The aiming bar for the Fedorov machine gun of the 1916 model

Steel, stamping, bluing. An original and very rare bar in excellent storage condition. Guarantee of authenticity.

In the history of Russian small arms, there are many examples of the creation of successful models that have received worldwide fame and recognition, but only a few of them can claim the honorary title of "The First in the world". One of these samples is the Fedorov automaton. This model of individual automatic weapons, created in Russia at the beginning of the twentieth century, was far ahead of its time and laid the foundation for the development of modern small arms of this type in Russia and the world.

In 1913, V. G. Fedorov completed work on a 6.5mm automatic rifle chambered for improved ballistics of his own design. On its basis and taking into account the experience gained by Fedorov during his stay at the front in 1915, he began work on a new type of individual automatic weapon, which later became known as an automatic. In the summer of 1915, about 100 sets of 7.62mm and 6.5mm parts of previously developed Fedorov automatic rifle systems were delivered from the Sestroretsk Arms Factory to the training ground of the Officer Rifle School (OSH) for assembly and preparation for testing in the army. Several 6.5-mm rifles underwent a deep modernization: their barrel and stock were shortened to carbine length, a new detachable magazine for 25 rounds was adapted (according to other sources — for 15 rounds) and the firing mechanism (USM) was modified for continuous firing. The resulting weapon was named by its author V. G. Fedorov as a "machine gun". The term "machine gun" in relation to this sample appeared later, with the light hand of the head of the OSH training ground, Colonel N. M. Filatov.

In the summer of 1916, a company from the 189 Izmail regiment consisting of 158 soldiers and four officers was armed with automatic weapons designed by V. G. Fedorov. According to the Magazine of the 5th Department of the GAU Art Committee No. 381 dated September 6, 1916, the set of weapons of the mentioned company included:

6.5mm machine guns (submachine guns) with 15-round magazines in the amount of 8 pcs.;

3-lin. self—loading (in the terminology of those years - automatic) rifles in the amount of 45 pcs.

Several 3-lines. Fedorov's automatic rifles were adapted to install magazines from Madsen's light machine gun, and their USM received a translator for firing bursts. 3-line rifles. The caliber was equipped with bayonets and daggers.

For several months, the company underwent special training at the OSH, during which, in July and August, it conducted about a hundred firings, which had the character of military tests. In addition to weapons, the company was equipped with a set of the most modern devices at that time: optical sights, devices for shooting from behind shelters, shooting shields, steel helmets, as well as automatic Mauser pistols for reserve shooters (fighters who completed the same training course as the "main" shooters-Submachine gunners could replace them if necessary). Fighters with 6.5 mm machine guns were brought together in a special rifle and machine gun team. On December 1, Fedorov's "automatic company" went to the Romanian front.

Fedorov automatic rifles were first used in combat in early 1917. Several copies of the 6.5 mm assault rifles entered pilot operation in aviation in the 10th Aviation Division. The testing of machine guns in the air was successful, and the head of the division Gorshkov petitioned for arming his unit with Fedorov machine guns. Based on the results of tests of automatic rifles and Fedorov submachine guns at the front, the GAU decided to order 15,000 of them at the Sestroretsk Arms Factory. At the end of 1916, the plant began to fulfill the order, but due to the collapse of the state, it was not possible to fulfill it. The fate of the company of machine gunners was also, in general, unenviable. She failed to achieve any special combat successes, and with the beginning of the revolution, the soldiers of the company went home.