After 206 years of manufacturing vehicles, lathes, and weapons, with the last as its more famous line, Izhmash Concern, founded by Tsar Alexander I in 1807, is putting its name aside to adopt the name of its most famous employee, Mikhail Kalashnikov. This was twitted by Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin and reported that the decision was made last 13 August 2013 according to the Voice of Russia.

To further confirm the change of name, here is the release from the Russian News Agency, RiaNovosti:

NIZHNY NOVGOROD, August 13 (RIA Novosti) – Russia's Izhmash arms factory, manufacturer of the legendary Kalashnikov assault rifle, has been renamed the Kalashnikov Concern and will soon integrate several other defense plants into the new holding, the enterprise said Tuesday.

“Based on the decision by Rostech state corporation [the controlling shareholder in Izhmash], Izhmash has been renamed the Kalashnikov Concern. A relevant entry was made in the single state registry of corporate entities,” the enterprise said in a statement.

The renaming of Izhmash into Kalashnikov Concern is another step towards creating a vertically integrated small arms holding company, a move championed by Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin, who oversees Russia’s arms industry.

Izhmash has been manufacturing Kalashnikovs since the world-famous assault rifle first went into series production in 1949. Izhmekh, another Izhevsk-based small arms manufacturer, will also be integrated into the Kalashnikov Concern.

Izhmash produces over 70 types of weapons, including firearms, aircraft guns and precision artillery rounds, as well as a variety of sporting and hunting weapons. The company won a $400 million Russian government contract in July to produce Vikhr anti-armor missiles.

Izhmash Concern declared bankruptcy in 2009 but is still in operation with the support and supervision of the Russian State, and restructuring everything such as the merger of Izhmash and Izhevsk which makes the Baikal, Makarov and Grach firearms. The preparation for eventual adoption of the Kalashnikov as the brandname was further confirmed when Kalashnikov was transferred his name to Izhmash Concern for free use in product development when he was hospitalised early this year. But instead of just for the Kalashnikov firearms line, Kalashnikov was eventually adopted as the brandname for all the business concerns of Izhmash.

Was this a good move on the part of the Izhmash Concern's management? Whilst some observers would have rather preferred Izhmash to be maintained as the company name due to its long history, and 200 years cannot just be pooh-poohed away, they grudgingly accept that adopting the Kalashnikov name makes more sense marketing wise as Kalashnikov is a global brand in itself. Albeit the marketing of this brand came at a tragic costs of as this the Kalashnikov rifles, especially the AK-47, become more recognized through media reports in most, if not all, of the world's troubled and conflict areas ever since it was adopted a few years after World War II. More referred to be the weapon of choice of trouble makers such as freedom fighters, revolutionaries, terrorists, and dictators, the Kalashnikov nevertheless has also its reputation for quality and ease of use that no other firearm can lay claim to.

Will the magic of the Kalashnikov name which rifles made under the name became famous, feared and respected, be spread out to the rest of the new "Kalashnikov Concern?" Only time, a savvy business team, and maintaining the reputation of the products will tell.