Mikhail Kalashnikov dies at 94


Recommended Posts

The inventor of the iconic AK-47 assault rifle, Mikhail Kalashnikov, has died at the age of 94. His ingenuity earned him widespread admiration, but his legacy became more controversial when his weapons were used in some of the world?s bloodiest conflicts.


"Mikhail Kalashnikov's entire life is a shining example of dedication to serving your country," said a statement from Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu.


"For many generations of Russians his name became a symbol of the glory and reliability of our weapons, and a source of national pride."


Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed "deep condolences" over the death of the engineer.


Kalashnikov who continued working well into his nineties, had been suffering from heart and intestinal problems, and on November 17 was admitted into intensive care in Izhevsk in central Russia - where the plant that produces the eponymous rifles is located. The official cause of death will be revealed following a mandatory autopsy.


A public funeral will be organized by the regional administration, in consultation with surviving relatives, though no date has been named so far.


For most of his life, Kalashnikov, who was famous for his frugal lifestyle, was feted as a straightforward hero.


The self-taught peasant turned tank mechanic who never finished high school, but achieved a remarkable and lasting feat of engineering while still in his twenties.


But as the rifles, inextricably linked forever to their creator by name, were more and more commonly seen in the hands of terrorists, radicals and child soldiers, the inventor was often forced to defend himself to journalists.


He was forever asked if he regretted engineering the weapon that probably killed more than any other in the last fifty years, though nine out of ten AKs are not produced in Izhevsk, and perhaps as many as half are manufactured illegally.


"I invented it for the protection of the Motherland. I have no regrets and bear no responsibility for how politicians have used it," he told them.


On a few occasions, when in a more reflective mood, the usually forceful Kalashnikov wondered what might have been.


"I'm proud of my invention, but I'm sad that it is used by terrorists," he said once.


"I would prefer to have invented a machine that people could use and that would help farmers with their work ? for example a lawnmower."


http://rt.com/news/kalashnikov-dies-inventor-ak-47-887/


Link to comment
Share on other sites

He copied a german weapon StG 44 Sturmgewehr , a deadly rifle. Germans should receive some thanks too , the most powerful nation over war-tech and military development, its like they have it in their blood. 

Hell, even the M1 Abrams uses a german gun, Rheinmetall 120 MM.

USA tends to evade a few things.. let's not forget who brought the jets, rockets and the nuclear bomb.

AK is StG's child, still deadly and cheap to produce, working in almost any natural enviroments.

It is not my intention to create a flamebait post , however Americans , Russians and even Japan used and are using german tech for their own purpose, giving those "products" different names and glory to their own people,leaving germans aside.

RIP Mikhail.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

He copied a german weapon StG 44 Sturmgewehr , a deadly rifle. Germans should receive some thanks too , the most powerful nation over war-tech and military development, its like they have it in their blood. 

Hell, even the M1 Abrams uses a german gun, Rheinmetall 120 MM.

USA tends to evade a few things.. let's not forget who brought the jets, rockets and the nuclear bomb.

AK is StG's child, still deadly and cheap to produce, working in almost any natural enviroments.

It is not my intention to create a flamebait post , however Americans , Russians and even Japan used and are using german tech for their own purpose, giving those "products" different names and glory to their own people,leaving germans aside.

RIP Mikhail.

I have nothing against Mikhail OR his iconic rifle - he is regarded as the "Samuel Colt of Russia" for perfectly valid reasons.

Samuel Colt was ALSO pilloried - while alive - for how some folks used his firearms - as if he had any control over the minds (let alone brains) of the purchasers thereof (or PILFERERS thereof); the same is, in fact, just as true of Kalashnikov.

The 1980s-era conflict in Afghanistan was Confucian irony in the extreme, with AKs on both sides of the battlefield; the AK-47s and AK-74s in the hands of the muj were NOT supplied by the CIA, as some journalists theorized; they were largely pilfered (either from the Afghan armories, or even from Soviet (Red Army and Spetsnaz) warehouses, along with claims from rifling corpses of both).

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have to admit, I actually like the ak47 but that's because I admire the engineering

Like how I like seeing steam locomotives in operation, just to see the engineering at work

RIP

Link to comment
Share on other sites

He copied a german weapon StG 44 Sturmgewehr , a deadly rifle. Germans should receive some thanks too , the most powerful nation over war-tech and military development, its like they have it in their blood. 

Hell, even the M1 Abrams uses a german gun, Rheinmetall 120 MM.

USA tends to evade a few things.. let's not forget who brought the jets, rockets and the nuclear bomb.

AK is StG's child, still deadly and cheap to produce, working in almost any natural enviroments.

It is not my intention to create a flamebait post , however Americans , Russians and even Japan used and are using german tech for their own purpose, giving those "products" different names and glory to their own people,leaving germans aside.

RIP Mikhail.

 

Ginsu knife, finer than our German knives?!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

He copied a german weapon StG 44 Sturmgewehr , a deadly rifle. Germans should receive some thanks too , the most powerful nation over war-tech and military development, its like they have it in their blood. 

Hell, even the M1 Abrams uses a german gun, Rheinmetall 120 MM.

USA tends to evade a few things.. let's not forget who brought the jets, rockets and the nuclear bomb.

AK is StG's child, still deadly and cheap to produce, working in almost any natural enviroments.

It is not my intention to create a flamebait post , however Americans , Russians and even Japan used and are using german tech for their own purpose, giving those "products" different names and glory to their own people,leaving germans aside.

RIP Mikhail.

Don't you glad we didn't have patent then? 

 

Imagine a patent war between Russia and Germany. This single war could have halted WWII.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This topic is now closed to further replies.
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.