IZh-54

The IZh-54 (ИЖ-54) is a Soviet double-barreled shotgun.^[2]

IZh-54
Type	Double-barreled shotgun
Place of origin	USSR
Production history
Designer	A. A. Klimov[1]
Manufacturer	Izhevsk Mechanical Plant[2]
Produced	1954 - 1969
No. built	477 695[1]
Specifications
Mass	3.2 - 3.6 kg[2]
Length	1150 or 1170mm
Barrel length	730 or 750mm[2]
Caliber	12 gauge[2][1]
Action	Break-action[2]
Rate of fire	variable
Sights	iron sights

History

IZh-54 was designed in 1951-1954, since 1954 began its serial production.^[3][4][2]

Since 1961, a new varnish with improved characteristics has been used to protect the wooden parts of the gun.^[5]

In December 1964, the price of one standard IZh-54 was 90 roubles. The price of one custom IZh-54 shotgun (with engravings, walnut stock and walnut fore-end) was between 170 and 250 roubles.^[6]

In total, 477 695 IZh-54 shotguns were made^[1] from 1954 to 1969^[2] and more than seventy thousands of them were sold to foreign countries.^[4][7]

It was the first shotgun of the Izhevsk Mechanical Plant that was sold abroad in large quantities.^[4]

In January 1980, a detachable diopter sight was proposed for IZh-54 shotguns.^[8]

Design

IZh-54 is a side by side hammerless smoothbore shotgun.^[2]

It has a walnut or beech stock and fore-end.^[2] It has a chrome-plated bores made from 50А steel (GOST 5160-49). Mainsprings were made from chromium-vanadium steel 50ХФА (GOST 4543-48).^[3]

Variants

• IZh-54 (ИЖ-54) - it was produced in three slightly different versions.^[9]
• IZh-57 (ИЖ-57) - 16 gauge variant, since 1957^[2]

Users

• Soviet Union^[7]
• Ukraine - they were on the territory of Ukrainian SSR in Soviet times, now they are allowed as civilian hunting weapon^[10]
• United Kingdom^[7] - unknown number of shotguns were sold as civilian hunting weapon
• USA - the import was allowed^[11]