Tag Archives: Stechkin APS

Of Stechkins and bailout guns

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In 2015, Russian state media detailed that aircrew operating in Syria were carrying AK pattern rifles, and Stechkin APS machine pistols with several 20-round magazines to use should they have to eject.

Well it looks like one got a bit of use last week when the pilot of a shot down Russian Aerospace Force Su-25SM attack aircraft, when cornered by insurgents reportedly resorted to his personal weapons and was not taken alive.

(Photo: CIT)

Among the items reportedly recovered from the downed pilot was a 9x18mm Stechkin APS pistol with three partially loaded mags, one of which appears empty.

More in my column at Guns.com.

The Stechkin Machine Pistol: A Russian ninja love story

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Though the same could be said of many nations, the Soviets always seemed to have an overarching desire to have special ops guys ready on
the ready to go round the world, meet interesting people and kill them. And what fun would being a commie ninja be if there weren’t cool
toys to go along with job? The Stechkin APS was one of the neater pieces in the Spetsnaz’s toy box.

After World War 2, the Soviet military greatly expanded their special ops type characters. They had proven useful behind German and
Japanese lines in the last Great Patriotic War and surely, they would come in handy in the next. These spetsnaz (special purpose) troops
needed to move fast and pack light. What they required were compact weapons, which could deliver a shocking blow, and then stow away
again until needed. This gun could also be issued to vehicle crews, aviators, and others with the same need for a compact weapon that
stowed away until needed. Sure, submachine guns were neat—but even then smaller was better. For this type of weapon, the Russkis turned
to a crafty little guy named Igor….

stech and mags
Read the rest in my column at Guns.com