Hi Geno,
One of these DArne-style, four shot, repeater actions actions was featured in a gun magazine here, some time ago. Tho, this is not exact information, I do recall that the writer had test fired it and that despite it's unlikely looking apparatus, the gun functioned and re-loaded just fine.
Bye the bye, I have always remembered your engineer friend in Siberia, who owned a three bbl set for his IZH94. As you stated, he had it 'because it always worked'. Unfortunately, Remington, who is the current importer has little understanding of the 'utility and value' a basic IZH design offers, and insists on some stupid cosmetic and labeling effort to justify higher prices for the same basic gun. EEA, who was the former importer, just let the guns speak for themselves. And, here in the Great lakes region, they sold very well, as a useful firearm that is reliable.
I once was a duck hunters fair, Point Mouliee in Michigan, when a fellow strolled by with an IZH side by side, that had no finish and greyed worn wood. It obviously had little or no care. But the owner said it had worked reliably for as long as he could remember, as it was his Dad's only gun.
As for craftsmanship on high level Russian guns, the absolute best furniture restorer i ever met was from Russia. I asked him how he had developed such mature and encompassing skills at his relatively young age. He explained that he had been selected for and attended 'artist's training', beginning in grade school. There, all students were taught the Classical Western Canon, as well as there own traditional motifs.
Whether it was inlaid veneer, or acanthus leaf carving, or matching in missing parts, or building a case from scratch, or restoring an image, gilding, or applying a French polish his work was superlative. The education system supplied a steady stream of such graduates into the economy, at very compotent skill levels.
Another fellow from Hungary, Lukas Novotny, attended a similar education. He is skilled in all sorts of disciplines, but is mostly noted for his fine Asiatic bows -- Saluki Bows [website]. However, he forges Japanese-style steel, paints, carves, is a fine art glass artisan, and has all around skills. He's a well traveled scholar and was one of the founders of the horse archery movement in this country.
Again, there is the product of 'state schools', with a comprehensive education and training in the arts of Western civilization. Since Tsar Peter hauled in the Best of the West, and said "Teach and Build" Russia has created and executed as fine a work as hands could produce anywhere. One only requires the eyes to see it and the brain to comprehend it.
Then again, while not a ''fine gun, there is that failed and inferior product of one Mr Kalishnikov, too. You know, that AK-47? I hear that the user actually has to pull the trigger in order for it to fire. Ain't that an archaic concept?
Well, cheers in icy vodka, Geno. Don't let those rating stars mean nuthin' to you. While this board is home to scholars, and is a wonderful educational and information swapping tool, it tends to be like a small village where feelings, opinions, and disputes are way out of proportion to the rest of the good information. As the Hispanic saying goes, "Da Nada".
