Gennadiy Nikonov
Gennadiy Nikolayevich Nikonov was born on August 11, 1950 and died on February 5, 2003. He was a small arms designer known for his AN-94 which participated on Project Abakan.
History
Both his mother and father were both employed at Izhmash, where his father was a mechanic. In 1968 Nikonov graduated from the Izhevsk Industrial College and in 1975 he graduated from the Izhevsk Mechanical Institute (now the Izhevsk State Technical University). When he started working at Izhmash he was working in the Department of the Chief Arms Designer where he worked as a technician. While he was in school Nikonov because obsessed with underwater rifles. While working on underwater rifles he won his first professional recognition by designing a trigger mechanism for an underwater rifle.
While working at Izhmash he designed several rifles, from sporting to air guns. One of his most praised designs was a stylish and accurate hunting rifle. Nikonov was appointed as a senior project engineer to design a single shot bolt action rifle as well as fully automatic weapons. While on this project he patented a number of mechanisms, one of the most significant was a straight pull bolt action used in a biathlon target rifle.
Between 1980 to 1985 he worked on projects for the Soviet Ministry for Defense Industry. Some of the innovations include his twin barrel machine guns and a "blowback shifted pulse (BBSP)" which was later used in the AN-94.It is said that his high quality and quantity of work helped him advance to higher positions at work.
Nikonov Machine Gun
The weapon was developed on Nikonov's own initiative. The weapon has no bolt, but a stationary breech and movable barrels, each with its own gas cylinders and pistons connected to the adjacent barrel. Upon firing one barrel, the next one is forced backwards, and thus causes the next barrel to move forward. Firing operates a feeding device that channels rounds into the barrels, with the spent cartridges being ejected from both sides. The barrels move back and forth the full length of the cartridge. The double-barreled design, in combination with the shortest possible stroke, allows for a high rate of fire at more than 3,000 rounds per minute. The prototype is now located the M.T. Kalashnikov museum in Izhevsk.
Awards
- The Best Designer of the Company
- The Best Designer of the Ministry
- Memorial plaque on the building design and weapons center of "Izhmash" and at the place of his burial - 2003
Notable Designs
- AN-94 - Which competed and won the Project Abakan trails
- Unique twin barrel machine gun
- A limited edition luxury hunting rifle
- Straight pull bolt that was used in a biathlon target rifle
