrod, hiding in a fighting position in the axis of the drum. After completion of firing, he performs the function of an extractor - pushes spent cartridges.
- The device is placed in the frame and closed with a flat cover.
The drum performs the functions of both the store and the chamber at the same time. In the most common model of 1895 and in many of its variations, the drum holds 7 charges. In fact, the hollow axis of the drum is inserted into the front of the frame and is attached to it by a ramrod tube. This tube is placed in front of the drum: it is attached to the neck of the barrel so as to spin on it, as on an axis. Samples in which the drum is slid on the barrel, the first has a return mechanism, which includes the drum tube and the spring.
The locking drum device is attached to the right wall of the frame. Its function is performed by a spring-loaded door. When it is open (tilted to the side), you can discharge and charge weapons. When the door is closed, it closes the chamber, preventing the charge from falling out, and it is thanks to it that the drum cannot turn counterclockwise.
The “Nagan” battle drum has seven slots and recesses necessary for the protrusion of the door in a closed and open position.
In general, the mechanism of a revolver mainly consists of components working as a locking mechanism, turning and pushing the drum onto the barrel: a slider, breech, trigger with a dog and a mainspring. These include the trigger mechanism.
By the way, in those years, the device consisted of a front sight located on the front of the trunk and a pillar with a sighting slot at the top of the frame. In total, the 1895 revolver device was assembled from 39 elements.
Trigger device
This weapon is equipped with a trigger trigger, double action. At the same time, a single-acting trigger model was also produced. In this device, the striker is pivotally mounted on the trigger, a combat leaf spring is attached - it is two-armed, located on the handle.
The sear of the revolver is made with the trigger. There is no fuse, but if you do not press the trigger, a special element will not allow the striker to touch the capsule. If the cock is pulled, it uses a special locking mechanism that moves the weapon drum forward. The trigger at this moment will lock the drum so that it does not rotate.
Ballistic properties
What is the accuracy of the Nagan revolver? The fixed sight of this weapon is adjusted to a distance of 25 m. It should be noted that at this distance the aiming point coincides with the midpoint of the hits. Different intervals can boast of completely different accuracy of hits:
Distance, m | | From the stand | | Off hand |
eleven | | 4.0 | | 7.0 |
eighteen | | 5,6 | | 9.0 |
25 | | 7.2 | | 13 |
36 | | eleven | | 19 |
fifty | | fourteen | | - |
Battle power
According to a package of pine boards 2.54 cm thick with thirty-five steps (25 meters), penetration is tracked: 3 boards - 100% bullets, 4 boards - 70%, 5 boards - 25%. Boards are placed at a distance of 8 cm from each other. One board is punched at a distance of up to two hundred steps (140 m).
Production
Russian Izhevsk arms factory is now producing very high-quality revolvers. But the Swedish "Nagan" sample of 1887 is made in Belgium. Interestingly, the 9-mm model of 1878 was praised by the Belgian army. This has contributed to the popularization of the brand name factory "Nagan" in the world market.
The same pistol, created in 1895, as well as its variations, was produced by many arms workshops across the planet, namely: the Russian Imperial Arms Factory in Tula, the Polish in Radom, the German Enel in Zul, the Belgian Lepage, " Francoot ”and“ Bayar ”,“ Arizmendi-Goenaga ”in Spain and others.
"Nagan" in service with the Russian army
At the end of the XIX century, the Russian Empire took up the massive rearmament of its troops. The Mosin rifle, released in 1891, was selected as the standard for small arms. In those days, Russian firearms were a morally obsolete model of the 4.2-linear (10.67 mm) Smith-Wesson III system pistol, developed in 1880.
Even the commission for the production of small-caliber rifles, led by Lieutenant General N. G. Chagin, joined in the search for promising samples. Interestingly, the following requirements were imposed on the new army revolver:
- The impressive stopping action of a bullet. In those days, the main type of troops was cavalry, so a shot at an effective distance (up to 50 steps) was supposed to knock down a horse.
- The "battle force" should be enough to break through 4-5-inch pine boards. The mass is small (0.82-0.92 kg).
- The caliber, direction, number, profile of the rifling of the barrel and the like should be identical to the parameters of the three-line Mosin rifle. Thus, creating revolvers, you can use defective rifle barrels.
- The revolver cannot be equipped with a self-cocking firing device, otherwise its accuracy will deteriorate.
- The primary velocity of the bullet must be at least 300 m / s.
- The revolver should have excellent accuracy of fire.
- The device must be simple and technologically advanced.
- The weapon must be reliable, insensitive to dirt and poor operating conditions, easy to maintain.
- The sleeves should not be extracted at the same time, but in turn.
- The aiming mechanism should be designed so that the trajectory of the bullet could cross the line of sight at a distance of 35 steps.
- At least seven charges must be placed in the drum.
- The cartridge should be with a shell bullet, a brass flange sleeve and smokeless gunpowder.
In general, self-cocking and simultaneous removal of spent cartridges were rejected because they complicated the device (this negatively affected the reliability and cost of the revolver) and led to an excessive consumption of ammunition.
The announced competition and potential colossal order showed great interest in domestic and foreign weapon sculptors. Several samples of the Smith-Wesson pistol, revolvers and automatic pistols were presented. In the final, a serious fight was started by the Belgian gunsmiths Henri Pieper with the M1889 Bayar model and Leon Nagan with the M1892. By the way, the modern Nagant Gletcher NGT air gun is an exact copy of the model that won this competition.
Leon Nagan remade his product under the Russian 7.62 mm caliber. As in 1883, he eliminated self-cocking, ruining the quality of weapons in accordance with the claims of the competition.
In total, two options were proposed - six- and seven-shot revolvers. Piper's model was rejected due to the massiveness and unreliability of the device. Leon Nagan won the competition, probably due to the fact that he had long-established contacts in the Russian military department.
Nagan for a patent for a revolver has broken the price of 75,000 rubles. He could not get this money, because he was refused. Then a re-competition was appointed, but with more refined conditions. Now, in addition to the parameters, a bonus was offered: twenty thousand rubles for the arrangement of weapons and five thousand for the construction of a charge. In addition, the winner had to give his brainchild into the full ownership of the Russian government, which acquired the right to produce it both in his country and abroad without any payment to the inventor.
Piper at the competition showed newly redesigned revolvers with unique automation. The Commission considered them "unsuitable, but witty." The revolver S.I. Mosin with six trunks was also not accepted. The refinement in the device of the Nagan pistol was less significant. Compared with the Smith-Wesson 4.2-line weapon, and the device was approved. Interestingly, after military tests, officers wished to get a double-effect revolver with self-cocking.
The Commission returned to the self-cocking version of the sample, but did not see its unconditional success, therefore, decided that Russia’s firearm should be replenished with such revolvers: self-cocking for officers, and for ordinary and non-commissioned officers - non-self-cocking.
The device made several minor changes and approved it in the spring of 1895. The holster for the Nagan of this pattern was cloth. It was equipped with a leather cord-trainer and a ramrod for cleaning weapons.
May 13, 1895 by decree of Nicholas II "officer" and "soldier" samples of the Nagan pistol were adopted by the Russian army. It is noteworthy that in June 1896 the military department officially adopted these weapons.
Modifications
It is too troublesome to obtain permission for rifled weapons - you need to get around a lot of cabinets. And many can not do it, so people get pneumatics. But let's not get distracted and list the samples of the amazing revolver Nagan. Here they are:
- Nagant M1910 is a Belgian weapon of the 1910 model. Has simultaneous extraction of spent cartridges.
Battle models:
- Soldier "Nagan" - a stunning weapon of the 20th century with a trigger-trigger non-self-cocking device. Its production was discontinued in 1918.
- "Nagan", created for the officers, is equipped with a self-cocking trigger-release device.
- On the eve of World War I, rifles were made for the border troops in small quantities: a rifle with an integral butt and a barrel length of 300 mm and a revolver with a removable butt and an enlarged barrel up to 200 mm.
- Designed for commanders, the Nagan is a compact version of the revolver designed for hidden wear. Its trunk is reduced to 85 mm, and the handle is shortened. The sample was developed in 1927. It was produced until 1932 in small batches. In total, about 25,000 pieces of these products were manufactured. This sample was used to arm the OGPU and NKVD officers.
- For reconnaissance and sabotage battalions in 1929, a pistol with a silencer was created , equipped with a "BRAMIT" silent shooting device, which excludes the appearance of a flame. Designed by the brothers I. G. and V. G. Mitin.
- Nagant wz. 30 - weapons created by Nagan in 1895, made by the Poles. From 1930 to 1939 it was mass-produced in the city of Radom at an arms factory. In total, Poland produced 20,000 pieces of Nagan revolvers of two samples: Ng wz.30 and Ng wz.32.
Sport models are 20th century weapons
These wonderful products:
- Nagan-Smirnsky training revolver for training, developed in 1926. Its designer is A. A. Smirnsky. From 1925 to 1939, 3,500 of these products were manufactured under a 5.6-mm ring ignition charge.
- Revolver "Nagan" for sports was created in 1953. Its designer is V.A. Paramonov. This sample was produced from 1956 to 1966. In total, 8,220 units of -4 and -4-1 were manufactured.
- TOZ-36 is a sports weapon of the 1962 model. This model was designed by E.L. Khaidurov.
- TOZ-49 - 1972 model pistol, made for sports. It was designed by E. L. Khaidurov. Has a shortened drum under a shortened cartridge 7.62X26 mm
- TOZ-96 is an export version of TOZ-49 under the charge of .32 S&W Long Wadcutter. It is made since 1996.
Sports and hunting models
Now consider the weapon following samples:
- The rifle KR-22 "Falcon" is a conversion sample under the charge .22 LR. This Nagan revolver is equipped with a barrel extended to 500 mm, a wooden fore-end and a wooden stock. This product weighs 2 kg. It began to be manufactured in 2010.
- The Thunder gun is a conversion model manufactured by the Ukrainian company SOBR LLC. This sports pistol under 4 mm Flaubert’s charge, designed for training.
Civil Defensive Weapons
What is a "Nagan" traumatic and gas? In the early 2000s, several variations of such pistols were created, made by changing the combat Nagans.
- The following defensive weapons are produced in Russia: a P1 “Naganych” injury under a charge of 9 mm R.A. and VPO-502 “Nagan-M” under a charge of 10X32 mm T, a service injury of a PC under a charge of 10X23 mm T.
- In Ukraine, gas and traumatic pistols “Combrig”, “Skat 1R”, “G-Nagan”, short “SKAT 1Rk” and “Nagan of the Russian Federation” are manufactured.
- In the USA, they make the Nagant Gletcher NGT air gun. This is a double balloon of the legendary revolver.
Due to forensic requirements, changes in the design of weapons firing rubber bullets have appeared that prohibit firing of combat charges.
Signal (noise) models
- VPO-503 "Nagan-S" ("Bluff") - a signal pistol under the capsule "Zhevelo." It is made since the summer of 2006 by the Vyatka-Polyansky factory "Hammer".
- "Nagan MR-313" (Nagan-07). In this sample, in comparison with Bluff, the device of the barrel plug has been changed (the new plug has more thoughtful outlines). This model is equipped with a barrel of a smaller diameter, it does not have a serial number on the frame, and the frame was not milled on the breech of the barrel.
"Nagan MR-313" is equipped with a drum whose number does not match the number on the frame. The revolver bushings under the Zhevelo are not pressed into the chambers, but screwed into the thread.
Interestingly, in 2008 the production of these revolvers on the "Hammer" was turned off and moved to the Izhevsk arms factory.
- R-2 is a signal weapon under the Zhevelo capsule, the next model after Bluff and MP-313. The manufacturer is Izhevsk Engineering Plant.
And the last: if you are too lazy to get permission for rifled weapons (not many people like red tape), you can buy a sports "Nagan" under the charge of Flaubert. These products shoot loudly, perfectly protect against stray dogs, do not require permission to buy and wear.