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AK-47

Few weapons have had a greater impact on the history of guns, and indeed history in general, as Kalashnikov AK-47 (shortened from Russian: Avtomat Kalashnikova 1947). Adopted and standardized in 1947, it was designed by Mikhail Kalashnikov and produced by Soviet manufacturer Izhevsk Mechanical Works. Its acceptance as the standard rifle for Russian forces in 1949 set in train the production of a shocking 80 mil. AK-47s.

That means 80 million hard hitting medium range killing tools that were easy to maintain, rarely failed and simple to produce. The AK47 became a truly global presence in military, insurgent and civilian hands. It was almost as much of a symbol of Soviet Union ideology as the hammer and sickle. It has killed or injured in almost every conflict since the 1950s and modern variations and scattered stocks ensure that it will continue to do so for many years to come. The historical consequences of giving so much of the world such heavy personal firepower is still evaluated.

The AK47 was not designed upon simple inspiration. In fact, it emerged out of Soviet Union developments in ammunition technology. During this period, changes in tactical thinking about small guns led Russian military authorities to commission the design of a new cartridge, a round between a rifle cartridge and a pistol cartridge in terms of power and performance. It was to accommodate this new cartridge that the AK47 was designed. Yet the story of how this intermediate round came into being is somewhat clouded in confusion and needs clarification.

The AK47 is simple, inexpensive to manufacture and easy to clean and maintain. Its ruggedness and reliability are legendary. The big gas piston, generous clearances between moving parts, and tapered cartridge case design permit the gun to endure large amounts of foreign matter and fouling without failing to cycle. This trustworthiness comes at the cost of precision, as the looser tolerances do not allow the precision and consistency that are required of more accurate firearms.

Reflecting Russian infantry principle of its time, the rifle is meant to be part of massed infantry fire, not long-range activities.

More about AK-47 rifle read at travelers blog