MOLOT is one of the oldest weapons factories in Russia and is the maker of the world famous VEPR rifle. In 1940 the Soviet Government decided to put the Shpagin submachine-gun (PPSh) into production at the defense factory located in Zagorsk, a town in the Moscow region. On the 21st of December, the PPSh was added to the arsenal of the Red Army. In October, 1941 the factory was moved to Vyatskie Polyany, a town in the Kirov region. The very first PPSh submachine-guns made by the Vyatskie Polyany Machine Building Plant left the factory in early November. Over the course of WWII two and a half million PPShs were made at the factory. Additionally, around 350 thousand Shpagin Lighting Pistols (OPSh) and Shpagin Signal Pistols (SPSh) were produced at the Plant. 1952 saw the death of the famous armorer, Georgi Shpagin, who worked at the Vyatskie Polyany Machine Building Plant until his last days. In 1959 production of the legendary Kalashnikov RPK machine gun was started. All the different models and modifications of the RPK have been manufactured exclusively at the Plant. Over the following years a variety of different models of firearms were put into serial production including: anti-aircraft guns, different grenade launchers (anti-tank, infantry, naval and aircraft), and also six different models of belt-filling machines. With the fall of the Soviet Union, the Vyatskie Polyany Machine Building Plant started creating its own firearm designs intended for civilian ownership. The Russian Government let the Plant carry out foreign trade activity independently. In 1994 MOLOT reorganized and became a Joint Stock Company and created the first semi-automatic rifle in the factory's history, the 7.62x39mm VEPR. In 1995 MOLOT introduced the VEPR chambered in the .308 Win. cartridge (7.62x51mm) and in 1996 production of the BECAS series of shotguns started. 1997 was a very successful year for MOLOT with the first shipments of the VEPR to the American, Asian, and European markets. The first commercial shipments went to the USA, Italy, Germany, Sweden, Kazakhstan and Mongolia. In 1998 production of the VEPR-Super began. This model combines the well-known VEPR reliability with a brand new look and some internal parts changes.
MOLOT is one of the oldest weapons factories in Russia and is the maker of the world famous VEPR rifle. In 1940 the Soviet Government decided to put the Shpagin submachine-gun (PPSh) into production at the defense factory located in Zagorsk, a town in the Moscow region. On the 21st of December, the PPSh was added to the arsenal of the Red Army. In October, 1941 the factory was moved to Vyatskie Polyany, a town in the Kirov region. The very first PPSh submachine-guns made by the Vyatskie Polyany Machine Building Plant left the factory in early November. Over the course of WWII two and a half million PPShs were made at the factory. Additionally, around 350 thousand Shpagin Lighting Pistols (OPSh) and Shpagin Signal Pistols (SPSh) were produced at the Plant. 1952 saw the death of the famous armorer, Georgi Shpagin, who worked at the Vyatskie Polyany Machine Building Plant until his last days. In 1959 production of the legendary Kalashnikov RPK machine gun was started. All the different models and modifications of the RPK have been manufactured exclusively at the Plant. Over the following years a variety of different models of firearms were put into serial production including: anti-aircraft guns, different grenade launchers (anti-tank, infantry, naval and aircraft), and also six different models of belt-filling machines. With the fall of the Soviet Union, the Vyatskie Polyany Machine Building Plant started creating its own firearm designs intended for civilian ownership. The Russian Government let the Plant carry out foreign trade activity independently. In 1994 MOLOT reorganized and became a Joint Stock Company and created the first semi-automatic rifle in the factory's history, the 7.62x39mm VEPR. In 1995 MOLOT introduced the VEPR chambered in the .308 Win. cartridge (7.62x51mm) and in 1996 production of the BECAS series of shotguns started. 1997 was a very successful year for MOLOT with the first shipments of the VEPR to the American, Asian, and European markets. The first commercial shipments went to the USA, Italy, Germany, Sweden, Kazakhstan and Mongolia. In 1998 production of the VEPR-Super began. This model combines the well-known VEPR reliability with a brand new look and some internal parts changes.
