MP-448 Skyph


The MP-448 Skyph is a Russian pistol.

History

The MP-448 was developed during the late 1990s by engineer-constructor and weapon designer Dmitry Bogdanov. It was initially offered by Izhevsk Mechanical Plant for export sales and for private security companies as an enhanced version of the famous Makarov PM pistol.
In November 2000 one MP-448 pistol and one MP-448C pistol were presented at "INTERPOLITEX-2000" Arms exhibition in Moscow, they were offered for export.
Since 2003 Russian military and law enforcement have switched to the more powerful 9×19mm Parabellum and as such are purchasing larger, more powerful and higher capacity pistols such as the MP-443 Grach.

Design

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 9×18mm Makarov cartridge which is similar in performance to the.380 ACP, and uses a double-stacked 12-round magazine like the PMM variant. Because of the 9×18mm's lower pressure, the MP-448 works by blowback operation.
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.

Variants

  • МР-448 Skyph - model chambered for 9×18mm Makarov.
  • МР-448S Skyph - variant chambered for 9×17mm Short. It was designed as a sidearm for private security companies.
  • МР-448S Skyph-mini - compact version chambered for 9×17mm Short

    Users

  • - adopted as training pistol
  • - since 2003 used as service pistol in private security companies

    Museum exhibits

  • one MP-448C pistol is in collection of M. T. Kalashnikov Museum in Izhevsk