Tula centuries forged the weapon,
It became similar itself to a gun.
It is heard zvon fighting metal
In ancient names of streets of her.
V.Lazarev

    Not casually and fairly Tula name an arsenal and a board of Russia. Sources of origin of the Tula weapon affair lay in depths of far XVI century. After disintegration of Golden Horde it was formed Crimean Hanstvo. Krimchaki, supported by the sultan of Turkey, constantly attacked Russian grounds. For the sake of the savings of the state grand duke Vasily III has decided to transform Tula into a fortress and to make its center of all defensive system on southern boundaries. After erection of the Kremlin in 1520. Tula really became such "lock", to which any overseas conqueror could not pick up a key! She has got the even greater value of an impenetrable board of Russia after work of hundreds thousand peasants and workers people in XVI century the feature stretched through the Kaluga, Tula and Ryazan grounds has been erected big Zasechnaya.

In zasechnaya jails - fortresses bore boundary service up to 20 thousand strelcov and cossacks, and in the Tula from 4 thousand person, occupied her at the end of XVI century, the most part was made with people.

As the boundary service passed in constant skirmishes with the enemy there was a question on repair of the weapon leaving out of operation, on arms zasechnaya garrisons.

For repair of the weapon and an armour, and sometimes and for manufacture of new sabres and arquebuses, Tula voevods involved local posadskih smiths. These masters had skills of forge work, could forge knifes, axes, lemeha, soshniki, bridles, different utensils. It was uneasy for them to master weapon business. Development of a forge affair was promoted also by that in thirty versts from Tula about ancient capital Vyatichiy Dedoslablya, now - Dedilova, blocks of hematite long since extracted. Received metal quite sufficed to satisfy inquiries of all then smiths.

At the end of XVI century distribution voevodami orders to the Tula smiths on restoration of old and manufacture of the new weapon gets regular character.

With Peter's coming to power 1 activization of foreign policy of Russia directed on struggle for its output to the seas began. For realization of these extensive plans it was necessary to have large weapon manufacture, therefore tsar the decree has enjoined gunmakers: "...To live on Tula behind the river Upoi in a state Kuznetsk large village ".

The Tula gunmakers made at that time special estate, with the special rights and privileges. They had the vital way, specific mutual relations with the state and the original organization of manufacture, on a lot of questions were to the Tula authorities nepodochetni and are incompetent. All estate shared on some "shops", that is groups of people of one speciality. In XVII century of such shops was four: stvolnih, key, lojevoy and palashnogo affairs. Then in weapon manufacture families of known Tula businessmen Mosolovih, Batashevih, Nut, Lyalinih, Goltyakovih, Lutininih and, certainly, well-known Demodovih were formed.

It is possible to tell with confidence, that the Tula gunmakers stood at sources domestic metallurgical and metalcutting industrially sti. Peter 1 conducted the present struggle for quality. In 1698 it warned also gunmakers, and them старост, that if "... To the specified term a gun... It will be made not against exemplary and bad skill or in bad iron, to smiths by all for oploshku... For oversight to be in severe punishment, in eternal ruin ". At the end of 80 - the beginning of 90th of XVII century. Peter 1 demands to put in army on two thousand arquebuses for one year and very strong punishes for shortages. As a result of rigid, and frequently and severe measures to the beginning of XVIII century delivery guns has increased already up to 5-7 thousand one year.

                      

    And in 1703. Peter has defined to the Tula smiths the order for manufacture for army of 15 thousand fuzey (such number rujey Tula still never made!). It was demanded with long war with Sweden for returning ottorgnutih from Great Novgorod of the grounds and for an output of Russia to Baltic sea. Due to diligence of thousand masters people Russian soldiers began to receive the first class small arms which force was to the full tested on themselves by opponents of Russia.

The beginning of XIX century was marked for Russia by one of the most serious in its history of tests - war with napoleonic France. At this time value of Tula which symbol became a small-arms factory, was so great for destinies of Russia, that Napoleon threatened after capture of Moscow to burn out Tula and by that to disarm the country. However as a result of victorious battles for Russian army the French conquerors have been compelled to recede on Smolensk road, and danger to Tula passed.

After russko-turkish war 1877 - became obvious necessity of arms of army a repeating firearm 1878. In Russia many inventors worked above the decision of this problem, but oustanding designer S.I.Mosin has achieved the greatest successes. It became the author of the well-known three-linear rifle of a sample of 1891 which during hundred years remained the reliable and tested weapon of the Russian soldier.

The big role the Tula weapon has played and during the first world war. It was necessary to let out up to one million rifles one year. By March, 1916 productivity of factories has been finished with 100 thousand rifles a month which significant part was carried out by the Tula gunmakers. After the termination of civil war the small-arms factory made traditional military production - three-linear rifles, stankovih machine guns "Maxim", revolvers "Revolver" and kavaleriyskie checkers.

Fast growth of the Soviet aircraft demanded creation of domestic samples of aviation machine guns. In the beginning of 1928 airmachine gun ПВ-1 is taken advantage armies. The antiaircraft installation developed by the well-known Tula designer of the weapon by F.V.Tokarev has been created. For the first time she has been applied in fighting conditions in area of lake Hasan in 1938. The special attention addressed on creation skorostrelnih airmachine guns. In 1928 such has been created by engineer B.G.Shpitalnym.

Since first days of Great Domestic war the Tula gunmakers have unanimously supported the slogan " All for front, all for a victory ". Words tulyakov did not miss business. So, if in July, 1941 the factory has given front of 88 thousand, Tokarev's autoloading rifles and 7 thousand sniper, in August - 100 thousand rifles of Tokarev and as much sniper.

Gunmakers not only self-denyingly worked, but also bravely were at war. More than two thousand workers and employees have left on front, 27 from them became Heroes of Soviet Union, three - full gentlemen of awards of Glory. For courage and the stability shown by defenders of Tula at heroic defense of city, played the important role in route of fascist armies near Moscow during Great Domestic war, and for the achieved successes in development of a national economy, Tula is awarded Lenin's with award, to it the honorary title "City - hero" with delivery of a medal " the Gold Star " is appropriated.