Mikhail Kalashnikov’s ‘gun’ning legacy
25 Dec 2013 6:03 AM IST
Here are some facts about the man that you may not know:
- Mikhail Kalashnikov, was a tank commander during World War II. He started designing weapons after his shoulder was injured during the Battle of Bryansk.
- The first Kalashnikov rifle, the AK-47, was made in 1947, and earned its creator the Stalin Prize and the Order of the Red Star. The AK-47 has been the standard issue assault rifle of the Russian and erstwhile Soviet army since 1949.
- Durability, low manufacturing cost, availability and ease of use are the features which brought AK-47 global success. Kalashnikov’s creation performs in dusty or wet conditions that jam more sophisticated weapons. Kalashnikov called it a “symbol of the creative genius” of the Russian masses.
- The AK-47 has made it into the Guinness Book of Records as the most widespread weapon around the world, with 100 million Kalashnikov rifles currently in use.
- Military and special forces in over 100 countries around the world, be it Afghanistan or Zimbabwe, are now armed with AK-47s.
- Russia not only distributes the Kalashnikov rifles world over, but has also licensed its production in over 30 countries, including China, Israel, India, Egypt and Nigeria.
- It is believed that AK-47s have taken more lives than artillery fire, airstrikes and rocket attacks combined. An estimated 250,000 people are killed the by bullets from Kalashnikovs annually.
- Mikhail Kalashnikov never experienced self-reproach about the blood spilled with the help of his invention as according to him, he created AK-47 for protection. “I sleep well. It’s the politicians, who are to blame for failing to come to an agreement and resorting to violence,” he said in 2007.
- Relative cheapness has always been one of the most important advantages of AK-47. The average global price of the assault rifle was estimated at $534 in 2005. Though in African countries the price of AK-47 is on an average $200 cheaper.
- Osama bin Laden always had a Kalashnikov rifle with him during his video appearances. According to reports, it was the US, which gave the Al Qaeda founder his first AK-47 to fight the Soviets in Afghanistan.
- During the Vietnam War, many American soldiers gave up their rifles for the more reliable Kalashnikovs, which they picked up from dead enemies. Even now, the US marines carry AK-47 magazines with them because of how common the weapon is.
- The image of AK-47 appears on the flag of Mozambique as well as coats of arms of Zimbabwe, Burkina Faso (1984-97) and East Timor. The Kalashnikov rifle is also present on the flag of Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant organization.
- The parents in some African states name their babies ‘Kalash,’ which is another nickname for the Kalashnikov assault rifle, according to a documentary by Russia’s Channel One.
- Russia’s top basketball player, Andrey Kirilenko, born in the city of Izhevsk, which hosts the Kalashnikov rifle factory, has played under No 47 in the NBA and was hence nicknamed ‘AK-47.’
- Egypt has immortalized the AK-47 by erecting a giant monument, portraying a barrel and bayonet of a Kalashnikov rifle at the Sinai Peninsula.
- A gold-coated Kalashnikov assault rifle was recovered by US troops from the weapon collection of former Iraqi leader, Saddam Hussein.
- Coins dedicated to Mikhail Kalashnikov and AK-47 were issued not only in Russia, but also in New Zealand, which marked the rifle’s 60th birthday with special $2 pieces. They came in cases shaped after the AK-47 magazine.
- French newspaper Liberation has named AK-47 the most important invention of the 20th century.
- Mikhail Kalashnikov, was a tank commander during World War II. He started designing weapons after his shoulder was injured during the Battle of Bryansk.
- The first Kalashnikov rifle, the AK-47, was made in 1947, and earned its creator the Stalin Prize and the Order of the Red Star. The AK-47 has been the standard issue assault rifle of the Russian and erstwhile Soviet army since 1949.
- Durability, low manufacturing cost, availability and ease of use are the features which brought AK-47 global success. Kalashnikov’s creation performs in dusty or wet conditions that jam more sophisticated weapons. Kalashnikov called it a “symbol of the creative genius” of the Russian masses.
- The AK-47 has made it into the Guinness Book of Records as the most widespread weapon around the world, with 100 million Kalashnikov rifles currently in use.
- Military and special forces in over 100 countries around the world, be it Afghanistan or Zimbabwe, are now armed with AK-47s.
- Russia not only distributes the Kalashnikov rifles world over, but has also licensed its production in over 30 countries, including China, Israel, India, Egypt and Nigeria.
- It is believed that AK-47s have taken more lives than artillery fire, airstrikes and rocket attacks combined. An estimated 250,000 people are killed the by bullets from Kalashnikovs annually.
- Mikhail Kalashnikov never experienced self-reproach about the blood spilled with the help of his invention as according to him, he created AK-47 for protection. “I sleep well. It’s the politicians, who are to blame for failing to come to an agreement and resorting to violence,” he said in 2007.
- Relative cheapness has always been one of the most important advantages of AK-47. The average global price of the assault rifle was estimated at $534 in 2005. Though in African countries the price of AK-47 is on an average $200 cheaper.
- Osama bin Laden always had a Kalashnikov rifle with him during his video appearances. According to reports, it was the US, which gave the Al Qaeda founder his first AK-47 to fight the Soviets in Afghanistan.
- During the Vietnam War, many American soldiers gave up their rifles for the more reliable Kalashnikovs, which they picked up from dead enemies. Even now, the US marines carry AK-47 magazines with them because of how common the weapon is.
- The image of AK-47 appears on the flag of Mozambique as well as coats of arms of Zimbabwe, Burkina Faso (1984-97) and East Timor. The Kalashnikov rifle is also present on the flag of Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant organization.
- The parents in some African states name their babies ‘Kalash,’ which is another nickname for the Kalashnikov assault rifle, according to a documentary by Russia’s Channel One.
- Russia’s top basketball player, Andrey Kirilenko, born in the city of Izhevsk, which hosts the Kalashnikov rifle factory, has played under No 47 in the NBA and was hence nicknamed ‘AK-47.’
- Egypt has immortalized the AK-47 by erecting a giant monument, portraying a barrel and bayonet of a Kalashnikov rifle at the Sinai Peninsula.
- A gold-coated Kalashnikov assault rifle was recovered by US troops from the weapon collection of former Iraqi leader, Saddam Hussein.
- Coins dedicated to Mikhail Kalashnikov and AK-47 were issued not only in Russia, but also in New Zealand, which marked the rifle’s 60th birthday with special $2 pieces. They came in cases shaped after the AK-47 magazine.
- French newspaper Liberation has named AK-47 the most important invention of the 20th century.
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