Tokarev's automatic machine (AT-44): description, technical characteristics

Hearing the name of the famousdesigner-gunsmith and inventor Tokarev, many immediately recall a beautiful blued TT gun. Even those who are completely ignorant of this brand and far from firearms. And not in vain: this pistol proved to be effective during the Great Patriotic War and is very popular these days. You can hear about him in the news of the criminal chronicle, see in the movies and serials.

But very few people know that Fedor Vasilyevich Tokarevis the author of other, unfortunately, little-known projects. Among his offsprings are the SVT-40 self-loading rifle and the submachine gun used for the 7.62 mm cartridge.

Tokarev automaton: history of creation

Among the participants in the competitive development of weapons,conducted in 1943, F.V. Tokarev was the oldest. He turned 72 years old. Despite the age and illnesses, the designer decided to create an automaton and in October 1943 he entered a competitive competition with young participants. The mock-up of the machine was ready within a month. At the same time, a separate weapon design was not created, and the finished rifle AVT was taken as a sample. Such a design made it possible to save time and eliminate the risk when working out automation nodes. Prior to April 44 Tokarev finalized his creation. This was given to him uneasy. Often there were problems of an industrial nature: in times of war, there was an acute shortage of cartridges-their new designs were immediately sent to the front. By May 1944 Tokarev's machine was ready.

Weapon Testing

Tokarev Machine Gun 1944 sample was first tested on May 7, 1944. As a test-tester, a girl named Vera was introduced to the designer. Tokarev was at first skeptical about this, but when he saw the well-coordinated work of the girl with arms, he changed his attitude.

On quality and trouble-free operation of the mechanism Tokarev's automatic machine this test failed. The reason for the failure was the delay in firing, twin shots and transverse shell cuts. During the experiment, cartridges were dropped and discarded. These shortcomings of the capsule mechanism of weapons were explained by the high speed of mobile elements of the structure and were noticed by the commission members. The machine required a serious revision. But the most unpleasant fact was the breakdown of the gun's trunk: the back wall exploded, and the machine was spoiled.

The second test was scheduled for July44th. The delay during the shooting was traced in the construction of the Tokarev rifle. Eliminate this defect was difficult. Therefore, by July, the design of the weapon was not yet ready. The second stage of the test passed without the participation of the Tokarev model.

The third round took place in December 44th. Tokarev's machine gave poor results and, according to the designer, required further refinement. The problem was the accuracy and reliability of the mechanism. But the commission felt that the finalization was inappropriate, and ruled out the machine from the competition. The third test of this weapon was the last.

Nevertheless, the AVT, like the SVT-40 rifle, is activewas used in the Great Patriotic War. The existing defects: damage and wear of the trunk - were eliminated by an artisanal method. The models were suitable for the production of surrogate carbines.

Tokarev's technical characteristics

The weapon is intended for a cartridge having a caliber7.62 mm. The size of the bullet is 7.62 x 39 mm. The weight of the machine together with the magazine and thirty cartridges is 4.77 kg. The weapon is designed to defeat the target at a distance of one and a half kilometers.

For the construction of AT-44 used rifle AVT. On its basis Tokarev designed mobile weapons elements: a bolt and a bolt frame. The difference was in the reduced diameter of the shutter cup, respectively, the diameter of the bottom of the cartridge case used, and also in the absence of the trigger and its spring in the mechanism of the automatic device.

The device of the shock-trigger mechanism

Shock-trigger mechanism of the Tokarev machineallows you to lead a single and automatic fire. Switch the shooting mode is possible thanks to the hook, which its upper part affects the sear. When the location of the hook changes, it is separated from the sear, which makes it possible to lead a single fire. For the automatic mode, it is sufficient to move the hook further so that it does not reach the separation position and the whisper remains in the position retracted. You can change the fire modes thanks to the fuse-translator, which looks like a lever with a spring, which is installed at the base of the trigger guard. Turning the lever to the top position, you can make single shots. The lower position makes it possible to fire in bursts.

External design of weapons

The trunk box of the assault rifle F.V.Tokarev is different from the rifle. Due to the different sizes of cartridges used, the window for the AT-44 store is smaller than in the AVT rifle. In contrast to its analogue - rifles AVT, Tokarev's automatic machine in its grip does not contain a storage for accessories. Such a compartment is in the butt and covered with a special hinged cover.

The automatic trunk has a transverse ribbing, its length is 485 mm. The steel casing, containing on each side a row of round holes, covers a massive barrel of the weapon.

On the model of the rifle AVT in the automatic device a snuffle is designed, which consists of a gas chamber, a bracket (a bayonet is attached to it) and an active single-chamber muzzle brake.

The differences in the design of the rifle and machine gunTokarev consist in the specificity of the equipment of the return mechanism. The connecting units in the guide rods are different in the return mechanisms and in the lids of the trunks. The heel of the guide rod in the AVT is connected with the lid through the milling socket made in it, and in the AT-44 - through a narrow rectangular groove in the lid. This accelerates the production of stamped covers, which do not require additional processing on machines. The box of the submachine gun is represented by a short fore-end with side cutouts for the bum shoes. In the existing longitudinal channel there is a ramrod. The bayonet can be attached to the butt of the machine with Tokarev's self-loading rifle.

In its action AT-44 resembles a manual machine gun. This is a characteristic feature of the first Soviet-era machines.

Inventor, designer, worker

The circle of interests of the famous designer,The gunsmith and inventor was not limited to weapons. Having a rich spatial imagination, a wonderful memory, FV Tokarev was always fond of blacksmithing and jewelry, chasing, embossing on the skin, was a good carpenter, turner, milling machine. The inventor liked to improve technological processes, to restore worn out tools. "The inventor, the designer, the worker" - so jokingly he spoke about himself.