IZh-18

The IZh-18 (ИЖ-18) is a single-shot, break-action shotgun.^[1]

History

IZh-18 was designed in 1962-1963 as a successor to the

In November 1964, the price of one standard IZh-18 was 28 rubles.^[5]

Since January 1979^[8] began the production of IZh-18E-20M and IZh-18-410M variants^[2][4]

In May 1981, the price of one standard IZh-18 was 22 rubles and 50 kopecks, the price of one standard IZh-18E was 37 rubles and 50 kopecks.^[9]

In 1985, the IZh-18EM shotgun was awarded the golden medal of the International Fair Plovdiv.^[10]

Since March 2018

Unknown number of IZh-18 shotguns were sold in foreign countries.[3]

Design

IZh-18 is a single-shot hammerless takedown shotgun.^[5][4]

The barrel is chrome-plated and has choke at the muzzle end.^[4] The detachable barrel is made from 50A steel (сталь 50A).^[9]

Soviet shotguns had a walnut, birch or beech stock and fore-end.^[11][4]

Variants

• IZh-18 (ИЖ-18)^[5][9][12]
• IZh-18M (ИЖ-18М) - version of IZh-18, since January 1979^{[8][3][4][12]}
• IZh-18E (ИЖ-18Е), with automatic ejector^[9][2][13]
• IZh-18EM (ИЖ-18ЕМ) - version of IZh-18E, since early 1980s^[3][4][12]
• IZh-18E-20M (ИЖ-18Е-20М), export variant (IZh-18E chambered in 20/76 mm Magnum shotgun shells)^{[8][4][2][12]}
• IZh-18-410M (ИЖ-18-410М), export variant (IZh-18 chambered in .410/76 mm Magnum shotgun shells)^[8][2][12]
• IZh-18MK (ИЖ-18МК) - version of IZh-18M, since 1988^[14]
• IZh-18M-M (ИЖ-18М-M) - version of IZh-18M, since 1992
• IZh-18MN (ИЖ-18МН) - since 1994, single-shot rifle^[15]

Users

•  
  zoological gardens, animal parks and wildlife sanctuaries of the Soviet Union as auxiliary firearm for employees.^[3] Also, these shotguns were allowed as civilian hunting weapon^[5][2][4]
•  Belarus - they were on the territory of BSSR in Soviet times, now they are allowed as civilian hunting weapon^[16]
•  Bulgaria^[17]
•  Czech Republic^[18]
•  Kazakhstan - they were on the territory of Kazakh SSR in Soviet times, now they are allowed as civilian hunting weapon^[19]
•  Latvia - they were on the territory of Latvian SSR in Soviet times, now they are allowed as civilian hunting weapon^[20]
•  Moldova - they were on the territory of Moldavian SSR in Soviet times, now they are allowed as civilian hunting weapon^[21]
•  Russian Federation - they were on the territory of RSFSR in Soviet times, now they are allowed as civilian hunting weapon^[15]
•  Ukraine - they were on the territory of Ukrainian SSR in Soviet times, now they are allowed as civilian hunting weapon^[22][23]
•  United Kingdom - unknown number of shotguns were sold as civilian hunting weapon^[24]
•  USA - European American Armory began importing IZh-18 shotguns from Russia in 1998.^[1] In January 2004, a contract was signed between the Remington Arms (Madison, North Carolina) and the Izhevsk Mechanical Plant.^[25] In 2005 Remington Arms began import of IZh-18 shotguns from Russia, they were marketed and distributed by Remington Arms as Remington Spartan 100^[25] and IZh-18MN were sold as Remington SPR 18^[25]

Museum exhibits

• one IZh-18EM-M shotgun is in collection of Tula State Arms Museum in Tula Kremlin^[26]

References

Sources

• Охотничье одноствольное ружьё ИЖ-18 // Спортивно-охотничье оружие и патроны. Бухарест, "Внешторгиздат", 1965. стр.16-17
• Ружьё модели Иж-18 // Охотничье огнестрельное оружие отечественного производства. Справочное методическое пособие для экспертов-криминалистов, следователей и оперативных работников органов МВД / под ред. А. И. Устинова. М., 1969.
• Л. Е. Михайлов, Н. Л. Изметинский. Ижевские охотничьи ружья. 2-е изд., испр. и доп. Ижевск, изд-во «Удмуртия», 1982. стр.97-118
• ИЖ-18 // А. А. Потапов. Всё об охотничьих ружьях. М., ФАИР-Пресс, 2011. стр.342-343
• Виктор Рон. Нарезная "переломка" из Ижевска // журнал "Оружие", No. 15/16, 2017. стр.64 - ISSN 1728-9203