The World’s Most Popular Gun

[LongTimeGone]

http://www.thenewatlantis.com/publications/the-worlds-most-popular-gun

I don't have one, I do have an AR.

 

[fpgt72]

I will go to my grave thinking (knowing) that the soviets stole the idea from the germans, just like they stole the Bull bomber, and the engine that ran the MiG-15.

 

[JohnBT]

It would be more popular with me too if it was the only gun I could easily get my hands on. And like millions of people around the world, I'd be happy if somebody gave me one and furnished ammo.

 

[Ohio Gun Guy]

Usually orders and superior officers come with free guns and ammo......

 

[mshootnit]

Whatever the Soviets may have taken from the Germans was certainly earned, not stolen.

 

[tdstout]

Maybe the most popular in third world countries. I have no problem with the AK, but honestly, the only reason that it is more "popular" is because it is the easiest gun to lay your hands on in other countries.

 

[shotgunjoel]

and the engine that ran the MiG-15.

That would be from the British.

 

[Sky]

That would be from the British.

Correct as per my info.

 

[two gun charlie]

actually the tank was an italian idea , leonardo da vinci was the father of the original concept

 

[HorseSoldier]

I will go to my grave thinking (knowing) that the soviets stole the idea from the germans

7.62x39 as a cartridge definitely owes to 7.92 Kurz, but the AK doesn't owe much to the StG-44 series. Despite some vague external resemblances, internally the two weapons don't have much at all in common and -- while the AK does borrow lockwork from other designs like the Garand -- the Soviet weapon definitely isn't a clone of the German one, more a case of form following function.

 

[MachIVshooter]

actually the tank was an italian idea , leonardo da vinci was the father of the original concept

Helicopter, too, if memory serves.....

I have an AK, it's a Polish Tantal 5.45mm. It works, and the ammo is cheap, but I don't much care for it. Didn't really like the other two AK's I had, either. The AR is a far superior weapon. And the design wasn't ripped off from anyone; 100% American. Thank you, Gene.

 

[RhinoDefense]

Whatever the Soviets may have taken from the Germans was certainly earned, not stolen.

Earned my butt.

 

[ifit]

The Worlds Most Popular Gun.....Yes
i have 5 AKs and one AR

 

[Chawbaccer]

We put men on the moon with what we "stole" from the Germans.

 

[Ohio Gun Guy]

Herr Doktor Braun, came rather willingly. He wanted to escape the Soviets. (Goulag / Free Society.....Goulag / Free Society..... Goulag / Free Society.... HMMMMMMM, I'll take Free Society for 100 Alex.)

I dont think either the US or Russia Stole from the Germans, I'm in the "Earned" camp...... something about victors - spoils. It is well known that the Soviets under Stallin had a lot of engineering catch up to do vs. the world and they had a very prolific "Reverse Engineering" program.... But to think that any nation in WW2 didn't study any weapons it got it's hands on in the hopes of improving their own is foolish. We took German tanks, airplanes, weapons for study. The Japanese made their own version of a M1 Garand.....

I also believe the AK owes A LOT to the Sturmgewehr. I know, I know.... I've handled both and that's my opinion.

 

[Baba Louie]

And the design wasn't ripped off from anyone; 100% American.

The direct impingement gas system? Can you say "Swedish Ljungman"?
http://www.gotavapen.se/gota/artiklar/ag42/ag42eng.htm

Borrowed. Improved upon. Not ripped off.

 

[Robert]

Certainly the most prolific. Most popular? I am not so sure about that.

 

[nybubba]

I was talking about the "modern" tank which includes sloped armor. That was a big advancement and gave the Russians a big advantage with their T34 tanks.

however, they couldn't manage to loose that "external fuel tank" idea until the T-80

 

[p5200]

Wow, sounds like WWIII is starting right here on this forum. I'm Irish can someone please tell me what I stole? I'm starting to feel left out!

 

[Onmilo]

AK-47 is a long gun that ANY illiterate, indigenous individual can pick up and sort out in five minutes or less.
A good many of these folks NEVER learn how to field strip the weapons, they just pour motor oil or melted butter or hot water on the gun until it starts working again.

Most guns, especially select fire auto weapons will not stand that kind of abuse and neglect, yet the AK/AKM will.
For all the faults, that is what makes this gun so popular.

 

[Art Eatman]

VDH once again provides an excellent analysis. Worth re-reading.

Seems to me fair to say that AR and M16 users are techno types; the US and western Europe are techno societies. (Not at all any put-down of US AK users.) The AK is far more suitable for the non-techno third-world types.

Browning, Stoner and Kalashnikov were genius types, but even they drew upon ideas from previous efforts. "Leap forward", yeah, but it was still more of an evolvement than a completely new, never-before-conceived idea.

 

[jmorris]

History has shown that intellectual property is only safe if you don't use it. Try and protect a patent, if the next "innovator" changes a tiny part of said idea its not theft, at least in court.

 

[bluetopper]

True, if we never stood on the shoulders of those tinkered, with genius engineering intellect before us, we would still be in the stone age.

 

[SwissArmyDad]

Wow, thanks for the link, OP. Great article. I think I'll have to do some reading on the life of Kalashnikov. I didn't know much about his life aside from working on the AK project. (Didn't know he served as a tanker, for example)

I find that when I pick up a gun, I invariably think about those who have picked up the same type of gun, and what they have done with it.

For example with lever actions I think about Native Americans defending their lands from white colonists, and conversely settlers defending their homestead from raiders...

With AR15's I invariably tend to think of American soldiers from Vietnam to our current conflicts and the stress, excitement, horror, etc of being in those types of battles.

AK's for me have always embodied "the enemy's" perspective - a homegrown, everyman's effort to be a part of what he perceives to be "the good fight". Someone who is brave enough to throw himself into battle, and be that "bullet hose" to protect himself against the vilified "infidels" that his country's propaganda machine has perpetuated.

No doubt I'm somewhat ethno-centric, and staunch in my positive view of America, but I can definitely appreciate delving into the rich history behind what the rest of the world reaches for when a conflict "comes knocking".

 

[BluesDancer]

May I recommend a book that I recently read last week: "The Gun" by C.J. Chivers. Full history of the Kalashnikov, Maxim, and Gatling guns - with emphasis on the AK-47 series and history.