100 years since the birth of Eugene Dragunov - the creator of the legendary rifle

In Izhevsk on February 20, 1920 was born Evgeny Dragunov - the future creator of the legendary Soviet SVD sniper rifle. He was a hereditary gunsmith and followed in the footsteps of his father and grandfather.

Dragunov worked for more than 40 years at the Izhevsk Machine-Building Plant, having gone from a simple worker to a leading engineer of the enterprise.

Over the years of his career, he managed to create more than 50 species weapons for the military, athletes and hunters, of which 39 samples went into serial production.

The pinnacle of his career was the development of the world's first mass-produced self-loading SVD sniper rifle, which Dragunov submitted to the competition announced in 1958 by the Main Missile and Artillery Directorate of the Soviet Army.

Although such prominent Soviet weapons designers as Kalashnikov, Simonov, Barinov and Konstantinov participated in the competition, the Dragunov sniper rifle won the competition. Perhaps, the experience gained by him while creating high-precision sports weapons played a large role in this.

After five years of work to improve it, it was SVD that was adopted by the army of the Soviet Union, and later in 26 other countries of the world.

The designer died in August 1991, not having lived a few months before the collapse of the USSR.

Comments

[Victor_B]

SVD is a legend!
When it was created, it was at the forefront of technological progress.
But time is running out. Nothing lasts forever in this world.

What happened before SVD? Ulanov. Lecture: History of weapons

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3SsygtYAtU

[bessmertniy]

However, this is a living legend. And hits exactly the target.

[orionvitt]

Quote: Victor_B

When it was created, it was at the forefront of technological progress.

Frankly speaking, as an army sniper rifle (not for special operations), so to speak, "a workhorse for every day," it is now out of competition. Especially my opinion.

[vkl.47]

The most beautiful rifle in the whole world.

[Strashila]

To squeeze the most out of the technology of your time for minimal money, this is brilliant.

[Paul Siebert]

Dragunovka - "whip" - the same symbol of the USSR and the Soviet Army, as well as the immortal "Kalash" - Mikhail Kalashnikov's assault rifle.

[mat-vey]

If I'm not mistaken, it was just in the complex for the "Kalash" and developed. An addition to improve the accuracy of the platoon's fire destruction at ranges of up to 800 meters?

[Paul Siebert]

Like an RPD machine gun ...

[mat-vey]

No, the machine gun before. It was then they tried to bring it to mind but did not grow together, as a result of the PKK appeared.

[orionvitt]

Quote: mat-vey

it was just in the complex for "Kalash" and developed

A light machine gun was developed for the Kalash in terms of unification. A sniper rifle for the army was developed separately, by a special order of the Ministry of Defense. Just to replace the old three-line sniper.

[mat-vey]

The kit is significantly different from the complex.
A complex for a platoon for fire at different distances. Moreover, the SKS refused to approve only a machine gun as a personal weapon of a fighter.

[orionvitt]

Quote: mat-vey

The kit is significantly different from the complex.

Then just write what they meant by the armament complex of the rifle squad (platoon). And not an addition to the "Kalash". Then here you can add RPG-7, also included in the complex, in addition.

[mat-vey]

I corrected.

Quote: orionvitt

Then write that you had in mind the weapons complex of the rifle squad (platoon)

"Supplement to improve the accuracy of the platoon's fire destruction at ranges up to 800 meters?" - how else "so" had to write?

[orionvitt]

Here, a lot more clear.

[mat-vey]

It was in the first answer "Paul Siebert", why did it become "clearer" after the second reading?

[vanavatny]

knew a man with a double digit number on his forearm, it was pointless to ask about his favorite or best weapon

[Lamata]

I shot a bit from SVD and SVDU, I liked it.

[Ros 56]

Honor and praise to the legendary designer. This is the real elite of the country.

[Artur Loginov]

As for me, SVD and its constructor are more associated with this flag and country.

[orionvitt]

What is the difference with which flag, we do not refuse our past, like some. And just the opposite, we are proud.

[Warrior MorePhoto]

A low bow to SVD, but time goes on, we wait for the microwave

[KCA]

With all due respect to Drugunov, the author confused something: "the world's first serial self-loading SVD sniper rifle", I don't know foreign models, but weren't the SVT and ABS sniper rifles serial?

[uav80]

They were not sniper, but combined arms, there was a special selection from serial ones according to accuracy and they already had sights installed and that’s all ...
for a sniper mosinka, for example, there was a special technology for the manufacture of barrels, and a bolt-shaped shutter stem that distinguished them from the general series, unlike the same German K98, which was simply selected for snipers from more heaped ones, the Germans did not have special production for snipers either .

PS: the SVD itself is a purely sniper weapon and no one thinks the guard or hand-to-hand with it would not go too much, although the bayonet knife can also be joined by "alga", but this is blasphemy ...

[Thompson]

The letter C for them means self-loading.
The SVD has the letter C sniper

[Ravil_Asnafovich]

By the way, he lived very modestly, in a wooden house, of which there are still enough in Izhevsk in the city, and his son followed in his footsteps.

[beeper]

Evgeny Fedorovich Dragunov, an outstanding Soviet designer-gunsmith and SVD, is the best monument to his talent and hard work!

He also held in his hands sports rifles of the Dragunov design.
Developed by Evgeny Fedorovich for the future SVD, the concept of building a three-stop bolt group for high-precision automation is relevant for all time!
As well as the design and layout solutions of his experienced MA machine gun, which in many ways serves as the subject of copying and imitation for modern gunsmiths, are very relevant!
And the original 9-mm submachine gun "KEDR (Design by Evgeny Dragunov)" - "Wedge" is also still serving the Fatherland!
And his sons, Mikhail and Alexei, Evgeny Fedorovich Dragunov brought up the true successors of the work of his father and ancestors of the hereditary Armsman!

In our grateful Memory, he forever on a par with the most honored Creators of the Patriotic Weapons (both widely known or remembered "by the dates", and little-known - "not promoted" and completely forgotten by the "officialdom", but from this no less valuable in their unfading contribution to the defense of our common Motherland !)!

[Lena Petrova]

In Izhevsk, the wife chose her for shooting. SVD-shechka. The soul feels.

[aszzz888]

Decent weapons for both those years and today! Honor and praise to the Master gunsmith E. Dragunov!
Fired a huge number of shots from it! The technique is EXCELLENT !!!