Fedorov Avtomat

Fedorov Avtomat
TypeBattle rifle
Light machine gun
Place of originRussian Empire
Service history
In service1915–1917
1920–1928
Re-issued in 1940
Used byRussian Empire
Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic
Soviet Union
Finland
WarsWorld War I[1]
Russian Revolution[1]
Russian Civil War[1]
East Karelian uprising
Winter War[1]
World War II[1]
Production history
DesignerVladimir Grigoryevich Fyodorov
Designed1913
ManufacturerKovrov Arms Factory, (Now V. A. Degtyarev Plant, OJSC)
Produced1913–1925 (6.5×50mmSR Arisaka)
No. built3,200[2]
Specifications
Mass4.4 kg (9.7 lb) (5.2 kg (11 lb) loaded)
Length1,045 mm (41.1 in)
Barrel length520 mm (20 in)

Cartridge6.5×50mmSR Arisaka
ActionShort recoil operation
Rate of fire350–400 Rounds/min[3]
Muzzle velocity654 metres per second (2,150 ft/s)[3]
Feed system25-round detachable box magazine
SightsIron sights

The Fedorov Avtomat (also anglicized as Federov,[4][5] Russian: Автома́т Фёдорова, romanized: Avtomát Fyódorova, IPA: [ɐftɐˈmat ˈfʲɵdərəvə], lit. 'Fyodorov's automatic rifle') or FA is a select-fire infantry rifle and one of the world's first operational automatic rifles, designed by Vladimir Grigoryevich Fyodorov in 1915 and produced in the Russian Empire and later in the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic. A total of 3,200 Fedorov rifles were manufactured between 1915 and 1925 in the city of Kovrov; the vast majority of them were made after 1920. The weapon saw limited combat in World War I, but was used more substantially in the Russian Civil War and in the Winter War. Some consider it to be an early predecessor or ancestor of the modern assault rifle.[5][6][7][8]

  1. ^ a b c d e McNab 2022, p. 8.
  2. ^ Popenker, Maxim (22 February 2016). "A brief history of the Russian Fedorov Avtomat Rifle". The Firearm Blog.
  3. ^ a b Chinn, George M. (1952). The Machine Gun. Vol. 2. Bureau of Ordnance. p. 30.
  4. ^ Hogg, Ian V. & Weeks, John S. (2000). Military Small Arms of the 20th Century (7th ed.). Krause Publications. p. 267.
  5. ^ a b Westwood, David (2005). Rifles: An Illustrated History of their Impact. ABC-CLIO. p. 135. ISBN 978-1-85109-401-1.
  6. ^ Fowler, William; Sweeney, Patrick (2008). The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rifles and Machine Guns: An illustrated historical reference to over 500 military, law enforcement and antique firearms... and automatic machine guns, a comprehensive guide. Lorenz Books. p. 68. ISBN 978-0-7548-1758-1.
  7. ^ Walter, John (2003). Military Rifles of Two World Wars. Greenhill. p. 19. ISBN 978-1-85367-536-2.
  8. ^ Musgrave, Daniel D.; Nelson, Thomas B. (1967). The World's Assault Rifles and Automatic Carbines. T.B.N. Enterprises. p. 149; see also discussion on p. 15.