AK-47

Lore & Background

Design work began in 1945. It was presented for official military trials in 1947, and in 1948 the fixed-stock version entered active service for selected units of the Soviet Army. In early 1949, it was officially accepted by the Soviet Armed Forces and used by most Warsaw Pact member states. The AK-47 is a hybrid of previous rifle technology, combining features of the American M1 Garand and the German StG 44.

In Their Own Story

The snow fell thick and heavy, muffling the city's usual noise. Max Payne crouched behind a frozen car, the cold metal biting through his coat. Ahead, three silhouettes moved through the blizzard, the unmistakable curve of AK-47 magazines visible against their chests. They were laughing, shouting in Russian, their breath pluming in the frigid air. Max checked his own weapon—a borrowed pistol, nearly empty. He needed one of theirs. He waited for the burst of automatic fire to tear through the storm, then moved. The AK-47 was not a subtle instrument, but in this city, subtlety was a luxury he could not afford. Its bark would announce his presence to every thug in a two-block radius, but that was fine—he planned to leave no one standing to tell the tale.

Reader's Guide

The AK-47 is a select-fire rifle, offering both semi-automatic and fully automatic modes. It is chambered for the 7.62×39mm cartridge. Its global popularity stems from reliability under harsh conditions, low production cost, wide availability, and ease of use. The model has been manufactured in many countries and has served with armed forces, irregular forces, and insurgencies worldwide.

Did You Know?

• Of the estimated 500 million firearms worldwide, approximately 100 million belong to the Kalashnikov family, three-quarters of which are AK-47s.
• The AK-47 was developed by Mikhail Kalashnikov while he was recuperating from a shoulder wound received during the Battle of Bryansk.
• The AK-47's design was influenced by the German Sturmgewehr 44 and the American M1 Garand.