The exhibition presents an automatic handgun designed by the Soviet engineer Georgy Shpagin. It has a wooden buttstock and a box magazine. The barrel is housed in a special metal casing with holes for barrel cooling, the front part of which is beveled. Under the trigger guard, in front of the trigger, there is a fire mode selector (single or automatic). There is a sighting device at the top of the barrel. The top of the barrel reads: “1942”, “A317”, and the bottom between the trigger guard and the magazine reads: “17”, “1535”. The weapon is supplied with a suspension strap, but the safety catch and charging handle are missing.

The submachine gun is in inoperable condition: it is drilled. Such weapons were adopted by the Red Army on December 21, 1940. The PPSh (submachine gun designed by Shpagin) is an automatic handgun designed to fire in bursts and single shots. The PPSh was the main submachine gun of the Soviet Armed Forces in the Great Patriotic War. Among other military products, Shpagin submachine guns were produced at the Yaroslavl Automobile Plant (later known as Yaroslavl Motor Plant — Avtodizel Production Association — JSC Avtodizel). The company also produced shell bodies, units and parts for tanks, and artillery tractors.

After the end of the war, in the early 1950s, the PPSh was withdrawn from the Soviet Army and gradually replaced by the Kalashnikov assault rifle; although it remained in service with rear and auxiliary units, internal and railroad troops for a little longer. The PPSh was in service with paramilitary guard units at least until the mid-1980s. Also in the post-war period, the submachine gun was supplied in significant quantities to Soviet friendly countries; it was in service with the armies of various countries for a long time, and was used by irregular forces. Throughout the 20th century it was used in armed conflicts around the world. The exhibit became part of the museum’s collection in 2000, and in recent decades it was used during the Komsomol and Pioneer guard at the monument to fallen heroes in the city of Yaroslavl.