The submachine gun designed to be built by anyone, anywhere

Wars & Conflicts · Published 16 October 2026 · Updated 25 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: During World War II, Soviet planners needed a weapon that could be mass-produced with minimal skill and raw materials. The result was the PPS-43: a rugged, sheet-metal firearm so efficient it allowed production to jump from 135,000 to 350,000 units per month.

Developed by Alexei Sudayev in response to Red Army requirements, the PPS-43 was engineered for extreme industrial efficiency. While its predecessor, the PPSh-41, required significant machining and skilled labor, Sudayev's design prioritized stamped sheet steel. This shift reduced machining time by more than half—from 7.3 hours down to just 2.7 hours per unit—and slashed raw steel usage from 13.9 kg to a mere 6.2 kg.

The weapon was born from a competitive environment; Sudayev perfected prototypes based on designs from the Dzerzhinsky Artillery Academy. In July 1942, it was pitted against 20 other designs in a large-scale contest. It emerged as superior to rivals like Shpagin's PPSh-2 in accuracy, reliability, and maneuverability. Despite its 'crude' appearance, the PPS-43 was highly controllable and became a staple for reconnaissance units and vehicle crews.

The weapon's legacy is one of global proliferation. Because it was so easy to manufacture, it was adopted by numerous Warsaw Pact nations and allies in Africa and Asia. It even inspired copies across the globe: Finland produced the M/44 (and later KP m/44), Poland manufactured the wz. 43/52 with a fixed wooden stock, and China produced the Type 54. Even decades later, it remained in service as late as the mid-1950s and continues to appear in modern conflicts.

Technically, the PPS-43 is an automatic blowback weapon firing from an open bolt using the 7.62×25mm Tokarev cartridge. It features a unique 'Double-Feed' magazine design that prevented rounds from bottlenecking at the feed lips—a significant reliability improvement over earlier Soviet designs.

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