MP-448 Skyph
| MP-448 Skyph | |
|---|---|
| Type | Semi-automatic pistol |
| Place of origin | Russia |
| Production history | |
| Designer | D. A. Bogdanov |
| Designed | 1990s - 1998 |
| Manufacturer | Izhevsk Mechanical Plant |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 650 g (1.43 lb) (МР-448, МР-448C) 590 g (21 oz) (Skyph-mini) |
| Length | 162 mm (6.4 in) |
| Barrel length | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
| Width | 32 mm (1.3 in) |
| Height | 132 mm (5.2 in) (МР-448, МР-448C) 107 mm (4.2 in) (Skyph-mini) |
| Cartridge | 9×18mm Makarov |
| Feed system | 12-round detachable box magazine (МР-448) 10-round detachable box magazine (МР-448C) 8-round detachable box magazine (МР-448С Skyph-mini) |
| Sights | Fixed; front blade and rear notch |
The MP-448 Skyph (MP[1]-448 Скиф) - a Russian pistol that was developed during the late 1990s by engineer-constructor and weapon designer Dmitry Bogdanov. It was initially offered by Izhevsk Mechanical Plant (IzhMech) for export sales and for private security companies as an enhanced version of the famous Makarov PM pistol (which is also manufactured by IzhMech).
Overview
The MP-448 is slightly smaller and 200 g lighter than the Makarov PM thanks to a polymer frame. Like the Makarov, it is chambered for the 9×18mm Makarov cartridge which is similar in performance to the .380 ACP, and uses a double-stacked 12-round magazine like the PMM variant. Because of the 9×18mm's lower pressure (20,000 psi vs the 9×19mm Luger's 35,000 psi), the MP-448 works by blowback operation.
Cancellation
There are no takers for this pistol because there are only marginal improvements in ergonomics and accuracy over the Makarov PM and the Skyph also costs more. Because of this, countries that still use the 9×18mm cartridge are sticking with the Makarov pistol. Russian military and paramilitary forces have switched to the more powerful 9×19mm Parabellum and as such are purchasing larger, more powerful and higher capacity pistols such as the MP-443 Grach and MP-446 Viking (also manufactured by Izhmash).
Variants
- МР-448 Skyph (МР-448 Скиф) - model chambered for 9×18mm Makarov.[2]
- МР-448S Skyph (МР-448С[3] Скиф) - variant chambered for 9×17mm Short. It was designed as a sidearm for private security.[2]
- МР-448S Skyph-mini (МР-448С Скиф-мини) - compact version chambered for 9×17mm Short[2]
Users
Kazakhstan - since 2003[4] used as service pistol in private security companies[5]
References
- ^ MP = Mechanical Plant
- ^ a b c Виктор Шунков. Боевое и служебное оружие России. М., ООО "Издательство ЭКСМО", 2012. стр.73-75
- ^ "С" means "служебный"
- ^ «Регистрационный номер: 3.1/018 Пистолет служебный самозарядный МР 448 СКИФ»
Постановление Правительства Республики Казахстан № 1367 от 25 декабря 2002 года "Об утверждении Государственного кадастра гражданского и служебного оружия и патронов к нему" - ^ "Регистрационный номер: 3.1/018 Пистолет служебный самозарядный МР 448 СКИФ"
Постановление Правительства Республики Казахстан № 1305 от 28 декабря 2006 года "Об утверждении Государственного кадастра гражданского и служебного оружия и патронов к нему на 2007 год"
Sources
- Братья "Скифы" // журнал "Мастер-ружьё", № 63/64, июнь-июль 2002. стр.58-60