And the safety from the Remington Model 8, as designed by John M Browning around the turn of the last century.
Posted on 04/17/2006 8:13:08 PM PDT by kiriath_jearim
And the safety from the Remington Model 8, as designed by John M Browning around the turn of the last century.
If your car had a 302 engine and looked like the picture below, but another manufacturer claimed to design it, then it would be.
Bozhe moy! A Mustangski!
"I find it hard to believe he went from making a counting device and a modified tank slit to designing an original ground breaking weapon like the AK-47 on his own."
Actually, he didn't design the AK on his own. First off, he was employed by the railways before the war, if I'm not mistaken. So he had prior engineering training and experience. Also, he had access to various books and weapons that he was able to look over and study. Furthermore, he had a team of designers and engineers helping him develop his rifle.
"For starters, the appearance is too close."
Yes, the two weapons look similar, but ever hear of the saying 'form follows function'? Looks aren't necessarily everything, after all. In fact the FN FAL is probaly more similar to the Sturmgeweher.
"Also, the timimg of the weapons introduction is suspect....years after the end of WWII when the MP44 could have been studied, reverse engineered and modified."
Or that could well mean that ol' Mikey Kalashnikov had more time to study weapons and books, and to work on a design.
"Kalashnikov (as I have read and heard him say on a program on the History Channel) would have us believe he came up with this idea while recovering from wounds in 1942."
Actually, I believe that was merely the start of his career in weapon design. While in the hospital, he supposedly requested books on various weapons. Also, he didn't start his career with the AK. He designed a prototype submachine gun and a prototype semi-auto carbine first.
BTW, the AK-47 was adopted in 1947, but large-scale production began in 1949. Now this is just my opinion, but if the AK is just a MP clone, even improved, wouldn't it have been out a good while beforehand? Especially since examples were no doubt captured as far back as 1943?
"If your car had a 302 engine and looked like the picture below, but another manufacturer claimed to design it, then it would be."
In my opinion, the statement would be right on the money if the AK not only looked like the MP/STG, but also had a tipping or tilting bolt. The AK uses a rotating bolt with two frontal locking lugs which work with cams in the bolt carrier. That concept is probably more associated with AMERICAN designs, not German. In fact, Pete Kekkonen said that the AK bolt was derived from the M1 Carbine's. The MP/STG didn't use cams or lugs. It's bolt had a hook or claw on top which worked with another on the bottom of the bolt carrier.
It's my opinion that it took time to make the internal changes you outlined, while keeping the overall concept and design of the MP44 intact. It's doubtful they had the resources and time to produce, test, and distribute the weapon during the war. Besides, at the time, they had a reliable assault style submachine gun....the PPSh-41.
Yep, the best are American.
But surely all those internal differences would mean that the AK-47 is a different design than the MP/STG. Yes, Kalashnikov no doubt studied a MP/STG, and it probably pointed him in the general direction, but IMO the AK is still his design. PRobably Kalashnikov studied a MP/STG, a MG42, and other weapons (especially American ones, and more so John Moses Browning creations)and used that knowledge to help him design a new weapon.
"Besides, at the time, they had a reliable assault style submachine gun....the PPSh-41."
Exactly. WHich was probably the reason why they waited until after the war before beginning their search for a assault rifle.
I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree on it. I just find it hard to take a Stalin-era Soviet at his word.
You have your opinion, and I have mine. We may as well leave it at that. As for whether a Stalin-era Soviet can tell the truth...well, you know what they say about a stopped clock being right two times a day. :-)
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