Трьохствольний пристрій 3Б Коробова, двостульковий ізраїльський штурмовий гвинтівка Gilboa Snake та інші незвичайні зразки особистого озброєння.10 фото

The 1960s marked a period of intense research and development for firearm manufacturers in the Soviet Union, as they sought to explore new principles and mechanisms for automatic firearms. During this time, designer German Alexandrovich Korobov created a family of automated weapons under the designation TKB-022 (TKB standing for Tula Design Bureau). The TKB-022 series included two models: TKB-022 No. 1 and TKB-022 No. 2. While the exterior design of TKB-022 No. 1 merely resembled the layout of some earlier models, the later model, TKB-022PM, clearly belonged to this same design philosophy. In addition to its compact size, the TKB-022PM featured several cutting-edge features for the time: a plastic casing, as well as a system that allowed bullets and gunpowder gases to be expelled forward, enabling firing from both the right and left shoulder. The TKB-022PM utilized a gas-operated automatic mechanism with a circular gas piston surrounding the barrel. Its bolt was designed to slide vertically, which not only helped minimize the length of the gun barrel but also required the addition of a special U-shaped component that moved back and forth horizontally to load cartridges into the chamber, eject spent casings, and guide the ejected cases out of the weapon. A fire selector switch located on the left side of the gun allowed the shooter to choose between different firing modes. The TKB-022PM was powered by standard 30-round magazines used in the Kalashnikov rifle, which were mounted directly behind the buttstock. Its adjustable sights had a relatively short range. The weapon also included a mechanism that allowed it to be converted for firing shotgun shells. In 1962, German Korobov developed what was perhaps his most innovative weapon: the “7.62-mm three-barreled device for mass fire, Model 3B.” This weapon was a mounted firearm with a recoil-operated automatic mechanism and a bolt similar to that of the TKB-022PM. The firing of each barrel was triggered by the long stroke of the piston within the moving system. A key feature of its design was the system for reloading, which ensured that the overall length of the weapon was nearly equal to the combined length of its barrels and cartridges. An ejector mechanism was responsible for removing spent casings and forcing new cartridges into the chamber. The concept behind this weapon relied on so-called “super-fast firing,” which allowed the gun to fire so rapidly that the recoil generated by each shot was not enough to cause the barrel to shift, thus maintaining high accuracy. The three barrels enabled it to fire at a rate of 1400–1800 rounds per minute, allowing for devastating firepower in bursts. During tests, the Model 3B demonstrated significant improvements in firepower, especially when fired from unstable positions. German Korobov managed to reduce the recoil to a level that was comfortable and acceptable for shooters. Some components of its design were borrowed from the Kalashnikov rifle, which streamlined the development process considerably. Later, based on the TKB-022PM and the Model 3B, German Korobov created the new model TKB-059, which further refined the technical specifications and tactical characteristics of these weapons. To date, it is difficult to assess how seriously the prospects for applying such weapons were considered in the Soviet Union. However, similar developments were also underway in other countries, such as the United States and Australia. In the 1990s, the American company ITM developed several experimental pistol-machines.