TKB-506

The TKB-506 (ТКБ-506) was a small handgun designed to look like a cigar tin or lighter, developed by Igor Stechkin, allegedly on the orders of the KGB.

The dimensions of TKB-506 are 11 x 9.2 x 2 cm. Weighting 0.44Kg empty, it could fire three 7.62 mm rounds, each held in a separate barrel only 2.5 cm long and each having a separate striker. Device number 10 can now be seen at the Tula arms museum.

TKB-506A had an identical armament, and similar weight of around 0.47 Kg with ammo, but was even smaller (7.4 cm height) by doing away with the cut-through hole used for the trigger in TKB-506.

The gun was co-developed together with the first generation Soviet silent ammunition SP-1, which did not see production, and SP-2, which proved practical enough. The principle of operation was to use a piston-type cartridge, which did not allow the burnt gases to escape it.

The safety mechanism of Glock-17 and GSh-18 pistols was first implemented in TKB-506A by, but Stretchkin who did not consider it important and did not apply for a patent.