TP-82 cosmonaut triple-barreled firearm with machete stock

[Jon]

In March of 1965, Russian cosmonauts Pavel Belyayev and Alexey Leonov had some mechanical issues with the Voskhod space capsule that they were piloting for re-entry. They landed it 600 miles from the designated landing site, deep in the Ural Mountains in Russia.

The cosmonauts sheltered in the woods for two nights before being rescued. Like many aviators, astronauts and cosmonauts generally carry survival gear. The standard cosmonaut survival kit included a nine-millimeter pistol, which they felt was inadequate protection against the large wildlife (wolves and bears) that roamed the Urals.

Years later, Leonov had advanced to a command position in the Soviet cosmonaut program. Inspired by the Ural survival story, the Soviets developed the TP-82, an unusual weapon used by cosmonauts on space missions from 1986-2006. Three barrels, two hammers, and a machete for a stock. The TP-82 could be used for defense, small game hunting, and shooting signal flares.

[Jon]

To followup: hatchet stock for a C96 Mauser, from ForgottenWeapons.com.

[Jon]

[Jon]

Laser pistol that was developed by the Soviets for shooting at enemy satellite optics, but never made it into orbit.







Gun at 3:00 in the video below:

[Radioman]

What does this thing actually fire? Is there a video of it firing whatever it fires?

[12bolts]

I'm thinking that the magazine holds batteries and you get maybe a single "shot" of light with each trigger pull. Break open action to eject the spent battery, close and cock the action to chamber a fresh battery?
Thats if it is a laser?

[Frank S]

I'm thinking that the magazine holds batteries and you get maybe a single "shot" of light with each trigger pull. Break open action to eject the spent battery, close and cock the action to chamber a fresh battery?
Thats if it is a laser?

Not batteries but high voltage capacitors

[PJs]

Yes, Likely hi-voltage caps. It's hilarious that someone actually built it to be hand held and fired from a space suit while outside the capsule/station...but more so if you turn on CC translated to English. Shuck and Jive to put it mildly! It may have been possible to fire it through a fused silica window but dangerous at best.

[jlmealer]

Maybe it's laser light for space cats type of gun. One never knows what Dr. Smith will find on Venus. Or should I say Dr. Sergi Vladimir Briskii?

[Moldyjim]

In March of 1965, Russian cosmonauts Pavel Belyayev and Alexey Leonov had some mechanical issues with the Voskhod space capsule that they were piloting for re-entry. They landed it 600 miles from the designated landing site, deep in the Ural Mountains in Russia.

The cosmonauts sheltered in the woods for two nights before being rescued. Like many aviators, astronauts and cosmonauts generally carry survival gear. The standard cosmonaut survival kit included a nine-millimeter pistol, which they felt was inadequate protection against the large wildlife (wolves and bears) that roamed the Urals.

Years later, Leonov had advanced to a command position in the Soviet cosmonaut program. Inspired by the Ural survival story, the Soviets developed the TP-82, an unusual weapon used by cosmonauts on space missions from 1986-2006. Three barrels, two hammers, and a machete for a stock. The TP-82 could be used for defense, small game hunting, and shooting signal flares.

It looks much better made than the majority of the USSR weapons I've seen.
Actually has some quality to the workmanship.