APS (Stechkin Automatic Pistol) is a rare machine pistol, since it built from scratch as a select-fire weapon. Designed and put in production in 1951 along with the PM (Pistolet Makarova) in same caliber, it was intended to be a personal defensive weapon for vehicle crews, RPG-7 carriers and front line officers. For those reasons, APS pistols were gradually shifted out of service, and relocated into reserve storages, replaced by shortened assault rifles, namely AKS-74U. However, this was not the end of service for this firearm.