This is how the Russian weapon design philosophy is; take a proven design and make it a step simpler anr a step more rugged. The AK and Sturmgewehr, SVT 44 and Geweher 43, Makarov and Walther...pretty much simplified adaptations that work beautifully in their own conditions.
Agreed. It is to be remembered that the Russians, and then the Soviets, did quite a bit of this. For example, during the Tsarist days, the Russians ordered the battleship
Retvisan from the USA (Britain was still an enemy at that point in "The Great Game") and
Tsesarevitch from the French. Later, in the Soviet days, they ordered plans for a large
New Jersey-like battleship from the Italians and Gibbs & Cox in the USA.
The engines used in the Korean War MiGs were based on Rolls-Royce designs so thoughtfully provided to them by the UK government of Clement Attlee. Also, the Soviets reverse engineered the B-29 bombers they had obtained from emergency landings during WW2. (Here, it must be noted that they were mostly unsuccessful, as this aircraft never worked as well as the original Boeings, and by the time they were made, the USA had completed the B-36 and was working on B-47 and B-52 jets.)
In this gun list, it is noted that the TT-33 was a much-simplified Browning short recoil pistol, as well.
I must note, however, that while the magazine of the Mosin Nagant 3 Line Rifle was designed by Emile Nagant of Belgium, the action was the original design of Col. Mosin. Somehow, the Mosin Nagant got left out of the list of extremely durable and reliable Russian/Soviet designs. It should be remembered that, along with being tough as nails and simple as a rock, the Mosin Nagant was also an extremely capable sniper's weapon and has remained a fine target rifle into the 80s, at least, in Finland.
None of this should make one turn up a nose at Russian/Soviet engineering, as seems fashionable in some circles. Like India, Russia has a very long tradition in metallurgy (though not nearly as long as India's, of course!), and they've put that to good use, excelling in using steel for cartridge cases and bullet jackets, to name but a few examples.
One also ought to note that the Russians/Soviets not only specialized in sniper warfare, they were long known for their excellence in handling artillery since the Crimean War days. The Imperatritza Maria was able to hit Goeben/Yavuz from long distance in a Black Sea WW1 battle, for instance, sending the German battlecruiser scurrying for the cover of Istanbul. The Russian 12"/52 rifle was of noted accuracy.
Just because the reverse engineering of the B-29 didn't work out should not color ones opinions unduly. Every engineering establishment lays eggs, as well as creating successes.
This is true in just about every nation's engineering history, but I note that the Russians/Soviets had quite a capable set of engineering talents. Ask WW2 Germans about the T-34!
I see no reason why this pistol should be lacking in quality or refinement, if the will was there to make it well in the first place.
Two Rivers:
Guns from Russia are still coming into the US.
Am I then thinking of a ban on importing surplus firearms? I know that no Russian or Chinese AKs, SKSs, or Mosins come from either country since those days of 1st Bush/Clinton. The Mosins we've been getting are from Ukraine, as I understand it. However, You are right about US arms companies importing Russian guns under their own brands.
