Historically, the plant produced a wide variety of sports weapons and arms for the Imperial Russian Army.

Significant ore deposits were situated relatively close to it and it had access to ample transportation routes like the Upa River and many rail lines coming in and out of the city.

During 1960s–1980s, the plant received an order for production of the world-famous Kalashnikov assault rifles (six variants), anti-tank guided missiles - 9M14 Malyutka, 9M133 Kornet, 9M113 Konkurs and the Bonfire underslung grenade launcher.

During the early to mid-Soviet era, Tula Arms Plant produced a variety military rifles, including the Mosin–Nagant, SVT-40, SKS, and AKM.

From the late 1970s to the early 1980s, the factory produced the AK-74,[7] and went on to manufacture the VSS Vintorez, AS Val, OTs-14 Groza, and TOZ rifle weapons designed by TsNIITochMash.