Ak-47 History

diefacee wrote: »

The AK-47 (or Avtomat Kalashnikova) is a selective fire, gas operated 7.62mm assault rifle. The original AK-47 and its numerous variants are the most widely used and popular assault rifles in the world; more AK-type rifles have been produced than all other assault rifles combined.

It was first developed in the Soviet Union by Mikhail Kalashnikov in the 1940s. The designation AK-47 stands for Kalashnikov automatic rifle, model of 1947. It was used in service by the Soviet Union and the majority of the member states of the former Warsaw Pact. The AK-47 fires the 7.62x39mm cartridge which produces significant wounding (including remote wounding effects known as hydrostatic shock) in cases where the bullet tumbles and fragments in tissue, but which produces relatively minor wounds in cases where the bullet exits before beginning to yaw.

Design work on the AK began in 1944. In 1946 a version of the rifle, the AK-46, was presented for official military trials, and a year later the fixed stock version was introduced into service with select units of the Red Army. The AK-47 was officially accepted by the Soviet Armed Forces in 1949. An early development of the design was the AKS-47 (S—Skladnoy or "folding"), which differed in being equipped with an underfolding metal shoulder stock.

The AK-47 was one of the first true assault rifles. Even after six decades, due to its durability, low production cost and ease of use, it remains the most popular assault rifle. It has been manufactured in many countries and has seen service with regular armed forces as well as irregular, revolutionary and terrorist organizations worldwide. The AK-47 was also used as a basis for the development of many other types of individual and crew-served firearms.

the AK

SchwertGeist wrote: »

Well since nobody really answered the question, I will try.

The AK47 is based on the design concept of the Assault Rifle, first pioneered by the German StG 44. Design concepts are selective fire, detachable magazine, and uses an intermediate cartridge, i.e. 5.56x45mm(M-16) and 7.62x39(AK-47).

Now it is my understanding that Mikhail Kalashnikov designed the AK-47 to utilize the current rifle tech at that time, to "not reinvent the wheel" as it were. The trigger and double locking lugs of the M1 Garand, the safety mechanism of John Browning as utilized in the Remington Model 8, and the gas system and layout of the StG 44. Kalashnikov had access to all of these weapons, so he utilized desirable aspects from each weapon.

So yes, the AK-47 is conceptually similar to the StG-44, but technologically different.