MP-448 Skyph

The MP-448 'Skyph' pistol was developed at Izhevsk Mechanical Plant (IzhMech, also known under the trademark "Baikal") during late 1990s, as an enhanced version of the famous Makarov PM pistol, which is also manufactured by IzhMech. The MP-448 Skyph pistol was initially offered for export sales and for local authorities.

Overview

The MP-448 is slightly smaller and 200 g lighter than the Makarov PM thanks to a polymer frame. Like the Makarov, it is chambered for the 9x18mm Makarov cartridge which is similar in performance to the .380 Auto, and uses a double-stacked 12-round magazine like the PMM variant. Because of the 9x18mm's lower pressure (20,000 psi vs the 9mm Luger's 35,000 psi), the MP-448 works by blowback operation.

Cancellation

There are no takers for this pistol because there are only marginal improvements in ergonomics and accuracy over the Makarov PM and the Skyph also costs more. Because of this, countries that still use the 9x18mm cartridge are sticking with the Makarov pistol. Russian military and paramilitary forces have switched to the more powerful 9x19mm Parabellum and as such are purchasing larger, more powerful and higher capacity pistols such as the MP-443 Grach and MP-446 Viking (also manufactured by Izhmash).

See also

• Makarov PM
• 9x18mm Makarov
• Izhevsk Mechanical Plant

External links

• MP-448 Modern Firearms page