Today’s Photo of the Day features the Kalashnikov PB (Pistolet Besshumnyy), a Soviet-era integrally suppressed semi-automatic pistol that remains in limited production under Kalashnikov Concern. Originally developed and entering service in 1967, the PB was designed to provide a suppressed sidearm for reconnaissance units, intelligence services, and special forces.
Chambered in 9×18 mm Makarov, the PB is based on the Makarov pistol’s simple blowback design and shares many components with the standard service sidearm, including the 8-round magazine. The safety is located on the left side.
What sets it apart is its unique integral two-part suppressor system. The rear section is fixed around the barrel, while a detachable front portion can be removed for carry or storage and reattached quickly when needed, a feature uncommon in integrally suppressed pistols.
Fixed iron sights and a double-action/single-action trigger complete a design that reflects mid-20th-century special operations thinking.
Source: Kalashnikov Media