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Kalashnikov Opens Rare Public Exhibition
Wilmington Star ^
| November 21. 2003
| TOBY STERLING
Posted on 11/22/2003 12:13:14 AM PST by nickcarraway
His name is synonymous with both death and excellence, and for years it was associated with the "enemy" on the other side of the Iron Curtain.
Maj. Gen. Mikhail Kalashnikov, the inventor of the AK-47 automatic rifle, opened an exhibit of his life's work at the Military Museum in Delft on Thursday.
The rare public showing, called "Rifle Without Borders," features dozens of variants of the weapon.
It also includes multimedia displays on the various wars in which the AK-47 has played a major role, including ongoing conflicts in Africa where child soldiers sometimes carry Kalashnikovs.
Introduced in 1949, the Kalashnikov rifle quickly became the weapon of choice in communist countries and continues to be used in much of the post-Cold War world. Millions have been produced.
Kalashnikov, 84 said the secret of his rifles' popularity was that he knew his market.
"I served in World War II, and I know what kind of weapon is needed by a soldier," Kalashnikov said. "Soldiers usually don't come from academies, they need a simple, reliable weapon. But it's much more difficult to make something simple than to make it complicated."
Asked whether he felt responsible for the tens of thousands of people who have been killed as a result of his work, Kalashnikov said politicians, not weapons, are to blame.
"Any weapon can kill, that's not the fault of the designer," he said.
The display, which runs through May, includes a chrome-plated Kalashnikov, and another covered with hot pink cloth and glitter.
Another exhibit shows a bullet that had been fired through a wax block, illustrating the pattern of destruction caused by an impact.
Although the design of the Kalashnikov rifles was jealously guarded in the days of the Soviet Union, they have been displayed recently in the West, including last year in Suhl, Germany.
TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Extended News; Foreign Affairs; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; Russia
KEYWORDS: ak47; akm; avtomat; bang; banglist; gun; history; kalishnikov; miktim; miltech; rpk; russia; ussr; war; weapons
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Russian weapons designer Maj. Gen. Mikail Kalashnikov, 84, shows a AK-47 at the opening of an exhibition of his rifles at the Army Museum in Delft, The Netherlands, Thursday, Nov. 20, 2003. (AP Photo/Bas Czerwinski) .
To: nickcarraway
When I first read the title, I thought it said "Kalishnikov Opens Rare Public Execution"....lol
2
posted on
11/22/2003 12:16:46 AM PST
by
Husker24
To: Husker24
That may have happened, at one time...
3
posted on
11/22/2003 12:19:51 AM PST
by
nickcarraway
(www.terrisfight.org)
To: nickcarraway
" Kalashnikov said. "Soldiers usually don't come from academies, they need a simple, reliable weapon. But it's much more difficult to make something simple than to make it complicated."I wish Eugene Stoner, father of the M16, had said that instead of Kalashnikov. A few more Americans would be alive today.
4
posted on
11/22/2003 12:33:43 AM PST
by
elbucko
To: nickcarraway; NormsRevenge; glock rocks; Travis McGee; All
The Man made a good functional firearm.
Just because they(he) was the "enemy" does not take away from the truth.
He desingned and built a firearm that will endure for many years to come.
From the results We had with the wrong lube given to Our Troops in the current conflict I would have to say He did what was needed.
(fireproof garmets in place)
5
posted on
11/22/2003 12:42:10 AM PST
by
ChefKeith
(NASCAR...everything else is just a game!)
To: *bang_list; Squantos; archy; ChefKeith
Commie Assault Rifle Bang!
6
posted on
11/22/2003 1:00:31 AM PST
by
Travis McGee
(----- www.EnemiesForeignAndDomestic.com -----)
To: ChefKeith
That's a common story in the old USSR. Their engineering was superb. Their quality absolutely stank.
7
posted on
11/22/2003 1:03:38 AM PST
by
HiTech RedNeck
("Across this great nation people pray -- do not put out her flame" -- DFU. An unashamed Godsquadder)
To: HiTech RedNeck
Given the odds in the current conflict and the quanity of available ammo if I were there (Iraq) I would have picked up the 1st funcitional AK and carried BOTH My issued M-16 AND the AK.
Speaking for Myself in that situation.
As My Brother told Me "it is better to have and not need, than need and not have"
8
posted on
11/22/2003 1:10:57 AM PST
by
ChefKeith
(NASCAR...everything else is just a game!)
To: HiTech RedNeck
P.S. a bullet leavingg the barrel is better than one that won't even chamber...
9
posted on
11/22/2003 1:12:55 AM PST
by
ChefKeith
(NASCAR...everything else is just a game!)
To: ChefKeith
I will correct Myself: than a round that won't even chamber...
10
posted on
11/22/2003 1:20:40 AM PST
by
ChefKeith
(NASCAR...everything else is just a game!)
To: elbucko
" Kalashnikov said. "Soldiers usually don't come from academies, they need a simple, reliable weapon. But it's much more difficult to make something simple than to make it complicated." I wish Eugene Stoner, father of the M16, had said that instead of Kalashnikov. A few more Americans would be alive today.
Gene Stoner was an aeronautical engineer by training, coming from a field in which the watchword for successful design has always been *Simplicate and add lightness.*
-archy-/-
11
posted on
11/22/2003 1:22:03 AM PST
by
archy
(Angiloj! Mia kusenveturilo estas plena da angiloj!)
To: elbucko
Rather harsh given that what the Army fielded wasn't what Mr. Stoner designed.
12
posted on
11/22/2003 1:34:55 AM PST
by
Eagle Eye
(I'm a RINO. I'm far too conservative to be a real Republican.)
To: elbucko
It wasn't Stoner's fault. The ammo issued to the M-16 was of crappy quality and not fit for combat. Also, the butthole bureacrats in charge of the Army failed to imform our troops on the proper care of the rife.
To: ChefKeith
I guess that's why so many USPSA/IPSC three gun competitors shoot AK's.
14
posted on
11/22/2003 4:25:51 AM PST
by
Comus
To: elbucko
From what I understand, from the History Channel, Stoner wanted the breech made from one solid piece of stainless. A bean counter in the JFK administration changed it to chrome plating to save money. It was fixed years later after an almost 50% failure rate.
15
posted on
11/22/2003 4:29:22 AM PST
by
raybbr
To: nickcarraway
16
posted on
11/22/2003 4:50:50 AM PST
by
raybbr
To: Travis McGee; Eaker; humblegunner; patton; TexasCowboy
The display, which runs through May, includes a chrome-plated Kalashnikov, and another covered with hot pink cloth and glitterEaker loaning out his carry rig again ?
Stay Safe ! .....FMI School Bump Patton !
17
posted on
11/22/2003 6:01:20 AM PST
by
Squantos
(Support Mental Health !........or........ I"LL KILL YOU !!!!)
To: Squantos
Oh, Tom is going to love that. LOLOLOL.
18
posted on
11/22/2003 6:15:42 AM PST
by
patton
(I wish we could all look at the evil of abortion with the pure, honest heart of a child.)
To: Squantos; Eaker; Travis McGee; TexasCowboy
You need a time out to think about what you've done!
If you keep acting like a girly Kalashnikov, you'll get more than a talking-to!
To: humblegunner
Hahahahaa!
20
posted on
11/22/2003 7:46:59 AM PST
by
Travis McGee
(----- www.EnemiesForeignAndDomestic.com -----)
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