As designed, the sidearm weighed 2.7lb and had an overall length of 8.9 inches with a barrel assembly measuring 5.5 inches long. Feeding was by way of a 20-round detachable box magazine inserted into the base of the grip handle. The usual pistol controls were found on the receiver including the fire rate selector and safety.
In service, the Stechkin proved its worth for what it was but it was also soon found to be a large and heavy gun to manage. It was uncomfortable in the hand and its high rate-of-fire made it prone to jamming while engagement range was limited in practical use. This led to the series being pulled from large scale active service though Soviet / Russian special forces continued to appreciate the weapon and valued the pistol's close-quarters "punch".
In all, operators included the usual Soviet allies and customers in Armenia, Angola, Cuba, Georgia, Libya, Romania, Ukraine, Syria and Tanzania. In Romania, the weapon was recognized as the "Dracula Model 98" (1998) and was chambered for the 9x19mm Parabellum German pistol cartridge. Several modifications were made to the gun to produce this local mark.
The APB became a silenced version of the original APS pistol. This form appeared during the 1970s and about 2,000 were produced from 1972 until 1973. Changes included a lengthened barrel assembly, reduced muzzle velocity and optional wire stock. The barrel was threaded to take on a suppressor component which was used to reduce the noise of the exiting bullet. This weapon became another highly-value version of the Stechkin pistol for Soviet / Russian special forces operatives with the series still in service today (2017).
The Stechkin is known to have had combat exposure in the Vietnam War (1955-1975) as well as the Soviet War in Afghanistan. It has also been a noted participant in the ongoing War in Donbass between the Russia and Ukraine.
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