The IZh-58 (ИЖ-58) is a Soviet double-barreled shotgun.
== History == The IZh-58 was designed by L. I. Pugachev (Л. И. Пугачев) in 1958 and, in the last months of 1958, the first models were produced. Since 1961, a new varnish with improved characteristics has been used to protect the wooden parts of the gun. As a result, since January 1961, the price of one standard IZh-58 was 60 roubles. More than 1.36 million IZh-58 hunting shotguns were produced in all four standard variants. In addition, one experimental sample of a lightweight IZh-58 was made with aluminium alloy details. It was replaced by the IZh-43 model in the late 1980s. The last IZh-58MAE shotgun was made in 1987.
== Design == The IZh-58 is a side-by-side smoothbore shotgun. The detachable barrels are made from heat-treated 50RA steel (сталь 50PA). The barrels have chokes at the muzzle end. It has a walnut, birch or beech shoulder stock and fore-end.
== Variants == IZh-58 (ИЖ-58) - First model. In total, 642,000 IZh-58 shotguns were made between 1958-1971 and 73,000 of them were sold to other countries. IZh-58M (ИЖ-58М) - Second model, since 1970. In total, 235,000 IZh-58M shotguns were made between 1970-1976 and 115,000 of them were sold to other countries. IZh-58MA (ИЖ-58МА) - Third model, since 1975. It is equipped with a different safety mechanism. IZh-58MAE (ИЖ-58МАЕ) - Last model, since 1977. It is equipped with another different safety mechanism and ejector. IZh-58MA-20M (ИЖ-58MA-20М) - Export variant. (IZh-58MA with 670-680mm barrels, chambered in 20/76 mm Magnum shotgun shells).
== Users == USSR Belarus - is allowed as civilian hunting weapon Bulgaria Russian Federation - is allowed as civilian hunting weapon USA - the import was allowed
References
== Sources == Охотничье двуствольное ружьё ИЖ-58 // Охотничье, спортивное огнестрельное оружие. Каталог. М., 1958. стр.36-37 Двуствольное охотничье ружьё ИЖ-58 // Спортивно-охотничье оружие и патроны. Бухарест, "Внешторгиздат", 1965. стр.26-27 Отечественные ружья // журнал «Охота и охотничье хозяйство», № 1, 1965. стр.36-37 Э. Штейнгольд. Ружьё ИЖ-58М // журнал «Охота и охотничье хозяйство», № 7, 1973. стр.28 Universal/Baikal Model IJ-58M double-barrel shotgun // "American Rifleman", January 1977 Отечественное охотничье оружие. ИЖ-58 // журнал «Охота и охотничье хозяйство», № 3, 1981. стр.33 М. М. Блюм, И. Б. Шишкин. Охотничье ружьё. М., «Лесная промышленность», 1983. стр.85 Ижевское оружие. Том 1. Ижевские ружья / Н. Л. Изметинский, Л. Е. Михайлов. - Ижевск, издательство Удмуртского университета, 1995. - 247 стр. : ил.