Formerly an engineering town, it was established as a place where all manner of metalworking could be done, such as the manufacture of machines and arms. Izhevsk is the site of one of the most famous arsenals in Russia, at which Mikhail Kalashnikov designed his famous AK-47 Assault rifle. Kalashnikov still lives in Izhevsk as of 2005. There are also Automobile and Motorcycle production plants - the vehicles bear the brandname IZH (ИЖ).
During Soviet times Izhevsk was a closed city, with restricted access for foreign people, due to the large amount of military manufacturing that was done there.