«Okhotnik» magazine

In The Tula Arms Museum

The hunting arms collection is one of the largest ones in the world. It gives the opportunity to make the acquaintance of the works of Tula gun makers of XVIII-XX centuries.

The hunting shotgun with Tula trademark dated 1744 is of great interest. Decorating the gun bolt the unknown master engraved every leaf and blossom with great love and skill.

The muzzle-loading hunting shotgun, which is kept in the museum, chambered unitary cartridge is of great historical value. On the shotgun there is a rather large note made of gold “The Supplier Of Imperial Courts N.I. Goltyakov in Tula”. The shotgun was produced at the end of the 70-s or at the beginning of the 80-s of XIX century and was exhibited at the first specialized show of hunting weapon in Russia. It seems that all the craftsmanship of Tula armourers is represented in the decoration of that shotgun.

At the beginning of the 1st World War and the Revolution and the Civil War that went after it the shotgun making was reduced abruptly. Though the still existing hunting workshop produced a small number of shotguns (model B) and the shotguns, which were made over from rifles of 1870. These ones and those double-barrel ramrod shotguns of hammer action, gauge 12, as well as the shotguns, which were worked out by P.N. Frolov (based on the model of Mosin’s rifle) were put into production in the 20-30-s; all of them are in the exposition. Here you can see shotguns made by designer D.M. Kochetov, model R and the carbine “NK-8,2 mm” worked out on the base of Mosin’s rifle.

In the post-war period (the end of 40-60-s) the hunting shotguns of model B and its modification BM as well as double-barrel hammerless shotgun TOZ-25 of gauge 16 worked out by V.A. Paramonov (nowadays the director of the museum) and V.C. Kozlov were widespread. These models are presented in the collection. There area a lot of hunting shotguns MC 21-12 made by N.I. Korovyakov, V.A. Paramonov, V.P. Ochnev, and S.S. Ferapontov.

MC 21-12 is a self-loading single-barrel shotgun; its automatic operation is based on using long rearward travel of the barrel under the action of powder gases. This shotgun has got a tubular four-cartridge magazine. The model MC 21-12 is constantly in the process of perfection and is still produced.

A number of modifications based on TOZ-34 have been worked out. So TOZ-34E has got an ejector mechanism and a ventilated rib.

The shotgun “Zubr” can be called universal. It can be supplied with some pairs of barrels that allow using it with good results for any kind of hunting.

The shotguns with the artistic decoration attract visitors so much. The Tula gun makers use various materials – gold, silver, ivory, and nacre. Magnificence of colours, design is in harmony with the form of a shotgun naturally. Even the most beautiful appearance of a shotgun doesn’t reduce its functional and operating characteristics. The piece-works MC-109 and MC-111 are the evidence of it.

The century glory of Tula gun makers, the followers of the legendary Lefthander, hasn’t faded. The shotguns TOZ-80, TOZ-84, TOZ-91, TOZ-87 confirm it. The last of these models is the first home serial gas actuated semiautomatic shotgun. For the first time in the world the parts of the gas assembly in such a shotgun function as an under-barrel magazine that provides the necessary balance and firmness at shooting.

You should remember the museum is open daily except Monday, Tuesday and the last Thursday of every month.

Work hours 10.00. – 16.45. Break 13.00. – 14.00.