Intercontinental missiles, nuclear submarines with unlimited cruising range, supersonic jets, powerful tanks, quick-firing guns and machine guns - this is the day of our army and navy. But it didn't come immediately. In the struggle of our people against foreign invaders, the armament of their army also developed. Guns with wick and flintlock locks of the Petrine era and the Patriotic War of 1812 were replaced by breech-loading rifles of the Berdan system, with which Russian soldiers participated in the liberation campaign to the Balkans at the end of the 19th century. Then the legendary rifles of the wonderful Russian gunsmith S.I. Mosin. The collection of small arms of the Central Museum of the Armed Forces of the USSR reflects the main stages of its development. These weapons belonged to active participants in the Great October Socialist Revolution, heroes of the Civil and Great Patriotic Wars.