SPSh-44

The gun was designed by G. S. Shpagin as a replacement for the previous models of the Red Army signal pistol. In 1943 he made first version of the gun - 26mm SPSh-43 flare (signal) pistol (26-мм осветительный (сигнальный) пистолет СПШ-43). In January 1944, The second version of this pistol was made - SPSh-2 (СПШ-2). After tests and trials, in 1944 SPSh-2 flare gun was officially adopted as the new standard Red Army signal pistol. In May 1944 it began mass production as SPSh-44 signal pistol. == Design ==

The SPSh-44 is a single-shot break-action smoothbore flare gun. == Variants ==

• OSSh-42 (ОСШ-42) - the first test prototype with 140mm barrel (1.09 kg) • Type 57 - copy of SPSh-44, made in the People's Republic of China • SPSh-26M KZ (СПШ-26М KZ) - copy of SPSh-44, made by Uralsk machine-building plant "Metallist" (in Uralsk, Kazakhstan). • Keserű Muvek Rubber Protector - is a single-shot traumatic pistol manufactured by the Hungarian company " Keserű " by reworking the SPSh. It has separate loading with a 28-mm rubber bullet and a blank cartridge .380 Knall, and can be owned without license in Hungary == Users ==