The MP-445 Varjag (''MP-445 "Варяг"'') is a

semi-automatic pistol A semi-automatic pistol (also called a self-loading pistol, autopistol, or autoloading pistol) is a repeating firearm, repeating handgun that automatically ejects and loads cartridge (firearms), cartridges in its chamber (firearms), chamber afte ...

manufactured in Russia by the

Izhevsk Mechanical Plant Izhevsk Mechanical Plant (, ''Izhevsky Mekhanicheskiy Zavod'') or IZHMEKH (ИЖМЕХ) was a major firearms manufacturer founded in Izhevsk in 1942 for manufacturing small arms. In 2013, it merged with Izhmash to form Kalashnikov Concern. Hi ...

History

By the end of the 20th century, it became obvious that

pistol A pistol is a type of handgun, characterised by a gun barrel, barrel with an integral chamber (firearms), chamber. The word "pistol" derives from the Middle French ''pistolet'' (), meaning a small gun or knife, and first appeared in the Englis ...

s were an integral part of a combat unit because of their small, easy to operate size and the ease with which they could be concealed for operations where blatant displays of firepower were politically unsavory. To meet the new demand for combat handguns,

developed a series of pistol in various

caliber In guns, particularly firearms, but not #As a measurement of length, artillery, where a different definition may apply, caliber (or calibre; sometimes abbreviated as "cal") is the specified nominal internal diameter of the gun barrel Gauge ( ...

s. In November 2000 one MP-445 pistol was presented at "INTERPOLITEX-2000" Arms exhibition in Moscow, and it was offered for export. The pistol is available in two models, the larger and heavier MP-445 (210 x 142 x 38mm) and the compact MP-445C (188 x 132 x 38mm). The MP-445 model has fully adjustable sights zeroed for both elevation and windage, while MP-445C has fixed, iron sights. It holds 15 rounds and readily accepts tactical flashlights and laser aiming devices. Like its predecessor the MP-444, the 445 features a frame made from super strong

thermosetting plastic In materials science, a thermosetting polymer, often called a thermoset, is a polymer that is obtained by irreversibly hardening (" curing") a soft solid or viscous liquid prepolymer ( resin). Curing is induced by heat or suitable radiation and ...

material.

Variants

* MP-445 (''MP-445 "Варяг"'') -

9×19mm Parabellum The 9×19mm Parabellum (also known as 9mm Luger, 9mm NATO or simply 9mm) is a Rim (firearms)#Rimless, rimless, Centerfire ammunition, centerfire, tapered cartridge (firearms), firearms cartridge. Originally designed by Austrian firearm designer ...

pistol :* МР-445SW - .40 S&W variant * MP-445C (''MP-445С'') -

pistol :* МР-445CSW - .40 S&W variant

Museum exhibits

* two MP-445C pistols are in collection of M. T. Kalashnikov Museum in

Izhevsk Izhevsk or Ijevsk (, ; , or ) is the capital city of Udmurtia, Russia. It is situated along the Izh River, west of the Ural Mountains in Eastern Europe. It is the 21st-largest city in Russia, and the most populous in Udmurtia, with over 600,000 ...

"''MK_OF-851 Пистолет МР-445С (№ 0044500005)''"Электронный каталог
{{Webarchive, url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190722033821/http://museum-mtk.ru/collections/eKatalog/ , date=2019-07-22 / M. T. Kalashnikov Museum official website

References

Semi-automatic pistols of Russia 9mm Parabellum semi-automatic pistols .40 S&W semi-automatic pistols Trial and research firearms of Russia Izhevsk Mechanical Plant products