In memory of AK-47 mastermind

World Net Daily ^ | 12/26/2013 | Phil Elmore

[rktman]

His name was Mikhail Kalshnikov. He was 94 years old. He died this week a hero of Russia, having lent his name and his engineering skill to the most frequently vilified assault rifle design in the world.

Kalashnikov was, according to the BBC, born a peasant on the southern Siberian steppe. He had little formal education, but his innate mechanical abilities led him to design what he called a “weapon of defense” intended to protect his nation. That weapon was the AK-47.

[rktman]

Plenty of those out there and their variants. If nothing else, they work like a bulova watch.

[2harddrive]

He built a fine rifle. I just wish it were available in .30-06, (or .308 NATO) and with a 22 inch barrel. Even in the 7.62 x 39 Russian, I wish the damn thing had a 20-22” barrel.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

I read somewhere that Kalashnikov based the AK-47 on a German assult rifle design.

[Yo-Yo]

Moelre like a Timex. It takes a licking and keeps on ticking.

[Yo-Yo]

MORE like a ...

[rktman]

LOL! DOH! Wrong watch. AK-47’s. They take a beatin’ and keep on repeatin’.

[DirtyPigpen]

They make a 308 version.

[metalurgist]

Saiga. built in the factory he worked at every day.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

[rktman]

Me likey!

[US Navy Vet]

“Mastermind” MY A$$! This Soviet BASTARD COPIED BOTH the German STG-44 and the M-1 Garand to “make” “his” “Vaunted” AK-47.

[BerryDingle]

[rktman]

Tossing parts together from various pieces seems to have worked. Imitation=flattery? I seem to remember the STG-44 reference but not the M-1. If you look at pics of the STG you can sure make out the similarity. Or am I mis-thinking again? LOL!

[kawhill]

It sure isn’t a target rifle, about 4 MOA is the best
I can do with iron sights at 100 yards, but it sure does go bang with great regularity.

[The Great RJ]

Clearly he was a great innovator and built a weapon that was rugged, reliable in the worst conditions and cheap to mass produce using many stamped parts. However he was not the technical equal of American gun designer John Browning.

[rktman]

Roger that. So easy to make, a bunch of Pak’s can make them with hammers and parts scavenged from tin roofs in the back hills of Pakistan. Not sure I’d trust a lot of them but they do go bang at least once.

[crazydad]

Got one so I will sail “thank you Mr. Kalishnakov”.

[crazydad]

That is true. If we want to thank anyone UGH can’t believe I am going to say this thank “Hitler”. UGH!!!!!!!!

[crazydad]

“SAY,DOUG,SAY”.

[Mogger]

This Soviet BASTARD COPIED BOTH the German STG-44 and the M-1 Garand to “make” “his” “Vaunted” AK-47.

Few "inventions" are purely original.

One could say he copied the flintlock rifle of the 1700s with a few modifications.