| TOZ-55 «Zubr» | |
|---|---|
| Type | double barreled shotgun |
| Place of origin | USSR |
| Production history | |
| Designer | N. I. Korovyakov |
| Manufacturer | Tulsky Oruzheiny Zavod |
| Produced | since 1975 |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 3.8 kg |
| Barrel length | 600mm, 675mm |
| Caliber | 12 gauge 9×53mmR |
| Action | Break action |
| Rate of fire | variable |
| Sights | iron sights optical sight |
The TOZ-55 «Zubr» (ТОЗ-55 «Зубр») is a Soviet double-barreled combination gun for big-game hunting.
In the early 1970s N. I. Korovyakov began work on design the new model of double-barreled combination gun based on design of his TOZ-34 shotgun. In 1975, first TOZ-55 «Zubr» shotguns were made.
In April 1987, it was announced that Tula Arms Plant would begin mass production of new TOZ-84 shotgun and this gun will replace in production TOZ-34, TOZ-55 and TOZ-57. After this, production of TOZ-55 was discontinued.
However, even in December 1988 TOZ-55 was the most common hunting firearm in 9×53mmR caliber in the Soviet Union.
After the fall of the Soviet Union, some unfinished TOZ-55 shotguns and their spare parts remained in Tula Arms Plant. In 1990s it was announced that new TOZ-55-2 «Zubr» combination gun will be made. However, due to the economic crisis in Russian Federation in 1992 production of 9×53mmR ammunition was discontinued and TOZ decided not to make this model and to continue production of TOZ-34.
TOZ-55 is an over and under hammerless shotgun, with one barrel above the other.
All TOZ-55s were equipped with three pairs of detachable chrome plated barrels
All TOZ-55s have iron sights and they were equipped with scope base for optical sight.
All TOZ-55 have a walnut stock and fore-end, some of them were decorated with engravings.