AK-47 inventor Mikhail Kalashnikov has died at 94: Russian official

I still wonder how much influence Schmeisser had on the design given the similarities between the STG-44 and the AK-47. At this point, we may never know.

C.J. Chivers wrote a very good history of the rifle in The Gun.
 
I've seen interviews where Kalashnikov would get upset when people would claim he used the STG-44 as a basis for the AK design. I never taken an STG-44 apart, but conceptually at least there seem to be similarities. Not saying he copied it or anything.
 
I'd like to think that somewhere Mr. Kalashnikov and Mr. Stoner are sitting around discussing slow and heavy versuses fast and light over a cup of a coffee.

In seeing some interviews of the man, he always seemed proud that his rifle served the soldiers of the Soviet Union/Russia well. Certainly can't fault a man for that.
 
He made a good rifle design, and if it had stayed in Russia I would think better of him. The 100 million Kalashnikovs' on the continent of Africa, for example, have not done mankind a bit of good.
 
It wasn't the fault of Mr./Sergeant Klashnikov that the Soviet Union gave the things out like candy to any government or guerilla group that professed a love of socialism/communism/ whatever-ism the Soviets were supporting that month.
 
Very true. Let's not forget the number of M16's and other gun we furnished to various dictators and guerrilla groups under the guise of fighting communism. Those guns are still out there doing harm as well.

Of course, the M16 never ended up on any country's flag. The Kalashikov did.
 
one thing is certain, he sure did not get rich off of the design he cobbled up along with German POW Hugo Schmeisser.
Working for the Soviet Union never was a career path leading to wealth.
 
Guess that says which gun is really better for the purpose intended..... eh?
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Not really. If anything, the Soviets often portrayed themselves the supporters of the underprivileged and the oppressed. The weapons they provided would have been a symbol of liberation in many cases (even if that's not how it ended up in the long term).
 
He made a good rifle design, and if it had stayed in Russia I would think better of him. The 100 million Kalashnikovs' on the continent of Africa, for example, have not done mankind a bit of good.
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Not the designer's fault. He just made a gun. It's up to the shooter what to do with it.
It's like blaming Gaston for the fact that his design is the tupperware of choice in the hood.

As for the STG-44 the two share nothing in common. The STG is a roller-delayed blowback design. Just like the G3. The AK is a long stroke piston. Sure Kalashnikov likely saw the use of the STG-44 on the battlefield and was influenced by the general concept and idea of a compact, medium-powered, select-fire rifle. But the actual mechanical design is entirely different in practically every single way. They don't even look similar. With whatever small similarities they may share just being due to the fact that there's only so many ways to design a magazine fed rifle.

The AK-47 is no more a copy of the STG-44 as the M-16 is of the AK-47.
 
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Blaming Kalashnikov for the harm his design has done in various 3rd world venues is like blaming Einstein, Teller, Fermi and Oppenheimer for Hiroshima, Nagasaki, the cold war, huge stockpiles and the current problem in Fukushima.

They all brought a bit of brilliance along to facilitate the inevitable, perhaps sped up the pace, but its true... our unintelligent, educated-but-not-smart, occasionally felonious "Leaders" who lack any semblance of foresight are to blame for loss of control and spread of successful weaponry of all types.
 
Yeah the AK47 both looks like the STG44 and uses an intermediate cartridge, two undeniable things they share in common, but as for how they operate, why don't we just give both designs the merit they deserve, one doesn't have to copy the other, both sides were developing better weapons during WWII, both found an excellent solution. I just wish someone would produce the STG44 in the original 8X33.
 
In all honesty, to play the Devil's Advocate, some of the people on here that are blaming Klashnikov for people's deaths, should really take a long hard look at John Moses Browning and what his designs have accomplished... Just because we (the U.S) didnt use Klashnikov's weapon to support our cause, doesnt mean we should make him a villain... He was a patriot of his country and his design helped changed the world (whether we like it or not)
 
I read it in our daily urinal gazette.
The one line said it all, that it made his name as well known for bloodshed as smith and Wesson, and Colt.
Then it went on about how every bad guy in the world carries HIS gun and he is responsible for it.
Just remember our great city had the mayor years ago that became the president of the Brady bunch.
Oh by the way, it also said that during the Vietnam War every US solder that could, would throw away their AR to pick up an AK.
I think he was a great designer that made a tool his county needed. The sad part of this is that the USSR would send out crates full to any one that asked in developing countries free. Well kind of free.
I saw an interview with him on the program “Tales of the Gun” his comments on the AR were interesting to say the least.
3rdDragoon, well said
 
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