MP-448 Skyph

MP-448 *Skyph*
MP-448 Skyph
Type	Semi-automatic pistol
Place of origin	Russia
Production history
Designer	D. A. Bogdanov[1]
Designed	1990s - 1998
Manufacturer	Izhevsk Mechanical Plant
Specifications
Mass	650 g (1.43 lb) (МР-448, МР-448C)[1]; 590 g (21 oz) (Skyph-mini)
Length	162 mm (6.4 in)
Barrel length	94 mm (3.7 in)
Width	32 mm (1.3 in)
Height	132 mm (5.2 in) (МР-448, МР-448C); 107 mm (4.2 in) (Skyph-mini)
Cartridge	9×18mm Makarov; .380 ACP
Feed system	12-round detachable box magazine (МР-448)[2]; 10-round detachable box magazine (МР-448C); 8-round detachable box magazine (МР-448С Skyph-mini)
Sights	Fixed; front blade and rear notch

The MP-448 Skyph (MP[3]-448 Скиф) is a Russian pistol.

History

MP-448 was developed during the late 1990s by engineer-constructor and weapon designer Dmitry Bogdanov. It was initially offered by Izhevsk Mechanical Plant (IzhMech) for export sales and for private security companies as an enhanced version of the famous Makarov PM pistol (which is also manufactured by IzhMech).

In November 2000 one MP-448 pistol and one MP-448C pistol were presented at "INTERPOLITEX-2000" Arms exhibition in Moscow, they were offered for export.[4]

Although, since 2003 Russian military and law enforcement have switched to the more powerful 9×19mm Parabellum and as such are purchasing larger, more powerful and higher capacity pistols such as the MP-443 Grach (also manufactured by IzhMech).

Design

The MP-448 is slightly smaller and 200 g lighter than the Makarov PM thanks to a polymer frame. Like the Makarov, it is chambered for the 9×18mm Makarov cartridge which is similar in performance to the .380 ACP, and uses a double-stacked 12-round magazine like the PMM variant. Because of the 9×18mm's lower pressure (20,000 psi vs the 9×19mm Luger's 35,000 psi), the MP-448 works by blowback operation.

There are no takers for this pistol because there are only marginal improvements in ergonomics and accuracy over the Makarov PM and the Skyph also costs more.

Variants

МР-448 Skyph[4] (МР-448 Скиф) - model chambered for 9×18mm Makarov.[2]
МР-448S Skyph[4] (МР-448С[5] Скиф) - variant chambered for 9×17mm Short. It was designed as a sidearm for private security companies.[2]
МР-448S Skyph-mini (МР-448С Скиф-мини) - compact version chambered for 9×17mm Short[2]

Users

Belarus - adopted as training pistol[6]
Kazakhstan - since 2003[7] used as service pistol in private security companies[8]

Museum exhibits

one MP-448C pistol is in collection of M. T. Kalashnikov Museum in Izhevsk[9]

References

Дмитрий Беляев. "Шаги к успеху". Экспериментальные и опытные разработки ижевских оружейников на выставке в Музейно-выставочном комплексе стрелкового оружия им. М. Т. Калашникова в Ижевске // журнал "Калашников. Оружие, боеприпасы, снаряжение". № 5, 2012. стр.62-66
Виктор Шунков. Боевое и служебное оружие России. М., ООО "Издательство ЭКСМО", 2012. стр.73-75
MP = Mechanical Plant
Юрий Амелин. "Багира" происходит от "Грача" // журнал "Оружие", № 9, 2000. стр.38-43
"С" means "служебный"
Указ президента Республики Беларусь № 183 от 30 апреля 2015 г. "О вопросах республиканского государственно-общественного объединения «Белорусское физкультурно-спортивное общество «Динамо»"
«Регистрационный номер: 3.1/018 Пистолет служебный самозарядный МР 448 СКИФ»
Постановление Правительства Республики Казахстан № 1367 от 25 декабря 2002 года "Об утверждении Государственного кадастра гражданского и служебного оружия и патронов к нему"
"Регистрационный номер: 3.1/018 Пистолет служебный самозарядный МР 448 СКИФ"
Постановление Правительства Республики Казахстан № 1305 от 28 декабря 2006 года "Об утверждении Государственного кадастра гражданского и служебного оружия и патронов к нему на 2007 год"
"MK_OF-853 Пистолет МР-448С (№ 99 ОП 002)"
Электронный каталог / M. T. Kalashnikov Museum official website

Sources

Братья "Скифы" // журнал "Мастер-ружьё", № 63/64, июнь-июль 2002. стр.58-60

External links

MP-448 Modern Firearms page