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yours,

Aleksei Morozov.

Chinese Copy of MTs6

You live, you learn. Evidently, a Chinese company made a copy of the MTs6 shotgun and sold it in France (probably elsewhere in Europe as well) as “Lion Brand”. “PH12-1” is apparently the model name.

Russians Stockpile(d) Guns and Ammo, Too.

Before Russia, like most of the world, went into self-isolation, the country’s gun shops saw record-breaking sales in guns and ammo – it even made national news.

This surge can’t be explained by the seasonal jump in sales. Russian spring bird hunting seasons start in March in the south and continue to late May in the north of the country, and shops do usually see better business in the said months. However, the current spike is higher than in any previous year, and the type of products sold suggests there are different reasons than the usual pre-season rush. 

Baikals at Holt’s – What drew my attention

I was surprised to find so many Russian hunting shotguns in the online catalogue of Holt’s Auction (silent bid). Most of them are totally unremarkable, but there were a couple of interesting pieces and also something that drew my attention.

More Guns from Tula?

Such news really ought to come with Surgeon General’s warning: “Holding one’s breath on Russian gunmakers’ promises may lead to extreme hypo-oxidation”.

Mikhail Degtyarev of the Kalashikov Magazine reports that all civilian gunmakers of Tula have been united under the same parent company and brand: “Tulskoye Oruzhie” (Rus: Тульское оружие, “Tula Weapons”). This includes TsKIB, TOZ, and the new player Levsha-T. The three Tula gunmakers will have a “co-ordinated product policy”.

2019: Bad Year for Human-Bear Conflicts in Russia

Conflicts between humans and the brown bear are on the rise across the predator’s range, in both North America and Eurasia. In Russia in the year of 2019, however, they’re taking an especially nasty turn. The year isn’t over yet, and the official stats have not been released, but we’re talking about dozens – probably over a hundred – bear-related deaths.

The worst thing is, while attacks on hunters, fishermen, berry and mushroom gatherers and other outdoors people are kinda the name of the game, as many as two people in Russia have been killed by bears in 2019 right in the middle of settlements!

MTs Guns on Rock Island Auction

If you be so inclined (and possess appropriate funds) you could amass a near complete collection of TsKIB’s over/under shotguns at the next Rock Island Auction. Here’s what there is:

TOZ-34 Is Back

I have been informed that the first production TOZ-34 over/unders since 2012 are headed to the shops. The quality is said to be OK. Priced RuR 28,990, which as of November 14, 2019, makes roughly 455 U.S. dollars. No new features: the gun comes with 70-mm chambers, 28″ barrels and fixed M and F chokes, manual extractors and walnut stock. Those who waited for longer chambers, screw-in chokes, and single trigger, are advised to keep calm and carry on waiting 🙂

Information and photos are from Orengun gun shop.

International Hunters in Russia: Meditation over an anonymous survey.

It all started from a seemingly innocent question: How do international hunters see hunting in Russia? To answer this, I did what I often do: create an anonymous questionnaire and post the link on Facebook. In addition, I asked our friends at BookYourHunt.com to send the link to their clients who’d booked a hunt in Russia with them. The results were surprising in many ways, starting with the numbers: I’m certain the posts reached at least 50,000 Facebook users, members of hunting-related groups, but the survey yielded only 5 responses. The same number was obtained through BookYourHunt.com. This doesn’t make the sample too representative, but the results are still thought-provoking.

Presentation TOZ-34 on Auction

The next Joh. Springer’s Erben auction in Vienna has for sale this TOZ-34 of the highest possible grade (link).

Lots of Fun about Nothing: Moscow Arms&Hunting 2019

You know what? I’m happy… about my visit to the Arms&Hunting 2019 outdoor show.