One of the most praised was the stylish, accurate "Izjubr" (Buck Deer) carbine – a limited edition luxury weapon.
Nikonov was appointed as a senior project engineer to design single-shot bolt-action rifles and fully automatic weapons.
Examples of his innovation include his twin-barreled machine gun and the "blow back shifted pulse (BBSP)" used on the AN-94.
The weapon was developed on Nikonov's own initiative, from work connected with competitions and technical tasks.
Firing operates a feeding device that channels rounds into the barrels, with the spent cartridges being ejected from both sides.
The double-barreled design, in combination with the shortest possible stroke, allows for a high rate of fire at more than 3,000 rounds per minute.