Kalashnikov, still selling weapons at 86

Here is a story of a old man, and his old but still efective gun.

Kalashnikov, still selling weapons at 86

MOSCOW (AFP) - His name has entered the languages of the planet and his most famous creation has sold 100 million copies but at 86 Mikhail Kalashnikov, father of the assault rifle that bears his name, is still a busy man.

He travels, he sells, and in the face of criticism he sings the praises of the weapon he created.

Blue eyes, grey hair, sprightly, he lives in the Urals town of Izhevsk and arrived Saturday in Moscow to hit back at criticism in the US press of the sale of 100,000 Kalashnikovs to Venezuela.

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[edit on 16-4-2006 by UK Wizard]

Even though I am a guy who usualy blabs and idolizes a future of power armor, rail-guns and plasma guns. And while we are at that giant robots. I still notice that rather modest weapons tend to do the job best.

Whats a super spiffy rifle worth that can shot around corners with a camera attached to it, and has all kinds of special features if it jams after fireing 3 clips of ammo?

In a hypothetical future of hand held plasma-guns and rail guns. Kalashnikov should develop a guns for those because you know it willl be effective and reliable. If the same people who make the m-16 try to make one its bound to jam and or overheat, and if a highpowered gun like that does, it will explode and do who knows what to whoevers holding it.

To be honest, Kalashnikov should make a new and improved 7.62x39mm round with increased velocity and accuracy...

the AK-47 is still one of the best assault rifles, not quite the first, since the Stg-44 or MP-44 is the first one in all technicality, it was a rifle that shot the 7.92x33mm round to great effect, it actually had some resemblance to the AK-47...somewhat...

oh and don't forget the [ ex ] [ /ex ] tags! the mods will be furious

[edit on 4/15/2006 by GrOuNd_ZeRo]

what can you say other than "battle proven", "cheap", "heavy compare to its counter parts", "mass produced" "very powerful", "very reliable" assault rifle in the world

outside of the T-34/85 the "poster child" to "POST SOVIET" and RUSSAIN ingenuity and philosophy to arms


example a AKS-74U a derivative of the orignal long stay legendary AK-47 and my prefered choice in close quarters

The AK may not be as spot on accurate beyond 300 meters as other rifles, But not a single company has managed to match it's durabillity yet. In essence it is the firearm distillation of the soviet agenda, it's cheap never wears out and even a dirt stupid potato farmer can use it to kill the enemy. In that respect it more than fulfilled it's purpose.

On the other hand if you gave the man who developed it an american size development budget lord only knows what wonderful and practical weapons he'd build.

"Izhmash" top manager Vladimir Gorodetsky states that near 1 million machineguns which are direct copies or use elemets of AK series are produced each year . Only 10-12% of them are Russian-made.

At least 35 companies from Eastern Europe and China are selling "fake" AK. Problem that almost all licences are expired and it is russian lawyers fall. USA is playing negative part in it buying copies of AK-47 for new Iraq and Afghanistan armies, stimulating in this way violation of russian intellectual property. Bolgaria is going to supply 40 thousands of AK $65 per piece to Iraq this year. "You can make the toy gun only for this money" russian experts are ironising.

Last major contract for russian AK was with Venezuela. They are buying AK-103.

That's not the only thing he is still selling.



Kalashnikov Vodka