Mikhail Kalashnikov Dies
BY Herschel Smith
11 years ago
The man credited with the design of the AK-47, Michail Kalashnokov, is dead at 94. The boys at reddit/guns are in mourning and shock. But it’s Soviet propaganda that makes him the sole designer of the weapon.
Exactly how the winning design was created remains murky, but contrary to Soviet propaganda, it is clear that Kalashnikov got plenty of help — not only from other Russian konstruktors but (more embarrassing) from a captured German arms designer, Hugo Schmeisser, who during World War II had created an early assault rifle (the Sturmgewehr) that bore an uncanny resemblance to what became the AK-47. But even though the AK-47 was the product of considerable collaboration, it was Kalashnikov who got the glory. He was twice named a Hero of Socialist Labor and acquired sufficient riches to buy a refrigerator, vacuum cleaner and automobile — all scarce commodities in postwar Russia. Eventually he would become a lieutenant general and a world-famous symbol of the Soviet arms industry.
I will always be a fan and advocate of the Stoner design, and as an engineer I like and appreciate the tight tolerances on my AR-15. It’s a precise and well functioning weapon, and I don’t like the feel of the clanking and rattling of the AK-47.
Around my house we speak the name of Eugene Stoner with hushed reverence. However, there is no questioning the fact that the name Kalashnikov is significant around the world, and the weapon named after him has been an important feature of modern world history – just as has the Stoner design.
On December 23, 2013 at 3:02 pm, Jack said:
Like everything else cold-war Russia, design was influenced by necessity. Since they didn’t have the ability to mass-produce with close tolerances, they designed something that could be built by folding sheet metal to loose tolerances.
The design is so adaptable and so accepting of manufacturing sloppiness that someone turned a shovel into an AK47 (http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2012/11/foghorn/turning-ploughshares-into-swords-man-builds-ak-47-from-shovel/).
The same holds true for fighter jets. While a cold-war (and modern) US fighter will be taken down by small debris (they sweep the deck of an aircraft carrier twice a day), a MiG25 was designed to take off and land from unimproved (gravel and grass) landing strips, because that’s what they had.
All that being said, I much prefer Stoner’s design!
On December 23, 2013 at 9:17 pm, paul b said:
While I like stoner’s design I would put Browning higher. Kalashnikov was a genius in rough construction of a working firearm. Not as accurate or as well engineered, but was the equivalent of the crossbow, which was a game changer.
May he get is revenge on Lenin and Marx.
On December 23, 2013 at 10:13 pm, Steve said:
Attribution for quote:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/31/books/review/Boot-t.html?pagewanted=all
On December 24, 2013 at 11:08 am, Paul B said:
Well, who would trust the NY Times. What I get from the article is the crossbow.
On December 24, 2013 at 12:10 pm, revjen45 said:
The AK and AR platforms reflect the societies from which they come. The AR is well-fitted, accurate, and after enough field testing time, reliable in the real world. The AK is designed and manufactured to work in the hands of illiterate conscripts to whom a flush toilet is high tech and beets are haute cuisine (or at least comfort food). If TEOTWAWKI occurred or I was going to another planet as yet unexplored I would choose the AK. In a world with some functioning infrastructure I would choose the AR. The best idea would probably be at least one of each.
On December 30, 2013 at 8:19 am, McThag said:
While you’re giving credit where credit is due… Look up L James Sullivan.
On December 30, 2013 at 3:51 pm, Federale said:
Stolen lock, stock, and barrel from Hugo Schmeisser and his Stg-44.