Edition Tiago Jokura and Felipe van Deursen
In a simple and ingenious way, developed for years by the Russian Mikhail Kalashnikov in the 40s. Very cheap and resistant to cold, heat, water and sand, the rifle became the most widespread weapon in the world, with 80 to 100 million units scattered in conflicts on all continents. He ended up becoming a sinister icon of the 20th century. Samuel L. Jackson idolizes him in Quentin Tarantino’s Jackie Brown. Former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein was with two of them when he was arrested in 2003. Years earlier, he ordered the construction of a mosque with four minarets in the shape of Tabuk, Iraq’s version of the AK. Photos and videos of Osama bin Laden showed him holding the rifle, recognizable by the shape of the clip.
straight and straight
The Avtomat Kalashnikova was released in 1947 – hence the name AK-47
1. There are three firing modes: locked, semiautomatic (one shot at a time) and automatic (600 shots per minute). Just use this lever above the trigger
2. When the weapon is loaded, the rotating bolt advances, pushing the cartridge as it rotates on its own axis. This facilitates the entry movement of the cartridge, which is positioned in the breech
3. When pressing the trigger, the hammer of the gun hits the precursor, which explodes the explosive of the cartridge. The generated gases expel the bullet through the barrel at over 2,500 km/h
4. While the bullet travels through the barrel, the gases from the gunpowder explosion have nowhere to escape (since the cartridge covers one end and the projectile the other). When the bullet is about to exit, an opening directs part of the gases into a parallel tube.
5. The gases press on a plunger, which pushes on a rod and moves the bolt holder backwards. The bolt recoils, cocks the hammer for the next shot, and opens the breech, which spits out the spent shell. This frees up space for a new round to enter the chamber, thanks to the magazine spring, which pushes the ammunition up.
6. The movement of the bolt is stopped by a spring that returns it to the initial position and pushes the new cartridge towards the breech
Weight – 4.3 kg (loaded)
Size – 87 cm long
Bullet speed – 700 m/s approximately
Range – 300 m (effective)
Magazine – 30 rounds
Cartridge – caliber 7.62 x 39 mm
The secret of success
Four innovations that consecrated the rifle
More space
Guns of this type tend to jam when snow, mud, or water is involved. The AK-47 suffers less from this problem because it has more space between parts. In addition, dirt does not accumulate. It is expelled in the firing process
turn screw
The common bolt pushes the cartridge into the breech. The AK uses a rotary bolt, which, in addition to normal movement, rotates on its axis. This helps the cartridge entry and lessens the chances of jamming.
lighter ammo
While the rifles of its time used heavy ammunition, the AK bet on an intermediate one, with a quieter recoil. This democratized its use, as the less experienced could handle the impact without losing accuracy.
banana shape
The famous curved comb has a reason for being. The bullets are thinnest at the tip, so when stacking the shells on top of each other, they naturally clump together in the iconic banana shape.
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The weapon that democratized war
From Venezuela to Vietnam, Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, the AK-47 influenced every post-WWII conflict
1947
LAUNCH
Russian Mikhail Kalashnikov, veteran of World War II, gets approval for the large-scale manufacture of his rifle, which took years of development work. Inspired by the pioneering MP40, the AK-47 undergoes around 100 modifications until 1949
1956-1964
SOCIALIST ICON
In the context of the Cold War, the Soviet Union authorized other socialist countries to manufacture the rifle. Thus, Bulgaria, East Germany, Hungary, China and Poland start to produce the AK
1955-1975
VIETNAM WAR
With the entry of the United States into the Vietnam War, for the first time the AK, used by North Vietnam, was face to face with the North American M-16, its main adversary. The US gun took a stick, as it stuck with moisture and dirt. On the other hand, AKs that were buried for years after the war worked (and well) when they were dug up.
1974
INNOVATION
A new version appears, the AK-74, with a third less recoil than the AK-47. The handle and stock, before made of wood, are now made of polymer, which made it lighter (3.4 kg). Bullets get smaller (5.45 x 39 mm) but become more lethal, fragmenting inside the body
1979-1989
AFGHANISTAN WAR
For the first time the AK is used against the Soviets. In the midst of the Cold War, the mujahedin (“holy warriors”) of Afghanistan sought US assistance. Frightened by the high destructive power of the AK-74, they claim the same weapons from the US government, which starts to buy them, mainly in China.
1989
ARMS MARKET
Thousands of AKs fuel the civil war raging in Afghanistan. In the following years, the rifle spread to neighboring countries, creating weapons routes that last until today. At that time, it was possible to buy handcrafted versions in Middle Eastern countries. The Soviet model cost an average of US$ 1,400, the Chinese US$ 1,150 and the handmade, much cheaper, US$ 400
late 90’s
AFRICA IN FURY
Due to the low cost and high reliability, AK is widespread in Africa. It is estimated that from 1990 to the 2000s, the continent has faced more than 100 armed conflicts. Back then, an AK could be bought for a measly $10
1993
PEACE IN MOZAMBIQUE
After the end of the civil war, there are between 5 and 10 million guns in the country, mostly AKs. Its cultural impact is so great that it goes on the Mozambican flag (in addition, it is on the coat of arms of Zimbabwe)
early 90’s
WAR ON DRUG
International traffic is growing dramatically. The arsenal left over from the end of the civil wars of independence in Central America and the collapse of the USSR shifts to guerrilla groups and drug cartels in Latin America. groups located in the humid Amazon rainforest
2005
VENEZUELAN PACKAGE
Hugo Chávez, President of Venezuela, orders 100,000 AKs. Years before, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) had purchased models with refueling problems in Latin America. Because of this, Chávez is accused of wanting to arm the FARC
Source: Book AK-47 – The Weapon That Changed Warby Larry Kahaner