Weapon Of Mass Destruction (The AK-47)

Washington Post ^ | 11/26/2006 | Larry Kahaner

[HoldFast]

By Larry Kahaner Sunday, November 26, 2006; B01

In the grand narrative of World War II, the Battle of Bryansk is a minor conflict, barely deserving of a footnote. But Bryansk has another place in history. It was there that a then-unknown tank commander named Mikhail Kalashnikov decided that his Russian comrades would never again be defeated. In the years following the Great Patriotic War, as Soviet propagandists dubbed it, he was to conceive and fabricate a weapon so simple, and yet so revolutionary, that it would change the way wars were fought and won. It was the AK-47 assault rifle.

The AK-47 has become the world's most prolific and effective combat weapon, a device so cheap and simple that it can be bought in many countries for less than the cost of a live chicken. Depicted on the flag and currency of several countries, waved by guerrillas and rebels everywhere, the AK is responsible for about a quarter-million deaths every year. It is the firearm of choice for at least 50 legitimate standing armies and countless fighting forces from Africa and the Middle East to Central America and Los Angeles. It has become a cultural icon, its signature form -- that banana-shaped magazine -- defining in our consciousness the contours of a deadly weapon.

[padre35]

the man who wrote the article does not know squat about rifles for instance:

Just before the U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan that followed the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, bin Laden distributed the first of several videotapes warning the West about reprisals. In these tapes, the al-Qaeda leader is seen with an AK either next to him or propped up in the background. The typical stock footage shows a white-robed bin Laden firing an AK, a symbol to the world that he is a true anti-imperialist fighter.

OBL had a AK 74 a "bizor" propped up against that cave wall Kalashnikov had little to do with the design of the AK 74.

[Sender]

Kalashnikov only copied the concept of a medium-power, select-fire arm from the Germans. The AK design was all Russian. A superb design, IMHO.

[CrazyIvan]

"Also, I guess it's time for me to open my usual can of worms by saying the AK is a blatant ripoff of the German MP-44. Someone always disagrees, however."

O.K. I'll start. The AK definitely was meant to fulfill the same design criteria as the MP-44. It is very similar is proportions, function, and ballistics. It is quite a bit differently mechanically tho. A lot different from the MP than say a 1903 Springfield is from a Mauser bolt action. Just my $.02 worth.

[Jack Hammer]

"....the AK is responsible for about a quarter-million deaths every year."

It's quite a weapon and a wonderful design achievement; however, it has yet to develop will and the capacity to act independently. It is thus responsible for no deaths at all. None. Ever. A great many communists and other deluded madmen, the demented and homicidally inclined, together with an international cast of millions - idiots and creeps - must bear that responsibility.

[stompk]

"the AK is responsible for about a quarter-million deaths every year."

OMG ! Imagine if one married an SUV, the havoc they could wreak !!

[Mariner]

Still, the best combat weapon ever devised.

[Thunder90]

The AK-74M and AK-10X series of rifles are accurate, according to http://world.guns.ru/assault/as00-e.htm

[Thunder90]

AK-74 is AK-47 rechambered for 5.45x39 ammo

[padre35]

OMG ! Imagine if one married an SUV, the havoc they could wreak !!

Now we introduce our latest design

"The Ak 47 Humvee complete with on/off greenhouse gas emitters and puppy targeting steering the horn quotes John 3:16 whenever pressed, this baby is sure to be our largest selling vehicle o' death and anti elitism"

All it needs to do is to be against gay marriage and it would be the liberal "Trifecta of evil"

[Thunder90]

But, remember that Liberals fear nasty black AR-15s the most.

[WilliamWallace1999]

The real original....

[edpc]

I know the bolt operates on a different priciple. My problem with Kalashikov is his outrageous claim he designed the weapon while in his hospital bed. The looks alone tell any sane person otherwise.

Prior to this, the most famous "invention" from this "engineer" with no formal training was a counter used to track tank shell shots. I find it hard to believe he could make such a quantum leap from a couple of springs and cogs to a complex weapon on his own. There's also documented evidence he examined a captured MP-44 prior to the AK's production. Soviet propaganda and lies kept the Kalashnikov myth alive long enough to have it accepted as fact.

[MaDeuce]

I'm surprised that the people hear reading the story haven't picked up on the REASON for the story.

It is another "Primer" story to get Americans scared of the AK47 and ASSAULT WEAPONS!

This story is to prime the public for the up-and-coming Assault Weapons Ban to be passed by congress and signed by "W" early next year.

There will be many more stories on these "ugly", "black", assault rifles in the coming weeks and months. This time the AWB will include (as I have read (D-NY) Carolyn McCarthy's new AWB bill), a ban on all semi-auto hand, rifle, and shotguns. Also the AG will have the authority to ban any weapon he/she deems not meeting the their idea of a "sporting purpose".

I'm surprised that some many of you did not see this about this story. It will make it so much easier for the ATF to come take your guns away since we all laugh at reporters who write this garbage, but fail to see the reason why they wrote it.

[piytar]

The AK is also the weapon of choice in the latest "small war" that a superpower believed would be brief and painless: Iraq.

I seriously wonder what speaches this author listened to, if any. NOBODY said Iraq would be quick or easy. President Bush said quite the contrary, repeatedly. Too bad the aurhor had to interject this little bit of implied Bush-bashing in an otherwise excellent article...

[Paladin2]

"..why not us in the US also..

Depends on the meaning of us?

[CrazyIvan]

I hadn't even considered that Kalashnikov did not do the actual designing of the weapon, I had never heard anyone question that. You have a very interesting observation. It would certainly be like the Soviets to design their "People's Hero" right along with the weapon. I was simply making a point that the AK is not an MP clone.

[labette]

Gee, I'd better throw some extra locks and chains around the old gun safe. We wouldn't want the AK to get out and start shooting up the place!

[edpc]

Part for part clone...no...I'd have to allow there are differences to void that. My point in it being a ripoff was more along the lines of what I stated in the last post. I should have been more clear in the opener.

[investigateworld]

Just wondering why the SKS was kept in concurrent production?

Anyone?

[SauronOfMordor]

Kalashnikov only copied the concept of a medium-power, select-fire arm from the Germans. The AK design was all Russian.

Looks pretty similar to me