Kalashnikov AK-47
Overview
Kalashnikov AK-47
Left side view of a Kalashnikov AK-47 assault rifle with a Type 2 milled receiver.
Source: US Army -
© Public domain
1949 - mid 1950's (mass production)
Bulgaria - AKK & AKKS
China - Type 56 (early)
East Germany - MPi K & MPi KS
Hungary - AK-55
Iran - KLS & KLF
North Korea - Type 58A & 58B
Poland - kbk AK & kbk AKS
56-A-212M (GRAU index for AKS-47)
Description
Introduction
The AK-47 is an early Cold War era assault rifle of Russian origin. It was developed by Mikhail Kalashnikov at the end of World War 2 to equip Soviet forces with a weapon of similar capabilities and doctrine as the German Stgw 44. The AK-47 was intended to replace sub machine guns like the PPSh-41 and PPS-43. It proved to be so effective and reliable that it was produced in large numbers and eventually replaced the Simonov SKS as a standard service rifle. The name AK-47 stands for "Avtomat Kalashnikova 1947", Russian for Kalashnikov automatic rifle of 1947.
Design
The AK-47 is a gas operated weapon using a long stroke gas piston and rotating bolt. Despite visual similarities the design is not Combined with high tolerances and a tapering cartridge this makes it very reliable in adverse conditions. The 7.62x39mm round was designed for this weapon. The AK-47 is made out of metal with the handguard and fixed stock made out of wood. The original AK-47 has a milled receiver while the product improved AKM has a lighter weight stamped receiver.
Firepower
The AK-47 fires the 7.62x39mm Soviet from a curved 30 round detachable box magazine. Larger capacity 40 round box and 75 round magazines were developed for the RPK light machine gun in the 1950's. It is a select fire rifle with a cyclic rate of fire of 600 rpm. Effective range is about 300 meters against point targets using semi-automatic fire.
Users
Upon introduction the main user of the AK-47 was the Soviet Union. Despite production difficulties several million AK-47 were produced before switching to the modernized, lighter and easier to produced stamped receiver AKM. The original AK-47 series was produced under license in several nations with good ties to the USSR. From the 1960's onward many Soviet AK-47's became available as surplus for Soviet allies, such as North Vietnam and various states in the Middle East.
Variants
AK-47
Assault rifle with fixed wooden stock. Briefly produced with stamped receiver, reverting to a milled receiver in 1951. The heavier milled receiver is the most common model of the original AK-47.
AKS-47
Assault rifle with underfolding stock for use by airborne and some mechanized troops. Adopted for service in 1949 alongside the AK-47.
Details
Media
Kalashnikov AK-47
Left side view of an early production Kalashnikov AK-47 assault rifle with slab side sheet metal receiver.
Source: Unknown author
Copyright: Copyright lies with original owner
Kalashnikov AK-47
Right side view of an early production Kalashnikov AK-47 assault rifle with slab side sheet metal receiver.
Source: Unknown author
Copyright: Copyright lies with original owner
Kalashnikov AKS-47
Left side view of Kalashnikov AKS-47 assault rifle with its underfolding stock extended.
Source: Unknown author
Copyright: Copyright lies with original owner
Kalashnikov AKS-47
Right side view of Kalashnikov AKS-47 assault rifle with its underfolding stock extended.
Source: Unknown author
Copyright: Copyright lies with original owner
Related articles
Kalashnikov AKM
The AKM is a modernized variant of the AK-47 and was produced in much larger numbers. The most notable difference is that the AKM has a stamped receiver, making it lighter and less costly to produce.
Sudayev PPS-43
The AK-47 was adopted by the USSR to replace the PPSh-41 and PPS-43 sub machine gun.
Simonov SKS
The AK-47 was adopted alongside the SKS self-loading rifle. Both weapons use the same 7.62x39mm cartridge.