AK-47 Inventor Mikhail Kalashnikov Dies At 94

[fix-the-spade]

I've always wondered if he was responsible for all the AK-47 offshoots (like the RPK) and the more modern AKs. If so, I'm surprised the guy who made one of the world's first assault rifles contented himself to just updating the same thing over and over again.

If it ain't broke, the AK47 itself took almost six years of protoyping and testing to produce, starting from modified M1 Garands (really) and captured STG44s and eventually ending with something of a mash up of the two with Kalashnikov's own eye for simplicity and rapid manufacture.
The AK pattern is the perfect conscript rifle, simple, reliable, accurate enough and less than $15 to make. The 74, 101 and 12 just updated construction, materials and ergonomics, the underlying machine is already perfect, no need to redesign.

I think he's going to go down in history like Alfred Nobel, a great engineer who managed to wreak unimaginable destruction on the world more or less by accident, because he was ultimately too good at his job.

 

[jackpipsam]

I wonder how many lives have ended because of his invention.

 

[Fijiman]

He's now having drinks with Richard Jordan Gatling.

And John Moses Browning, and Samuel Colt.

 

[TheMann]

He's now having drinks with Richard Jordan Gatling.

I personally believe that John M. Browning was far more influential to modern firearms than Gatling. He invented the M1911 which has remained in use for more than a century now, the M1919 .30 cal. machine gun, the BAR and, of course, the Browning M2 .50 cal Heavy Machine Gun which is also still in wide use today. Still, that's not to marginalize Gatling. At the time he invented the rotary machine gun, no one had ever seen anything like it.

Spoiler: Anyway, here's a cool picture.

This is of Kalashnikov with Eugene Stoner, the man responsible for the invention of the M-16. I always thought it was kind of cool how they're holding each other's rifle. Two of the most iconic weapons of the 20th Century and the men who invented them.

 

[Andy Chalk]

Kalashnikov is no more responsible for the havoc wreaked by his weapon than any other person who invented a weapon, regardless of its relative success. People who want to point fingers should aim them squarely at the faction of polite society which believes that the best way to ensure the safety of our children is to put a machine gun in every classroom.

Yes, I realize that's overly simplistic and yes, I recognize that nobody here has played the "Kalashnikov was a mass murderer" card. But there are those who do, and it's ridiculous. I wouldn't go so far as to say he was a great man, but he made a great weapon, and he did it not for profit but for patriotism.

Great picture of him and Stoner, by the way. If only the people who use those weapons could behave like the men who made them.

 

[Dragonlayer]

And thus, I witness the end of one of history's great icons: RIP Mikhail.

I wonder if he'll get a state funeral?

 

[Timedraven 117]

but for patriotism.

Nationalism actually, patriotism is waving a flag and patting your neighbor who was in the military on the back. He created one of the first mass produced Assault rifles for his country and joined the military. The difference between the two is unseen by most.

Just thought to let you know on the difference. Nationalism is doing something like join the military. Patriotism is just showing support for your country.

OT: Well i didn't know he was still alive. Then again i never bothered to look him up. Although those who say he is a mass murderer they should also note that then the person who invented the gun in the first place is Mega Hitler with guns instead of limbs and eats children every night.

 

[talker]

He's now having drinks with Richard Jordan Gatling.

And John Moses Browning, and Samuel Colt.

and Isaac Newton Lewis, and James Bowie.

 

[gamernerdtg2]

In 2007, Russian President Vladimir Putin described the rifle as "a symbol of the creative genius of our people."

You really can not take this statement at face value...wow...I really had to think about this statement.

 

[Saltyk]

94? Wow. That's impressive. My own great Grandmother lived to be 93. I do hope his death and final years were better than hers, though. She went from driving herself at 93, to not even remembering a person 5 seconds after talking to them.

Anyway...
Mikhail Kalashnikov. May you rest in peace.

And thus, I witness the end of one of history's great icons: RIP Mikhail.

I wonder if he'll get a state funeral?

Seems like a safe bet. He invented a weapon that Putin has praised as representing the creative genius of the Russian people. By all accounts, he'd probably be recognized as a true patriot to the country. I suspect Russia will do something to commemorate the man.

In 2007, Russian President Vladimir Putin described the rifle as "a symbol of the creative genius of our people."

You really can not take this statement at face value...wow...I really had to think about this statement.

I once heard there's a Russian saying.
"Breakfast is for yourself. Lunch is for your friends. Dinner is for your enemies."
Take a moment and think about that.

 

[FPLOON]

So... He created the AK 47... and he dies at the age of 94?

47 times 2 is 94...

Such an interesting coincidence... (RIP to a mortal man who invented an immortal weapon...)

 

[J Tyran]

He was never responsible for all the deaths his weapon caused, he just wanted to design a rifle that would help save the lives of his countrymen. Nothing wrong with that, the "problems" arise from how the Soviets handed millions of them out to anyone and everyone around the world who was against US/NATO interests.

As an inventor his weapon has stood the test of time and been a major success in every aspect it was designed for, you have to respect that even if you hate guns. So RIP to such a great inventor.

 

[Azkar Almsivi]

R.I.P to an inspiring inventor. He's a true national hero and a great example of what can be achieved when profit isn't the end goal.

 

[Strazdas]

He was 94.

He was mad. He was telling people how he was walking with americans in iraq war seeing them drop their new rifles and picking up kalashnikovs instead and crap like that. He invented a great machine but he got high on his own creation.

We could do a 21 million gun salute using AK-47s for this man, as games have shown his weapons will outlive us all (see RAGE, Fallout 3). o7 RIP sir, now you're arming angels.

It probably will. The thing is bloody resilient and can survive and shoot even in sandstorms, without additional maintenance.

It would be difficult to call him a mass murderer given that he designed the rifle to defeat the Nazis while they were in the process of invading his country. They just didn't adopt the design until after the war. Since then, sure, the gun has been seen in the hands of terrorists. It has also been a cheap alternative for those seeking to defend their nations and homes world wide as well. I would say that even in the worst case, he is karmically even.

Thats a poor argument considering that Soviets were actually worse than Nazis.....

 

[Dragonlayer]

94? Wow. That's impressive. My own great Grandmother lived to be 93. I do hope his death and final years were better than hers, though. She went from driving herself at 93, to not even remembering a person 5 seconds after talking to them.

Anyway...
Mikhail Kalashnikov. May you rest in peace.

And thus, I witness the end of one of history's great icons: RIP Mikhail.

I wonder if he'll get a state funeral?

Seems like a safe bet. He invented a weapon that Putin has praised as representing the creative genius of the Russian people. By all accounts, he'd probably be recognized as a true patriot to the country. I suspect Russia will do something to commemorate the man.

In 2007, Russian President Vladimir Putin described the rifle as "a symbol of the creative genius of our people."

You really can not take this statement at face value...wow...I really had to think about this statement.

I once heard there's a Russian saying.
"Breakfast is for yourself. Lunch is for your friends. Dinner is for your enemies."
Take a moment and think about that.

I would hope so, his is the first name that pops to mind when I think of "Russian patriot".

I guess I have to pad this post out a little to avoid incurring the Escapist's holy wrath so I shall say the AK is an awesome rifle and everyone should buy me one for my birthday.