The purpose of this page is to provide information on the firearms designed and manufactured in Poland. With the exception of the Vis 35 pistol, Polish guns are virtually unknown outside Poland, a situation I hope to change.

Currently this page contains information on 20 different guns.

Tantal wz. 88
5.45 mm

    Development of this rifle started in late seventies. The requirements called for a 5.45 mm gas operated rifle with 3-shot burst capability and ability to fire rifle grenades. The designers based their work on the Russian AK-74 although most of the mechanisms are original solutions. First called wz. 81 (model 81) it was accepted by the military in 1990 as "karabinek wz. 89" (carbine model 89). Simultaneously a shortened version was developed and was named wz. 89 (Onyks). Since Poland is to became a NATO member, a 5.56 mm NATO version was developed (wz.90), but was not accepted by the Polish military.

Tantal wz. 88 5.45 mm

Like the AK-74 the Tantal is a gas-operated automatic rifle. Its receiver is made from sheet metal stampings and houses an all-new trigger mechanism. The characteristic large safety/selector lever of the kalashnikov family has in this weapon a function of safety only. The selector switch has been moved to the left side of the receiver and has three positions:

Standard equipment consist of four 30-rounds magazines (steel or plastic), a bayonet (identical to that of AKM), sling, blank-firing adapter, canvas magazine pouch, magazine loader and cleaning gear. Additional 60 rounds are carried in four loading strips for a total of 180 rounds. A light, detachable bipod is also available

The mainspring rod has been modified to prevent the bolt cover from falling of when firing rifle grenades. The gas chamber and the gas cylinder has been simplified.

     Muzzle brake resembles that of AK-74 but has smaller diameter and is longer to allow it to be used to launch grenades. The folding stock has a shape similar to a design used in East German AKMs but uses a different folding mechanism. Sights can be set for 100-1000 meters and are complemented by a set of tritium illuminated night sights. Some Tantals are equipped with a side plate for mounting optics. The rifle can be equipped with wz. 1974 Pallad 40 mm grenade launcher. Some parts (bolt, bolt carrier and magazines) are interchangeable with AK-74.

wz. 90 Tantal
standard version, 5.56 mm NATO

wz. 89 Onyks
5.45 mm

Onyks was developed together with the Tantal rifle as a compact weapon better suited for certain types of use. Onyks was made in two different chamberings: 5.45x39mm and 5.56mm NATO.

The Onyks is externally very similar to the Russian AK-74U (by some sources called AKR). It is a gas operated, selective-fire carbine. The receiver is made of sheet metal stampings and as the one in its bigger brother houses a new trigger mechanism with separated safety and selector lever. The muzzle device has been modified to allow it to be used for grenade launching (the prototype, however, had a muzzle brake identical to the Russian gun). The rear sight is another clear difference between Onyks and AK-74U. The Russian gun and the Onyks prototype have a rear sight mounted on top of the receiver cover. The production guns (and Onyks' replacement - kbk wz.96 Beryl) has rear sights mounted at the rear of a mounting rail attached to the receiver. Thanks to that an identical receiver cover can be used on both Tantal and Onyks.

wz. 91 Onyks 5.56 mm NATO A limited number of Onyks were used by the Polish military

Onyks - Onyx
SiO₂ - Silicon dioxide

BERYL Mod. 96 
(KBS) Cal. 5.56x45. 
Automatic Rifle, capable of.
Single fire, 3-shot burst, and fully automatic fire.
Side folding stock, for compact use. Optional bipod
and other accessories available. Outstanding muzzle
brake that significantly reduces recoil. 
Compatible with .223 cal. (SS109) ammunition.

BERYL COMMANDO MOD 96
 (KBK)Cal 5.56x45. 
Automatic rifle. Shortbarrel weapon for compact use.
Extremely reliable design
capable of operating in virtually any environment.
Compatible with .223 cal. (SS109) ammunition.
Single fire mode, 3-shot bursts, or a continuous fire.

    Beryl was designed when the Polish military requested a new rifle compatible with NATO calibers. The new weapons are called "kbs wz. 96 Beryl" and "kbk wz. 96 Mini-Beryl". They started to enter service in 1997.

The Beryl line is a modification of the Tantal/Onyks rifles. The biggest change is the new detachable optics mount on top of the receiver cover. Curiously, the kbk wz. 96 Mini-Beryl has still retained its original mounting rail integrated with its rear sights. Both rifles have new folding stocks that look stronger than the ones used on Tantal/Onyks. The longer version has got a new gray, plastic foregrip with integrated mount for the wz. 74 grenade launcher. The cleaning-rod, characteristic for the Kalashnikov family, is no longer carried on the weapon. The barrel itself has been lengthened but with the muzzle device shortened the overall length is roughly the same as Tantal's. Both weapons are able to fire newly developed rifle grenades which are fired with standard live round (The grenade is equipped with a bullet trap). Protective goggles are recommended when firing grenades from the Mini-Beryl due to the amount of unburned gasses leaving the short barrel.

Variants:

• Kbs wz. 96: Automatic rifle
• Kbk wz. 96: Automatic carbine

    Beryl is currently entering service with selected units of the Polish Army. Eventually it will replace all AK/AKM and Tantal carbines within the Polish armed forces.

BERYL MOD. 96 ASSAULT RIFLE cal. 5.56 x 45 mm

     The 5.56 mm BERYL Mod. 96 assault rifle is an automatic weapon intended for infantry, paratroops and other kinds of armed forces. It is reliable weapon, accurate, durable and resistant to unfavourable environmental conditions. The rifle has three fire modes: single shot, three-round burst, and fully automatic. It is adapted for launching rifle grenades using standard live ammunition that enables fighting lightly armoured vehicles at ranges up to 150m. The butt-stock of the rifle is of the side-folding type with a rubber butt plate, the sights are U-notch type. The twist of rifling enables good shooting results both with SS109 and M193 ammunition. It is also possible to fit the rifle with optical sights rail according to MIL-STD 1913 (PICATTINY) for assembling optical appliances such as: sight telescope, noctovisor. Sights units (noctovisor + holograph) can be assembled and the Polish produced underslung PALLAD 40 mm grenade launcher.

TECHNICAL DATA:

Cartridge (calibre, typy): 5.56 x 45 mm SS109 or M193 Muzzle velocity Vo: SS109 - 920 m/s, M193 - 940 m/s Muzzle energy Eo: SS109 - 1690 J, M193 - 1570 J Mode of fire: single shot, three-round burst, fully automatic Rate of fire: 700 rds/min Effective range: 600 m Sight settings: 100 - 1000 m Magazine capacity: 30 rounds Principle of operation: tapping gas off barrel Rifling: 6 grooves Twist of rifling: 228 mm

DiMENSIONS:

Length of rifle with butt extended: 943 mm Length of rifle with butt folded: 742 mm Barrel length: 457 mm Sight radius: 372 mm

WEIGHTS:

Rifle without magazine: 3350 g 30-round magazine empty: 185 g 30-round magazine loaded: 554 g

STANDARD EQUIPMENT:

Four 30-round magazines, four 15-round cartridge clips to load magazines, cartridge clip cap, bipod, two-part cleaning rod, cleaning kit, oiler, sling, pouch for magazines, blank firing attachment.

OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT:

Bayonet 20-round magazine Luminescent sights Optical sight bed PALLAD 40 mm grenade launcher

MINI-BERYL MOD. 96 
AUTOMATIC CARBINE
cal. 5.56 x 45 mm

The 5.56 mm MINI-BERYL Mod. 96 automatic carbine is intended for infantry, paratroops and other kinds of armed forces, including special ones. It is reliable weapon, accurate, durable and resistant to unfavourable environmental conditions.Thanks to its small size, the MINI-BERYL can be carried easily and is specially useful when is a need to fight indoors. The carbine has three fire modes: single shot, three-round burst, and fully automatic. It is adapted for launching rifle grenades using standard live ammunition that enables fighting lightly armoured vehicles at ranges up to 150 m. The butt-stock of the carbine is of the side-folding type with a rubber butt plate, the sights are U-notch type. The twist of rifling enables good shoting results both with SS109 and M193 type ammunition. It is also possible to fit with rail according to MIL-STD 1913 (PICATTINY) for assembling optical appliances such as: sight telescope, noctovisor. Sights units (noctovisor + holograph) can be assembled.

TECHNICAL DATA:

Cartridge : 5.56 x 45 mm SS109 or M193 Muzzle velocity Vo: SS109 - 770 m/s, M193 - 775 m/s Muzzle energy Eo: SS109 - 1189 J, M193 - 1065 J Mode of fire: single shot, three-round burst, fully automatic Rate of fire: 700 rds/min Effective range: 400 m Sight settings: 100, 200, 400 m Magazine capacity: 20 and 30 rounds Principle of operation: tapping gas off barrel Rifling: 6 grooves Twist of rifling: 1/9 228 mm

Dimensions:

Length of carbine with butt extended: 730 mm 28.75" Length of carbine with butt folded: 525 mm 20.66" Barrel length: 235 mm 9.25 Sight radius: 225 mm 8.86"

Weights:

Carbine without magazine: 3000 g  6.61 lbs 20-round magazine empty: 160 g  30-round magazine empty: 185 g 20-round magazine loaded: 406 g 30-round magazine loaded: 554 g

Standard equipment:

20-round magazine three 30-round magazines four 15-round cartridge clips to load magazines cartridge clip cap cleaning rod cleaning kit, oiler sling pouch for magazines.

Optional equipment:

Blank firing attachment Luminescent sights Optical sight bed

Beryllium Aluminum Silicate
Be₃Al₂(SiO₃)₆

one of the most important gem minerals. Emerald is the green variety and Aquamarine is the blue variety of beryl

Carbine RADOM-SPORT is a sports carbine assigned for practical shooting, which construction was based on assault rifle BERYL mod. 96 and meets practical IPSC shooting requirements. It's only single shooter. ( IPSC - International Practical Shooting Confederation )

APPLICATION OF CHANGE:

Barrel is covered with carbonate nitrate method
Sighting notch - stiff or vertically adjustable with wheel shield
Slotted fire silencer
Increased surface of safety catch wing
Extended window in cover to eliminate shells crushing
Extended rifle butt
New constructions of rails for fixing various optical or mechanical devices, according to NATO standards MIL-Std-1913 ( PICATINNY )
U type or gap type sighting notches
Technical data:

Cartridge: .223 REMINGTON
Muzzle velocity Vo: 1006 m/s
Muzzle energy Eo: 1822 J
Mode of fire: single shot,
Theoretical rate of fire: 700 rounds/min
Range of fire: 600 m
Principle of action: removal of gases from barrel
Number of grooves in barrel: 6
Barrel's load of thread: 228 mm
Possibility of assembling magazines of various capacity (5, 10, 20, 25, 30 rounds)

Dimensions:

Length, extended carbine butt: 990 mm
Length, fixed carbine butt: 742 mm
Total length with wooden butt: 995 mm
Barrel length: 457 mm
Sight radius (with metal butt): 496 mm

Kbkg wz. 1960 wz. 1960
carbine - grenade launcher model 1960

Kbkg wz. 1960 (carbine - grenade launcher model 1960) was designed in late fifties. In seventies the weapon was modified slightly (wz. 1960/72 with detachable stock).

Kbkg wz. 1960 is a minor modification of the Soviet AK-74 rifle. Modifications were done to the gas block, mainspring rod and to the stock. Additionally, several new components were added to the weapon: muzzle attachment, rubber butt plate, grenade sights and a short, 10 rounds magazine. The gas block features a gas valve. It has two positions: O (otwarty - open) used for normal rifle fire and Z (zamkniety - closed) used when launching grenades. Valve in Z position allows only a small amount of gasses to move through, just enough for the action to cycle. The mainspring rod was modified: a spring-loaded catch was added at the rear end to prevent the bolt cover from falling off when firing grenades. The stock features two metal plates with slots for attaching the rubber butt plate.

The barrel attachment screws on the treaded muzzle and has to be tightened with a key. A flat spring is located at the top of the tube. Its purpose is to hold the grenade in place before it's fired. Normally, the grenade launching tube is only used when launching grenade but normal bullet fire can be conducted without detaching it.

Two types of grenade sights were used. The early type was screwed on to the rifles rear sights and had three positions (50, 75 and 100 meters). The later type (CN-70 - celownik nasadkowy wz. 1970), introduced in 1970-ties, was attached to the front sight. When firing rifle ammunition the usual 30 rounds steel magazine fed the weapon. When firing grenade a special, 10-rounds magazine was used. The magazine was fitted with a filler block to prevent any live round being chambered. Grenades are fired with a special blank cartridge: UNM wz. 1943/60 (Uniwersalny Naboj Miotajacy - Universal Launching Cartridge model 1943/60). Externally, the round is identical to a blank but has stronger charge. The tip of the cartridge is painted white for easy identification.

To fire grenades the weapon had to be unloaded to ensure that no live round were present in the chamber (there is a high chance of grenade detonating on the muzzle if a bullet is fired). Than the gas valve had to be turned into Z position, rubber butt plate attached and the barrel attachment screwed on the muzzle. Grenade sight had to be mounted, 10 round magazine attached and the propelling round chambered. Finally, the grenade can be placed on the muzzle attachment and fired.

Base version with fixed wooden stock. A version with metal folding stock was also developed but not manufactured.

Wz. 1960 and wz. 1960/72 were used by the Polish military.

Several types of grenades were developed:

wz. 1960/72
with detachable stock

Version with detachable stock. used by the Polish military. Replaced by the Wz. 1974 Pallad grenade launcher

Wz. 1974 Pallad
underbarrel version grenade launcher

Wz. 1974 Pallad grenade launcher was developed in late sixties to replace the not entirely successful wz.1960 and wz.1960/72 grenade launching adaptations of the AK rifle. Initially called wz. 1970 the combination of a AKM rifle and a 40 mm grenade launcher was eventually accepted by the military as wz. 1974. A stand-alone variant wz. 1983 Pallad D was developed later.

Pallad is as single shot, manually operated weapon. Its rifled barrel is made of strengthened aluminum while the rest of the mechanism is made of steel. The right side of the receiver holds a bolt handle and a sliding safety button. The trigger lever is on the upper left side of the receiver. A manual safety lever sits on receivers left side.

The weapon can be opened for reloading by pulling down a handle located on the right side of the receiver. The breach-block rotates downwards and any round or cases present in the chamber are ejected. Pallad lacks a conventional trigger. It is fired by sliding down and holding a safety button located on the right side of the receiver and pressing the trigger with the left-hand thumb. Quadrant sights mounted on the left side of the barrel are marked up to 430 m for direct fire and 170 - 400 m for indirect fire.

Wz. 1974 can be attached to any full-size AK-type rifle (AK-47, AKM, AK-74 and their copies, wz. 88 Tantal, kbs wz. 96 Beryl). The only adaptation needed to be done on the rifle is the replacement of the standard forward foregrip with a modified one equipped with a special slot in its rear. The grenade launcher is then attached to the foregrip and to the bayonet lug.

The 40mm ammunition used works on a hi-lo pressure principle. The reloadable aluminum case is divided into two chambers: a high-pressure chamber that holds a shortened 7.62 x 54R rifle case with propellant. The walls of the high-pressure chamber have six small holes through which gasses "slowly" flow to the low-pressure chamber. The pressure in the low-pressure chamber is 5-6 times lower than in the high-pressure chamber. This system, while complicating the case allow a much thinner and lighter barrel to be used as well as lowering the recoil.

Three types of ammunition were developed:
NGO-74: a high-explosive anti-personnel grenade. It's made of pre-fragmented steel hull covered by an aluminum casing. A time delay fuze arms the grenade 20-30 meters from the barrel. The lethar radius is around 180-200 meters.
NGC-74: training round with a flash charge instead of explosives.
NGB-74: training round without any charges used for zeroing-in and target practice.

Wz. 1974 Pallad: underbarrel version
Wz. 1983 Pallad D: stand-alone variant equipped with a folding metal stock and a pistol grip. The stock is a standard AKMS stock with a thick butt plate to reduce recoil of the lighter weapon.

The wz. 1974 grenade launcher is currently used by the Polish army.

1. The new model of AK 96 have new telescopic butt and 3x MIL-STD-1913 compatible rail (2x short for flash light , laser sight and 1x Long For Sniper Scope or NV Scope or EOtech Holografic sight) New Ak 96 are also equipped with new magazines made from plastic and special handle under the barrel. This type of Ak 96 are used by Polish Army in Irak and what is also important all AK 96 used in Polish Army will be modify to new variant

2. Fabryka Broni Radom have produced new Machine gun based on beryl. It is called RKM wz. 2003. RKM wz 2003 can used with beryl or mini beryl magazine or cartridge tape - 200 shells (similarly to FN minimi aka M293).