The man who designed a small arm that is attributed to 250,000 deaths per year and whose rifle is used by 50 armies around the world died today at the age of  94.

Interesting fella who never envisioned that his weapon would be used in the manner used today.

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/kalashnikov-assault-rifle-ak-47-designer-dead-at-94/

.

I have to give the man his due; his design is a workhorse.

The world lost an iconic gun designer today. Not too many people like him who have attained such accomplishments.

Ca. the 47th year of the 20th century Anno Domini, Mikhail Timofeyovich Kalashnikov begat the the AK-47 in the caliber 7.62x39mm.
And the AK-47 was fruitful and begat the AKM, which begat the AK-74 in the lesser caliber of 5.45x39mm.
And the AK-74 begat the AK-101 in the caliber of 5.56x45mm.
And the AN-94 numbereth not among the sons of Mikhail, though it appeareth like to them in form.
                                                                                                                                                                                   

RIP General! Only appropriate....Автомат Калашникова Тыпе И


 

Credit: Corvette Man (Z06) - Russian Type 3 and Tribute Backdrop

Discovery Civilisation Greatest Military Clashes: M16 vs AK47

Tales of the Gun: AK-47

Quite the designer and developer.  Not an inventor at the level of Browning, but a great man in the history of firearms.

As it happens, never gotten around to shooting a 7.62mm AK, only the AK-74.  That was before they were available to the U.S. public, a captured collection from the Russian invasion of Afganistan.

The MI guys at Ft. Irwin set up a familiarization shoot for us.  Full auto was fun, but not as controllable as the AR.  I learned the hard way to take care where you grab up by the forestock.

Wow 94! Lifes torture test approved