Author Topic: AK-47 Creator Died Today (12/23/13) (Read 5089 times)

Adridos · « **on:** 23 December 2013, 12:28:53 »

http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/rifle-designer-mikhail-kalashnikov-dead-94-21310543

No matter where you live, what you know about, and so on, you've probably heard of AK-47/Kalashnikov at least once. It's creator, a guy by the name of Mikhail Kalashnikov, passed away today at 94 (which is a really impressive age considering the average life expectancy in the Russian Federation), just a day before Christmas.

JadeHellbringer · « **Reply #1 on:** 23 December 2013, 12:45:19 »

Amazing design he came up with. My dad is a gun collector, and I've been around the semi-auto AK since I was a kid.

Simplicity is its own beauty, as the saying goes, and the AK proves it. You can make them in a simple sheet metal shop if you know how. You can bury them in the Siberian tundra, dig it up weeks later and pop a magazine in, and that thing will fire. Desert sand, jungle muck, still works. And of course, that's born from lessons learned by the Soviets in the German invasion a few years prior to the design- make it simple, make it reliable, and make a whole bucket-load of them.

Kudos to Kalashnikov for one of histories' most recognizable and effective weapons, one that has literally changed the world.

Taurevanime · « **Reply #2 on:** 23 December 2013, 12:49:13 »

Probably the last weapon designer who will be recognised by name alone, even by those with no interest in firearms for generations to come. And a world war 2 veteran as well.

I suspect a lot of people will be going to the range and firing off a few in his honour.

SulliMike23 · « **Reply #3 on:** 23 December 2013, 13:03:49 »

He may have been on the other side of the Iron Curtain, but he created a very memorable weapon that's infamous the world over. RIP Mr. Kalashnikov

Stormlion1 · « **Reply #4 on:** 23 December 2013, 13:05:53 »

May he rest in piece.

Foxx Ital · « **Reply #5 on:** 23 December 2013, 13:41:43 »

Sad, he was interesting to listen to, and i'm not really a gun enthusiast so that should say something.

TigerShark · « **Reply #6 on:** 23 December 2013, 14:24:57 »

(a) Rest in peace. The man was a patriot of his nation.

(b) He didn't "invent" the AK-47. He based the technology on captured Sturmgewehr '44s. The AK-47 became more famous than the StG-44, but everything from the gas-operated bolt to the size of the cartridge owes its existence to the German progenitor.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/StG_44

Ghostbear_Gurdel · « **Reply #7 on:** 23 December 2013, 14:43:10 »

Quote from: TigerShark on 23 December 2013, 14:24:57

(b) He didn't "invent" the AK-47. He based the technology on captured Sturmgewehr '44s. The AK-47 became more famous than the StG-44, but everything from the gas-operated bolt to the size of the cartridge owes its existence to the German progenitor.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/StG_44

This is debatable, but I feel such a debate is not for here. Rest in Peace Mr Kalashnikov, I will have to get some range time in your honor.

God and Davion · « **Reply #8 on:** 23 December 2013, 15:07:00 »

IIRC the origin of the AK-47 was somewhat rocky and the Soviet police didn't react well when the weapon was unveiled. It seems that it was so well done that Kalashnikov was arrested. The police said that the weapon was so good that he would have need a forbidden arsenal just to design it.

The AK-47 has been used as a currency in Soweto and it appears in the flags of several nations. The man has an interesting history behind and his weapon is one of the items of the last half of the 20th century. RIP

worktroll · « **Reply #9 on:** 23 December 2013, 16:44:38 »

Quote from: TigerShark on 23 December 2013, 14:24:57

(b) He didn't "invent" the AK-47. He based the technology on captured Sturmgewehr '44s. The AK-47 became more famous than the StG-44, but everything from the gas-operated bolt to the size of the cartridge owes its existence to the German progenitor.

Even the Wiki article mentions that the AK-47 uses a completely different mechanism. Undoubtedly the AK-47 owes several design elements to captured Stg-44s - most notably the use of the short rifle round - but there's more than enough to highlight Mr K's design bureau's contribution.

RIP.

Josva Valdreki · « **Reply #10 on:** 23 December 2013, 16:47:22 »

Requiescat in Pace, Misha.

(Did Mickhail Kalshnikov design the AK-47? Probably not. Not by himself, anyway. But no, the AK-47 is not a copy of the StG-44. The only things it shares are being gas operated (by two different systems), possessing stamped steel receivers (well, with the AKM), and an intermediate cartridge that shares the same bore and bullet diameters as the parent nations' battle rifle cartridges. The StG-44 has more in common with the FN FAL.

As to the charge that the 7.92x33 cartridge inspired the 7.62x39.5, there can be no doubt. But the Russians developed their cartridge in 1943, long before they had started developing either the SKS or AK-47/AKM.)

VhenRa · « **Reply #11 on:** 23 December 2013, 19:46:37 »

Quote from: Josva Valdreki on 23 December 2013, 16:47:22

Requiescat in Pace, Misha.

(Did Mickhail Kalshnikov design the AK-47? Probably not. Not by himself, anyway. But no, the AK-47 is not a copy of the StG-44. The only things it shares are being gas operated (by two different systems), possessing stamped steel receivers (well, with the AKM), and an intermediate cartridge that shares the same bore and bullet diameters as the parent nations' battle rifle cartridges. The StG-44 has more in common with the FN FAL.

As to the charge that the 7.92x33 cartridge inspired the 7.62x39.5, there can be no doubt. But the Russians developed their cartridge in 1943, long before they had started developing either the SKS or AK-47/AKM.)

Actually. The original AK-47 design had Stamped Steel as well IIRC. But Soviet Mass Production tooling couldn't produce Stamped Steel receivers in 1950 or so yet. So they redesigned it to Milled Steel.

ClarkeMarek · « **Reply #12 on:** 23 December 2013, 21:42:42 »

I...didn't even realize the guy was still around. Rest well, you've lived a long eventful life.

HikageMaru · « **Reply #13 on:** 23 December 2013, 21:47:04 »

I have an AK-74 and an AK-103---love 'em. I had a chance to buy a commemorative AK-74 autographed by Kalashnikov---I passed due to the price. I'm sorta regretting that now.

I am Belch II · « **Reply #14 on:** 24 December 2013, 01:02:48 »

He changed warfare, with a design.

Von Jankmon · « **Reply #15 on:** 24 December 2013, 01:24:24 »

Uniquely iconic; I see no coke bottle, or VW Beetle or Microsoft logo on any nations flag.

mathesont · « **Reply #16 on:** 24 December 2013, 01:36:53 »

I am taking my Maadi out for a salute shoot tomorrow. Would not be surprised if it is the largest collection of CA legal AKs ever assembled.

jimdigris · « **Reply #17 on:** 24 December 2013, 09:07:28 »

In his later years, he expressed regret over how it was used. He originally designed it for the defense of the Soviet Union. Toward the end of his life, he lamented how ubiquitous it had become among organized crime and how widely it was used in third-world civil wars and conflicts.

RebelRunner · « **Reply #18 on:** 24 December 2013, 09:15:54 »

Rest in Peace, Mr. Kalashnikov.

Some used his weapons for evil, and some to protect the innocent. Let history remember the latter.

Maingunnery · « **Reply #19 on:** 24 December 2013, 11:39:19 »

His legacy will likely be enduring as it has deeply entrenched itself in global culture (even in BT).

Bedwyr · « **Reply #20 on:** 24 December 2013, 14:28:18 »

Preemptive reminder to watch the political line, etc etc, blah blah blah.

Y'all are doing fine so far.

Josva Valdreki · « **Reply #21 on:** 24 December 2013, 15:25:12 »

Quote from: VhenRa on 23 December 2013, 19:46:37

Actually. The original AK-47 design had Stamped Steel as well IIRC. But Soviet Mass Production tooling couldn't produce Stamped Steel receivers in 1950 or so yet. So they redesigned it to Milled Steel.

Yup, the original AK-47 (Type I, IIRC) was stamped. And then the Types 2 and -3 were milled. And Type 4, aka the AKM - after the Soviets mastered steel stamping for rifles - was back to stamped.

Arkansas Warrior · « **Reply #22 on:** 24 December 2013, 15:32:27 »

Rest in Peace Mr. Kalashnikov.

Arkansas Warrior · « **Reply #23 on:** 24 December 2013, 15:35:48 »

On a lighter note, Duffel Blog had this to say: http://www.duffelblog.com/2013/12/mikhail-kalashnikov-dead/

It's about as irreverent as you'd expect from such a site, but in its own way is a fitting tribute.

HikageMaru · « **Reply #24 on:** 24 December 2013, 22:47:37 »

Quote from: Arkansas Warrior on 24 December 2013, 15:35:48

On a lighter note, Duffel Blog had this to say: http://www.duffelblog.com/2013/12/mikhail-kalashnikov-dead/

It's about as irreverent as you'd expect from such a site, but in its own way is a fitting tribute.

Made me laugh out loud.

rebs · « **Reply #25 on:** 24 December 2013, 23:01:32 »

Hard to say anything that doesn't push it, but I heard an interview with this man on NPR yesterday morning. it was just a few questions answered and was only a couple of minutes, but he expressed both pride for his work, and yet also a lament for the human condition. RIP

Kitsune413 · « **Reply #26 on:** 24 December 2013, 23:18:08 »

Quote from: rebs on 24 December 2013, 23:01:32

Hard to say anything that doesn't push it, but I heard an interview with this man on NPR yesterday morning. it was just a few questions answered and was only a couple of minutes, but he expressed both pride for his work, and yet also a lament for the human condition. RIP

Im with you rebs.

WarGod · « **Reply #27 on:** 28 December 2013, 06:44:20 »

yeah, I'm gonna go burn some off. RIP Mikhail kalashnikov. Simplicity has its own beauty.

WarGod · « **Reply #28 on:** 28 December 2013, 06:47:38 »

He said the question he hated most was whether he felt sorry about the hundreds of thousands of people that were killed as a result of his invention. He had a standard answer:

"I've designed my weapon to defend the borders of our Fatherland, and let it continue to serve this purpose.

Adridos · « **Reply #29 on:** 28 December 2013, 09:17:19 »

Quote from: WarGod on 28 December 2013, 06:47:38

"I've designed my weapon to defend the borders of our Fatherland, and let it continue to serve this purpose.

Don't you mean Motherland?

Fatherland was used by the WW2 Germans to describe, well, Germany. Russians usually refer to their piece of land in feminine form.

ANS Kamas P81 · « **Reply #30 on:** 28 December 2013, 10:51:33 »

Nope, he said what he said.

rebs · « **Reply #31 on:** 28 December 2013, 14:33:50 »

Indeed he did. That was why I said what I did, kept it simple. Glad you all found the interview, I was hoping more had heard it or would find it.

TigerShark · « **Reply #32 on:** 29 December 2013, 02:26:19 »

Quote from: Adridos on 28 December 2013, 09:17:19

Don't you mean Motherland?

Fatherland was used by the WW2 Germans to describe, well, Germany. Russians usually refer to their piece of land in feminine form.

There was never any widespread usage of that term by the Germans. Not any more or less than the surrounding nations. "Fatherland" just implies the country was the home of several generations from your family.