Why The AK-47 Still Dominates

Mikhail Kalashnikov, world famous inventor, with an AK-47 assault rifle.(RIA Novosti / Vladimir Vyatkin)

Blake Franko, National Interest: The Gun That Is in Almost 100 Countries: Why the AK-47 Dominates

A few months ago, fighters from the Free Syrian Army ran American special-operations forces out of a town near the Turkish border, hurling insults like “infidels,” “crusaders,” “dogs” and “pigs.” These fighters, who are actively benefiting from U.S. support, brandished the most recognizable gun of all time, the Kalashnikov. The power of this image cannot be understated.

Thanks in no small part to the film, television and video-game industries, most people associate the AK-47 with tyrannical terrorists, depraved drug cartels and rabid rebels. Indeed, the high profile use of Kalashnikovs in the Dallas police shooting and the Islamic State’s Paris attack reinforces this link. Originally built for the Soviet Army and as a tool for spreading communism around the globe, there are now over 75 million Kalashnikovs and variants in circulation, produced by nearly one hundred nations. The rifle is easy to produce, easy to use and reliable, which makes it so effective at. The AK has made its mark on countless conflicts on nearly every continent. The story of this weapon is one of battlefield utility, market saturation and ill-advised arms shipments.

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WNU Editor: I have fired the AK-47 at a test range in Russia ..... it is an incredibly easy weapon to use. On a side note, the founder (Mikhail Kalashnikov) of the AK-47 had regrets before he passed away .... AK-47 Inventor Mikhail Kalashnikov Wrote Repentant Letter Before His Death On The Weapon That He Created (January 14, 2014).

American Buyers Scramble To Buy Kalashnikov Rifles Following Sanctions

Gun Buyers Scoop Up AK-47 Rifles After New Sanctions -- FOX News

Following another round of sanctions, demand for Russian-made firearms like the AK-47 rifle has picked up in recent days.

The U.S. and European nations have imposed economic sanctions targeting Russian companies over the country’s role in backing separatists that are fighting the Ukraine government. Additional penalties could be handed down in response to the downing of a Malaysia Airlines flight late last week. Federal officials believe the jet was shot down by a surface-to-air missile fired by rebels in eastern Ukraine.

The sanctions unveiled on Wednesday include Kalashnikov Concern, the maker of AK-47s and Saiga firearms. American companies are now prohibited from having Kalashnikov products imported into the U.S.

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More News On American Buyers Scrambling To Buy Kalashnikov Rifles Following Sanctions

Treasury Department Tells AK-47-Owning Americans They Won't Be Affected By New Russia Sanctions -- Business Insider
Imports of Russian-made Kalashnikov AK Rifles, Products, Banned Under New Sanctions -- HS Today
If you like your AK-47, you can keep your AK-47 -- Market Watch
U.S. Sanctions On Russia Cause Run on AK-47s -- Inquisitr
Scramble To Buy Kalashnikov Rifles In US Following Sanctions -- Defense World
AK-47s become hot commodity after U.S. sanctions -- CNN
New sanctions have U.S. gun buyers scrambling for popular Russian rifles -- T. Becket Adams, Washington Examiner

Americans Buy As Many AK47s As The Russian Military And Police

Rifle AK-47. Wikipedia

American Civilians Buy As Many AK47s As The Russian Military And Police... And Demand Is Surging Because Gun Owners Fear They Will Be Banned -- Daily Mail

American civilians are buying as many AK47s from Russia's top armory as the Russian military and police.

The surge in sales of Russian assault rifles and shotguns are fuelled by firearms enthusiasts who are paranoid about the weapons being banned in the United States.

The semiautomatic weapons, fitted with high-capacity magazines, are manufactured at Izhevsk Machinebuilding Plant, Russia's primary small arms factory.

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My Comment: I have fired the AK-47 at a test range in Russia, and it is an awesome weapon ..... so the fact that American gun enthusiasts want it does not surprise me.

AK-47 To Be Ungraded And Modernized

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin (center) inspecting Kalashnikov rifles earlier this year. Radio Free Europe

Russia To Modernise The Kalashnikov -- The Telegraph

Russia has announced plans to modernise the Kalashnikov, giving a new lease of life to the Soviet-era assault rifle beloved by paramilitaries and gangsters around the world.

Part of a 20 trillion-rouble (£435 billion) modernisation of Russia's armed forces that includes the addition of new armaments, submarines and aircraft by 2020, the new-look Kalashnikov will get a detachable sight and light, Dmitry Rogozin, the deputy prime minister, told parliament.

"We are planning deep modernisation of the Kalashnikov assault rifle," said Mr Rogozin, who oversees the defence industry.

"This will be a weapon with detachable equipment, such as an optical sight and a lamp."

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More News On The Upgrading Of The AK-47

Russia to modernize iconic Kalashnikov rifle -- Reuters
AK-47 to be upgraded -- UPI
Russia reveals plans for Kalashnikov upgrade -- The Guardian
Russia To Modernize Iconic Kalashnikov Assault Rifle -- Radio Free Europe

Russian Army Stops AK-47 Kalashnikov Rifle Purchases

AK-74 dismissed by the army. © RIA Novosti. Vladimir Viatkin

Russian Army Stops Buying Kalashnikov Rifles -- CNN

(CNN) -- The Russian army has ceased ordering the famed Kalashnikov rifle for its arsenal and is waiting on a newer model its manufacturer is developing.

The army already has more of the weapons than it requires, Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces of Russia Nikolai Makarov told Russian media.

The inventor of the weapon, Mikhail Kalashnikov, 91, has reportedly been deliberately kept uninformed about the decision.

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More News On The Russian Army Ending It's Kalashnikov Rifle Purchases

AK-74 dismissed by the army -- RIA Novosti
Russian army stops buying Kalashnikovs -- BBC
Russia stops buying Kalashnikov -- The Telegraph
Russian Army to stop buying iconic AK47 rifles -- NDTV
Russia ‘fires’ Kalashnikovs from its weaponry -- Euronews
Russian army scraps new AK-74 orders -- ABC News (Australia)
Russian army stops ordering 'out of date Kalashnikovs'... but won't tell inventor in case shock kills him -- Daily Mail
New rifle to replace Kalashnikov -- Voice of Russia
Kalashnikov: A Symbol of Misery -- Mail Online commentary

Russian Military To Replace The AK-47

Mikhail Kalashnikov is handed an AK-47 on November 23, 2002, in Izhevsk, Russia. Photo from CNN

Russian Defense Minister Causes Uproar With Call to Replace Famed AK-47 -- FOX News

Russia's Defense Minister, Anatoly Serdyukov, set off a firestorm of debate in Russia after saying that his military's pride and joy, the Kalashnikov and Dragunov SVDs sniper rifles, are "morally outdated" and that he's considering a plan to buy foreign-made small arms.

The comments were made during a private meeting with members of the lower house of Russia’s parliament just before the New Year, according to Russian media accounts. Serdyukov introduced the plan to buy foreign-made guns as part of larger military reforms that include buying French-made Mistrall Class helicopter carriers for the Russian navy.

The comments caused Russian military officials to jump to the defense of their workhorse weapons.

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My Comment: There will be a strong Russian military lobby to not change the AK-47, but the following stats/information should give any supporter of the AK-47 some pause on maybe there should be a change in the AK-47.

Scales says an accuracy target of 400 meters is not good enough for modern day warfare. The gold standard for weapons in the West is the American M-4, which is accurate to 600 meters and beyond.

But Scales said it's more likely the Russians would look toward something else, like the equally superior German G-1 or the smaller French and British 5.56 rifles. The Israeli Galils, also an unlikely purchase for the Russians, are said to combine the best of western accuracy with AK 47 durability.

What Makes An AK-47 Click

Avtomat Kalashnikova Modernized / 1959 / Length: 35 inches / Weight: 8 pounds

Anatomy Of An AK-47 -- Popular Mechanics

How the AK-47 became the go-to Rifle for insurgents, rebels and warlords the world over.

At the dawn of the Cold War, former Soviet soldier Mikhail Kalashnikov, 26, led a team in the design of a lightweight assault rifle, the Avtomat Kalashnikova 1947. Now, 65 years later, some 100 million AK-47s have been produced—10 times the number of U.S. Army M16s. The original weighed roughly 10 pounds and married the best features of a submachine gun and a long-range rifle. "The AK-47 is often said to be poorly made, but many of its features were well-matched to the conditions of war," says C.J. Chivers, The New York Times war correspondent and author of The Gun, a history of the AK-47. The rifle is effective, if unoriginal. "Think Mr. Potato Head. This gun is a bunch of pre-existing systems combined into a new whole," he says. A revised AK-47, the AKM, entered production in 1959; the most prevalent AK, its knockoffs are manufactured all over the world (the gun below has Chinese origins). Chivers gives a guided tour.

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A Book On The History Of The AK-47

'The Gun': How AK-47s Changed The Nature Of War -- NPR

The image is iconic: the stubby barrel, the inverted arc of the banana clip. Osama bin Laden included one in his video after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. Saddam Hussein had a pair with him when he was captured. It appears on the flag of Mozambique and Hezbollah.

The AK-47 — or versions of it — can be found in every major conflict of the past 50 years. In his new book, The Gun, Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter C.J. Chivers traces the history of the lethal firearm.

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My Comment: I had the chance to test fire an AK-47 when I was visiting relatives in Russia. It's hard to believe that such a simple weapon can cause so much devastation and suffering .... but it is it's simplicity that makes it effective and the weapon of choice for most soldiers (and terrorists) in the world.

A Look At The AK-47

The AK-47: Questions About The Most Important Weapon Ever -- Popular Mechanics

In his new book, The Gun: The AK-47 and the Evolution of War, out Oct. 12, New York Times reporter C.J. Chivers traces the origins of modern assault rifles—particularly Avtomat Kalashnikov 47, or the AK-47—and analyzes how they've changed warfare. Popular Mechanics spoke to the author about how and why the AK-47 was developed and why it has had even more of an impact than nuclear weapons.

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My Comment: I had the chance to test fire an AK-47 when I visited Russia a few years ago. Easy it is to handle it and powerful, I can understand why it has become the weapon of choice in most Third World nations. Still .... I believe the future is in American weaponry, especially in fighting across long distances which the AK-47 operates at a great disadvantage.

Kalashnikov Creator Turns 90

From The BBC:

Russian celebrities and politicians have been paying tribute to Mikhail Kalashnikov, who turned 90 on Tuesday, at a Kremlin reception.

Mr Kalashnikov is the inventor of the AK-47 assault rifle, beloved of guerrillas around the world.

At the ceremony, President Dimitry Medvedev handed Mr Kalashnikov the prestigious Hero of Russia award.

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More News On Mikhail Kalasnikov

Poet at heart: Kalashnikov inventor turns 90 in a hail of praise -- Sydney Morning Herald
Creator Of AK-47 Assault Rifle Turns 90 -- Radio Free Europe
Kalashnikov gun designer turns 90 -- CNN
Famed Russian gun designer receives state award on 90th birthday -- China View
Father of Kalashnikov assault rifles celebrates 90th birthday -- Times Online
Lethal Kalashnikov designer is now Russia's hero -- Reuters
Gun inventor, 'happy man' Kalashnikov turns 90 -- AFP
Russian famed arms designer Kalashnikov celebrating 90th birthday -- Itar Tass
Ten countries to build Kalashnikov assault rifle producing plants -- RIA Novosti
Brand recognition to die for -- Reuters

Russian Manufacturer Of The Kalashnikov Files For Bankruptcy

Mikhail Kalashnikov and his Kalashnikov Weapon. Photo from Newsweek

Kalashnikov Maker Files for Bankruptcy -- Pravda

The Court of Arbitration of the Republic of Udmurtia registered a petition in bankruptcy of JSC Izhmash (Izhevsk Mechanical Works), the largest firearms maker in Russia, Interfax reports. The court hearings to investigate the causes of the petition will be held on October 7, 2009.

Izhmash ships firearms to 15 countries of the world. Based in Izhevsk and founded in 1807 at the decree of Tsar Alexander I, and is now one of the largest corporations in its field. It makes the famous Kalashnikov series of assault rifle, along with a host of other Russian arms, including medium cannons, missiles, and guided shells. Izhmash also produces other goods, such as motorcycles and cars.

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Update #1: Russia's legendary Kalashnikov producer faces bankruptcy -- RIA Novosti

Update #2: Worlds’ biggest AK 47 manufacturer is bankrupt -- Business Day

My Comment: To say that I am surprised is an under statement. The Kalashnikov is a symbol of the Russian military, its history, and its manufacturing base.

I doubt that this bankruptcy will be permitted to proceed. Expect a bailout or a restructuring in the next few weeks.

AK-47: An Assault Rifle for Everyman

AK - 47

From Wired News:

It’s probably not a stretch to describe Mikhail Kalashnikov’s AK-47 assault rifle as the most important small-arms weapon of the 20th century.

Born out of Kalashnikov’s obsession to create a weapon capable of driving the invading Germans from his motherland, the Soviet weapons designer produced an assault rifle renowned as much for its simplicity as for its effectiveness.

Although it never saw service during World War II, the AK-47 became the standard infantry weapon for the Red Army, as well as most of the other Warsaw Pact armies. National liberation movements supported by the Soviet Union also found themselves generously equipped. More famously, it continues finding its way into the arsenals of rebels, drug traffickers, street gangs and terrorists the world over.

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My Comment: I am surprise that Mikhail Kalashnikov, the AK-47’s inventor, is still alive. He looks pretty goof for someone who is 90 .... but then again my mom is 83 and she looks better than most women at 65.

AK-47s Popular Weapon For Militants

A. Hesse Model 47 / Model AMD 63
B. Norinco 84-S Chinese made .223
C. AK Concepts Tactical Pistol $750
D. Hungarian AMD 65 $500
E. Norinco NMH 90
F. Arsenal Inc AK74 Bulgarian Rifle $640
G. Polish Under Folder $630

From Defense Technology News:

Angola, whose long civil war ended six years ago, is trying to curb decades of violence by collecting and destroying weapons, especially the cheap AK-47s that have flooded the region in the last two decades. So far this year, the government has collected over 50,000 illegal weapons, many of them AK-47s. These are publicly destroyed, several thousand at a time, and reduced to scrap metal.
The AK-47 has become as much of a curse for Africa as many major diseases. Not just in the places you hear about, like Somalia, Angola, Congo and Sudan, but in many others as well. Easy availability of firearms has produced a murder rate in South Africa that is, per capita, ten times what it is in the United States.

In many parts of East Africa many rural tribes got access to cheap AK-47s. This has resulted in traditional crimes, like stealing cattle or land, turning into bloody war. In western Kenya alone, there have been hundreds of deaths from tribal clashes in the last two years.

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My Comment: When its impact is analyzed on countries in Africa, one can easily make the argument that the AK-47 is a weapon of mass destruction.