The MP-448 was developed during the late 1990s by engineer-constructor and weapon designer Dmitry Bogdanov.
It was initially offered by Izhevsk Mechanical Plant (IzhMech) for export sales and for private security companies as an enhanced version of the famous Makarov PM pistol (which is also manufactured by IzhMech).
[4] Since 2003 Russian military and law enforcement have switched to the more powerful 9×19mm Parabellum and as such are purchasing larger, more powerful and higher capacity pistols such as the MP-443 Grach (also manufactured by IzhMech).
The MP-448 is slightly smaller and 200 g lighter than the Makarov PM thanks to a polymer frame.
There are no takers for this pistol because there are only marginal improvements in ergonomics and accuracy over the Makarov PM and the Skyph also costs more[citation needed].