AK-47 inventor: I don't lose sleep

AP ^ | June 6th, 2007 | By MANSUR MIROVALEV, Associated Press Writer

[DesScorp]

“Of course he doesn’t lose sleep, he didn’t invent it...”

The AK is a huge improvement over the STg44. And all designers are influenced by previous work. It doesn’t matter what field you’re in.

[Mountain Troll]

In one of his books, David Hackworth reported a somewhat distasteful incident in which a Vietnamese soldier and his AK-47 were buried together, and later dug up. The weapon was still functional, the soldier not so much.

[WoofDog123]

“It is an effective weapon and in demand for the terrorist or communist regimes which Russia continues to support.”

Arms procurement is a huge political cesspoll internationally, but on the face of it, and discounting factional politics, any government on a budget would be crazy not to consider the Kalashnikov.

[KingofZion]

I don’t lose any sleep either.

I think we all sleep better knowing that the Allies won the war instead of the Nazis.

[mylife]

The AK and its variants have been produced in a number of calibers:

.22 trainers
7.62x39 the original AK 47
5.45x39 the AK 74
5.45x45 which uses our .223 round
7.62x51 also known as nato.308
7.62x54
8mm mauser used in the yugo m76
410 shotgun
20gau shotgun
and
12gau shotgun

[mylife]

The weapon that was designed based on the Sturmgewehr_44 was the Spanish CETME

The AK bears no real resemblance in design

[mylife]

VEPR’s rock! Mine is in .308

[mylife]

5.45x45 5.56x45 which uses our .223 round

[Lazamataz]

...tool are put... ...tool is put...

Or, in my case, tool disrepute.

[Lazamataz]

In one of his books, David Hackworth reported a somewhat distasteful incident in which a Vietnamese soldier and his AK-47 were buried together, and later dug up. The weapon was still functional, the soldier not so much.

If Messr. Kalishnikov had designed the soldier, they'd have both come out firing.

[monkapotamus]

[Eurotwit]

Congratulations Laz,

Euro

[MD_Willington_1976]

My rifle is the consumer/civillian version of the AK101 series, called a Saiga S.223.. it is made in the Izhmash factory where “Mr K” consults.

I plan on adding a US made 4-prong flash hider to it soon.

I’m also looking at getting some 20 or 30 round magazines for it. The magazines have the bullet guide built onto them on the front lip of the magazine, this is done to make the rifle a little different so that a regular AKM magazine can’t be used without modification, helps to get them imported as a “sporting arm”...

yeah like the constitution saya “sporting arms”...lol, have to play by .gov rules!

[Lazamataz]

The Russians are the masters of the simple solution.

True. I heard one air-force general marveling at the Russian versions of our aircraft. He said, "They only are about 80% as deadly as ours, but what they lack in sophistication, they make up for in durability and simplicity. Our aircraft need groomed runways, theirs can take off from barely-finished roads. Our aircraft need incredible support systems, as opposed to some 17 year old Russian smacking on their aircraft with a ball-peen hammer."

[JCEccles]

We have gold-plated weapon systems, no doubt. The big defense contractors have grown incredibly wealthy by over-engineering our stuff.

I get a little tired of all the grousing about the M-16. It is a fine, accurate, and deadly weapon when properly maintained.

[Yorlik803]

I will take anything made for the US Military over anything made for the Commies.
The M16 over came it teething pains and became a very good rifle.
As for the any plane the russians made, check its background to see if it has any stolen US plans in it. The Russians havent had a orignal idea since Peter the Great.

[SevenofNine]

Is he check out his E harmony account LOL!

[skeeter]

The AK bears no real resemblance in design

Mechanically, no. Conceptually, the AK was a ripoff.

[Charles Martel]

The weapon that was designed based on the Sturmgewehr_44 was the Spanish CETME

The AK bears no real resemblance in design

Yes it does, in general configuration. Kalashnikov used the 8mm Kurz ammo as a pattern to reduce the powder capacity of the Russian 7.62 battle rifle cartridge. Some of the StG-44 design elements (pistol grip, detachable curved magazine) can be seen, as well as bits of inspiration picked up from the Simonov rifle (fielded in small numbers before the end of WWII) and the Garand.

The StG-44 was also gas-operated, unlike the later CETME. I believe the later StG-45 might've done without a gas system in favor of fine-tuned mechanical ratios in the roller-locked breech, as seen in the CETME (can't recall for certain). In any case, some of the men who worked on the StG-44 and later 45 did end up in Spain after WWII, where they designed the CETME (later H&K G3).

The FN-FAL was originally patterned around the 8mm Kurz cartridge, too - pity that was never produced.

[dfwgator]

Yeah, I watched that Gold Cup Final match, it was a great game.

Unfortunately, we didn’t do so well in the Copa America, but then again, we pretty much sent our scrubs down there, so it wasn’t unexpected.

And Freddy Adu was amazing against Poland in the U-20 tournament. Gives us a lot of hope for 2010, if he can continue to develop.