The AK-47, since its official introduction in 1949, has consistently held the position of the most popular rifle and has proven its effectiveness worldwide.
What is the AK-47?
The Kalashnikov Automatic Rifle, abbreviated as AK, is one of the most common rifles of the 20th century, designed by Mikhail Timofeyevich Kalashnikov. A common name for this firearm is the AK-47. According to the classification of the Socialist bloc, the AK-47 is categorized as a submachine gun; according to NATO classification, it is classified as an assault rifle, also part of the machine gun family.
As of the early 21st century, despite being 70 years old, the AK-47 and its variants remain the most favored weapon, selected as the standard firearm by over 50 armies, as well as being employed by various armed forces and guerrilla groups in more than 100 countries around the world.
Kalashnikov Automatic Rifle or AK.
Its low cost, reliability, and high effectiveness in harsh combat conditions make this firearm the most widely used personal weapon in the world. The effective shooting range of the AK-47 is approximately 400 meters, specialized for close to medium-range combat. Newer versions can achieve effective ranges of around 500 meters.
With its significant impact, the AK-47 has been referred to as a military icon, a weapon that has transformed the nature of warfare. Currently, the AK-47 serves as the standard personal weapon for the armed forces of over 60 countries worldwide. Many other nations also utilize the AK-47 for police and border patrol forces. The AK-47 is also favored by rebel groups and criminals across the globe due to its durability and low cost.
Design Principles
Although Kalashnikov has denied that the AK-47 was based on the German StG 44, some believe that the AK-47 was influenced by the design of the StG-44, particularly in terms of appearance; both firearms position the gas piston outside of the upper handguard, whereas the American M-16 places it inside the upper handguard.
In reality, the feeding mechanism and bolt locking system of the AK-47 are completely different from the StG 44. The AK-47 uses a rotating bolt for its gas system, while the StG-44 employs a tilting bolt.
Some believe the AK-47 was influenced by the design of the German StG-44.
After a bullet exits the barrel, both the AK-47, M-16, and StG-44 use a portion of gas to push the bolt carrier to the rear; for the AK-47 and M-16, the rearward-moving bolt carrier will rotate the bolt before it pushes the next cartridge into the chamber; for the StG-44, the rearward-moving bolt carrier will simultaneously pull the bolt back to create space for the next cartridge to be chambered. In terms of the spring system, firing pin, and disassembly mechanism of the bolt carrier, the StG-44 is actually more similar to the American M-16 than it is to the AK-47.
The AK-47 has indeed integrated technological innovations in rifle design compared to its predecessors: the firing process is executed by a recoil-operated bolt carrier, utilizing a rotating bolt assembly like the M1 Garand/M1 Carbine. Kalashnikov’s design team had access to all these firearms, and there was no need to “reinvent the wheel.”
Kalashnikov recalled: “Many Soviet Army soldiers asked me how to become a designer and how to create new weapons. This question is indeed difficult to answer. Each designer has their own path, their own successes, and failures. But one thing is clear: before attempting to create something new, consider whether it is crucial to everything that already exists in this field. I have felt this through many of my own experiences.”
The Development Process of the AK-47
The initial production phase faced several challenges. In the first prototype, the thin metal plate of the bolt carrier was dislodged. Problems also arose when the guide rail was welded, often causing many instances of the latch slipping. The manufacturers did not give up; they replaced the thin metal plate designed to reduce recoil with a heavier metal block.
This substitution caused some additional costs, but by using the manually operated bolt carrier from the previous Mosin-Nagant, it still functioned quickly and reliably; the bolt carrier of this rifle was reworked and replaced. This was one of the reasons the Soviet Union could not equip many new rifles for its army before 1956.
In most Eastern European countries, knowledge of weapons simply means “AK rifles.”
Once the production difficulties were resolved, a redesigned version called AKM (the “M” stands for “modernized” or “upgraded,” in Russian: Автомат Калашникова Модернизированный [Avtomat Kalashnikova Modernizirovanniy]) was put into production and equipped in 1959.
The production of the AK abroad, both licensed and unlicensed, became quite widespread, particularly the AKM model. Partly because of its appealing brand, this model often saw larger production numbers. All rifles based on the AK design are often referred to as AK-47S in the West, although these are merely modifications of the original three rifle products that were initially deployed.
In most Eastern European countries, knowledge of weapons simply means “AK rifles.” The image above on the right illustrates the differences between the original second product design and the branded fourth product, including the use of rivets instead of welds on the branded product, as well as the method of creating small wave patterns on the magazine to enhance durability.
In 1978, the Soviet Union began replacing their AK-47 and AKM rifles with a newer designed rifle: the AK-74. This new rifle and its ammunition only began to be exported to Eastern European countries after the collapse of the Soviet Union. This significant event delayed the production of these weapons in former Soviet bloc countries.
