How is the finish on your Makarov pistol? Do you feel that it's prone to rust easily?
Seems like the Russians are getting rid of Makarovs (Baikal MP-442s are the civilian versions, made to the same finish and at the same facility as the military versions), and are replacing them with Yarigins (MP-446 Vikings), according to this article (In Russian), Google Translated version:
[...]
Russian army is proceeding with mass replacement of the Makarov Pistols, that have been issued since 1951, "Interfax-ABN" learned from the source, closely connected to the Military-Industrial commission (MIC) of the Government of the Russian Federation. "Our officers need different personal weapons, just as reliable and fault-free, as Kalashnikov automatic assault rifles", the source stated.
The source provided a curious justification for the replacements. Turns out, that AKs issued to the crew of the nuclear submarine K-141 Kursk, that sunk on August 12th, 2000 in the Barents Sea, as a result of a torpedo explosion, did not loose their fighting and technical qualities even after spending a year in the sea water. "When in October of 2001 'Kursk' was lifted to the surface, and brought to the dry dock in Roslyakovo, about 20 AKs, issued to the crew of the vessel were found. They remained in the sea water, at the depth of 108 meters for over a year, but once they were cleaned and lubricated, it was discovered, that the firearms did not lose their fighting or technical characteristics, and still functioned like the clockwork", told the member of the MIC.
At the same time, according to him, Makarov pistols, with which the officers and warrant officers of the sunk submarine were armed, completely rusted through, and became absolutely unusable.
[...]
Seems like the Russians are getting rid of Makarovs (Baikal MP-442s are the civilian versions, made to the same finish and at the same facility as the military versions), and are replacing them with Yarigins (MP-446 Vikings), according to this article (In Russian), Google Translated version:
[...]
Russian army is proceeding with mass replacement of the Makarov Pistols, that have been issued since 1951, "Interfax-ABN" learned from the source, closely connected to the Military-Industrial commission (MIC) of the Government of the Russian Federation. "Our officers need different personal weapons, just as reliable and fault-free, as Kalashnikov automatic assault rifles", the source stated.
The source provided a curious justification for the replacements. Turns out, that AKs issued to the crew of the nuclear submarine K-141 Kursk, that sunk on August 12th, 2000 in the Barents Sea, as a result of a torpedo explosion, did not loose their fighting and technical qualities even after spending a year in the sea water. "When in October of 2001 'Kursk' was lifted to the surface, and brought to the dry dock in Roslyakovo, about 20 AKs, issued to the crew of the vessel were found. They remained in the sea water, at the depth of 108 meters for over a year, but once they were cleaned and lubricated, it was discovered, that the firearms did not lose their fighting or technical characteristics, and still functioned like the clockwork", told the member of the MIC.
At the same time, according to him, Makarov pistols, with which the officers and warrant officers of the sunk submarine were armed, completely rusted through, and became absolutely unusable.
[...]
