Mikhail kalashnikov biography, inventions and facts. Kalashnikovs simple, durable and easily maintained gun became the. His signature invention has been reproduced more than 100 million times since. Ak47 creator mikhail kalashnikov wrote of regrets over. Lieutenantgeneral mikhail timofeyevich kalashnikov roushie. In a regretful letter penned a few months before his death, mikhail kalashnikov, the designer of the ak47 assault rifle, asked the head of the russian ort. Letter shows ak47 inventor kalashnikovs guilt for guns. Mikhail kalashnikov returned to his hometown, russias altai region, less than a decade before he died. The ak 47 automatic kalashnikov model 47 was designed by mikhail kalashnikov. Ak47 designer mikhail kalashnikov wrote repentant letter. Kalashnikov, who died last month aged 94, told patriarch kirill he felt responsible for the millions of deaths caused by his revolutionary submachine gun.
Giant monument to kalashnikov, creator of ak47, is. Acceptable price for the entire set of three books as the books are published on the basis of the results of. In plain language, this simple man straightforwardly tells of the adversity he surmounted as a youth to. As his surname would imply, his invention was the kalashnikov assault rifle, the ak47. A news item involving mikhail kalashnikov was featured on wikipedia s main page in the in the news section on 23 december 20. Mikhail kalashnikov, inventor of the ak47, died at age 94 monday after a decorated career in the russian military.
Not only from a technical point of view but also from a social cultural and military scientific point of view. They would spend the next few days talking, sharing stories, shopping, going out to dinner and touring washington d. The rifles were created by archenemies the ak47 by the soviets and the m16 by the americans. Moscow mikhail kalashnikov, whose work as a weapons designer for the soviet union is immortalized in the name of the worlds most popular firearm, has died at. Born in 1919 to peasant parents in the southern altai region, he grew up aspiring to be a. Tribute to mikhail kalashnikov and the ak47 duration. Its durability and reliability in combat has made it the most popular assault rifle in the world, rivaling even. From his hospital bed, he began work on an automatic rifle layout. But eugene stoner was dedicated to making an infantry rifle to save our troops weight, aggravation, and keep them alive. The guys that armed the worlds two greatest super powers are hanging out.
This is an amazing biography of kalashnikov and his rifles, written by his daughter. The book is organized chronologically and includes notes about kalashnikovs military service, combat injury, and subsequent involvement in the design and production of the ak47 and other weapons. Today would have been eugene stoner s 95th birthday. He had the rank of lieutenant general kalashnikov was born on 10 november 1919 in kuriya, altai krai, russian sfsr. You might not immediately recognize the name, but this is the man who personally invented the weapon known as the ak47. Moscow mikhail kalashnikov, the designer of the ak47 assault rifle, reportedly wrote a regretful letter several months before his death asking the head of the russian orthodox church if he. Mikhail kalashnikov article about mikhail kalashnikov by. Mikhail kalashnikov simple english wikipedia, the free. If memory serves, kalashnikov also designed the pk family of lmgs, one of the best ever fielded. The family moved to a village where kalashnikovs father would often hunt. Mikhail kalashnikov biography famous people biographies. He is known for developing the ak47, the most commonly distributed assault rifle in the world. Stoner designed airplane components for fairchild, prior to devoting himself to arms design.
Kalashnikov has designed a rugged reliable machine that has and will continue to stand the test of time. Moscowin a regretful letter penned a few months before his death, mikhail kalashnikov, the designer of the ak47 assault rifle, asked the head of the russian orthodox church if. Mikhail timofeyevich kalashnikov 10 november 1919 23 december 20 was a russian designer who is known for designing the ak47, akm, and ak74 assault rifles when he served in the soviet army during world war ii. A monument to mikhail kalashnikov, the renowned russian weapons engineer, has been unveiled in central moscow. From start to finish, the life of mikhail kalashnikov is the stuff of soviet peasantbringsglorytomotherrussia legend. I personally think eugene stoner is right up there with john moses browning, the mauser brothers, john c. Weapons are just inanimate objects, the intent of the person wielding is what. Eugene stoner designer of the m16 rifle and mikhail. Mikhail kalashnikov and his gun had become the stuff of legend. Mikhail kalashnikov, inventor of the ak47, dead at 94.
The first americanmade kalashnikovs are now for sale. When i met the mozambique minister of defense, he presented me with his countrys national banner, which carries the image of a kalashnikov submachine gun, kalashnikov said in a 2001 interview. Kalashnikov is shown holding his iconic assault rifle, the ak47, which is believed to be worlds mostproduced firearm. This is not an ak vs ar thread which it may derail into, but which weapon designer would you want designing your countries weapon if you were king. Kalashnikov, designer of the ak47, the soviet rifle that has become the worlds most widespread assault weapon, was. It contains significant autobiographical writing as well. Mikhail timofeevich kalashnikov meets eugene stoner jeans blog. Weapons are just inanimate objects, the intent of the person wielding is what really matters when were figuring out whose fault is what. Kalashnikov, a tiny whitehaired man who lived on a state pension in a small apartment east of moscow. Lieutenantgeneral mikhail timofeyevich kalashnikov russian. And according to kalashnikov, the rifles users were quick to say so.
From an april 7, 2012, letter by mikhail kalashnikov, the designer of the ak47 assault rifle, to patriarch kirill, head of the russian orthodox church. He was an employee of armalitefairchild and was paid a salary. The inventor of the iconic ak47 automatic rifle, mikhail kalashnikov, has died. Kalashnikov inventor haunted by unbearable pain of dead. The twoway the inventor of the ak47 was memorialized with a 30foottall bronze statue in.
Kalashnikov, maker of ak47, looks to rebrand the new. Picture of two of the most famous rifles in the world, with the designers. Produced in 1919, mikhail kalashnikov grew up in a big peasant family. Some russians fired up over new kalashnikov monument. Kalashnikov, maker of ak47, looks to rebrand in gorky park in moscow on the victory day holiday, kalashnikov showed off the companys weapons and its. Both stoner and kalashnikov had design parameters that were dictated by military ordnance boards, just as with any other military weapon. Mikhail kalashnikov author of the gun that changed the world. Mikhail kalashnikov meets eugene stoner on this day.
And so mikhail kalashnikov invented what was to become the worlds most prolific killing machine. Mikhail kalashnikovs autobiography is an intriguing look into the life and mind of a selftaught weapons designer who believed in what he did and for whom he did it. Eugene stoner and mikhail kalashnikov met in washington d. Mikhail kalashnikov r, the russian inventor of the ak47 assault rifle, toasts with russias president dmitry medvedev during festivities to celebrate his 90th birthday at. Eugene stoner and mikhail kalashnikov gun and game the. Inventors thoughts although by some estimates there are 100 million ak47style assault rifles in circulation around the world, the guns inventor, mikhail kalashnikov, did not become rich unlike eugene stoner, the inventor of the american m16 assault rifle, who died a wealthy man. He is most famous for developing the ak47 assault rifle and its improvements, the akm and ak74, as well as the pk machine gun. Lethal kalashnikov designer is now russias hero reuters. Shamed by his parents exile, he was determined to do his bit for the soviet cause. Kalashnikov came to the united states by invitation from the smithsonian institution, which was administered by edward ed ezell, author and former curator for the. Actually, kalashnikov saw combat and was wounded on the eastern front before he designed the original ak47, and stoner served with u. Mikhail kalashnikov, the inventor of one of the worlds deadliest guns, is honoured with a statue in moscow. The ak47 was invented by mikhail kalashnikov in the former soviet union in 1947. While stoner might be wealthier, kalashnikov will be remembered in history.
Mikhail kalashnikov engineering and technology history wiki. Mikhail kalashnikov was a renowned russian weapons designer, engineer, war hero, and general. After doing more than 15 years of research into kalashnikov weapons i have read, analyzed and studied much data about the ak. Hearing about his work, army experts sought out mr. Mikhail kalashnikov mikhail timofeyevich kalashnikov birthdaymonday, november 10, 1919 birthplacekuriya, altai krai, russian sfsr nationalityrussian occupation small arms designer, russian lieutenant general known for designer of the ak47 and ak74 kalashnikov, mikhail timofeevich born nov 10, 1919. According to kalashnikov, he was a selftinkerer who combined innate mechanical skills with the study of weaponry to design arms that achieved battlefield. Reprinted with permission of the national post and fr. Does anyone know if eugene stoner became wealthy before he. Mikhail kalashnikov is the author of the gun that changed the world 3. Eugene stoner and mikhail kalashnikov discussion in the powder keg started by brandhard, jan 18, 2009. General mikhail kalashnikov especially written for the new edition in 20. His parents were peasants and were deported under the regime of stalin in 1930, due to which they lost all their property. What you need to know about the new kalashnikov encyclopaedia.
Kalashnikov won a weapon layout competition, which resulted in the creation of his ak47 rifle. Probably less than 5% of gun owners even know who stoner is. He served in world war ii and created many weapons and. They were the standard issue rifles for the armed forces of the usa and ussr. Moscow on tuesday unveiled a statue of mikhail kalashnikov, inventor of the ak47 assault rifle that became by some estimates the most lethal weapon ever made and the best known russian brand abroad. People who know nothing about guns have heard the name kalashnikov. Mikhail kalashnikov died last month, aged 94 at the time. Garand, mikhail kalashnikov and the other firearms designers that made huge strides in firearms technology. Kalashnikov and stoner mikhail kalashnikov, designer of the ak47, and eugene stoner, designer of the ar15, first met at washington dulles airport on may 15, 1990. It would only be in 1990, the year before the collapse of the soviet union and the end of the cold war, that their respective creators would meet. Mikhail kalashnikov was a renowned russian weapons designer, most famous for designing the ak47 rifle. Proceedings of the 8th international seminar held in uzhgorod, ussr lecture notes in mathematics by kalashnikov, v. Kalashnikov hold the rifles they designed, taken may 1990.
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