Why revolutionary designers miss thier due?

[ID_shooting]

An earyer post about a custom SKS had a link that led to another link about Kalishinikov and his museum. Some friends and I were talking at work yesterday about it and admiring his work. The question came up, Kalishinikof and his AK changed modern warefare. Simonov, Browning, Garand, and even Stoner had just as impactfull modern designs.

How come none of them have anywhere near the recognition or fame that Kalishnikov has?

I can't remember the documentary or the exact quote, but Kalishinikov was asked about the riches Stoner massed with his AR design and how he did not recieve much money from the AK. His response was somthing similar too, "Ask any school child who Eugene Stoner is and they will just look at you, ask those same kids who I am. There is your answer."

What do you think?

 

[Majic]

Kalishinikov lived in a socialist country. The government owns everything. They would declare him a hero, offer him a few perks such as better living quarters and food, but as far as pay he was just thought of as doing his job.
His name is known because it was used to name the rifle, but outside of his country I doubt that any school child would know who he was.
John Browning is well reknowned around the world. He designed many commercial and military firearms. He probably has the greatest reconigtion of all you have mentioned.
The AK didn't change modern warfare. The Germans had already done that with the MP44. These rifles came out to late and to few in numbers to make much of an impact in WWII. Russia captured some of these rifles and the AK was a result of the German design.

 

[DMK]

It's funny how you compare Kalishinikov to Stoner and say Kalishinikov came out better. I remember reading an interview with the Russian who was saying that although he got recognition and a medal, he didn't get paid all that well and lived what we would consider a fairly simple life. He was a little jealous, it sounded like, that Stoner on the other hand got lucrative jobs as a consultant, got bonuses, stock dividends, profit sharing, and flew from place to place in a private jet.

 

[MrTuffPaws]

The designers of the HK G-11.

 

[KC&97TA]

I'd be willing to bet there are 5x more AK's and thier variants than there are M16/AR15's in this world.

Even tho the Germans came out with the MP 44, The old USSR mass produced he AK and gave out the plans to other communist countrys, they're all over the world and cheap. I do believe it is also the oldest production and issued weapon in any of the worlds militarys or militia's.

(And yes I know the M1 Grand is still considered an issued weapon, but so is the M79)

There was a show on Kalishinikov, some time ago, I remember thinking he was a pretty humble man.

 

[RecoilRob]

Please, his name is Kalashnikov. And, his weapon design is world famous because it is relatively simple to manufacture and has proven to work well on the battlefields of the world.

The late Col. Hackworth experienced the AK-47 in Vietnam and related the story of a dead VC and his weapon that had been bulldozed into a defensive berm. They were uncovered after a year when the defenses were being expanded. Hack picked up the still loaded weapon, kicked the rusted bolt free and proceeded to fire the remaining ammo in the magazine in a continuous burst.

THAT is why the AK and the name of Kalashnikov are known and revered around the world.

 

[Jim K]

One reason for the recognition of Kalashnikov is that his name is part of the name of the rifle, which is almost universally known as the "AK" because the USSR believed in honoring its inventors. The main Stoner rifle, on the other hand, is known by its military designations (M16 rifle/M4 Carbine) or its civilian model name (AR-15), so Stoner's name has gotten somewhat lost.

And the Soviets did not provide AK's only to countries that were already communist. They gave them to every "liberation" movement and leftist revolutionary group in the world.

Jim

 

[Hardware]

And how come you forgot to mention Maxim? Or Colt? Or Gatling? Or Ferguson, okay, maybe you can forget Ferguson.

 

[Lupinus]

His name is known because it was used to name the rifle, but outside of his country I doubt that any school child would know who he was.

Say Kalashnikov and nost only will most people not know who he is they wont know what the heck you are talking aobut. Say AK47 and msot anyone will know what you are talking about.

The Germans had already done that with the MP44

But it was the Russian's who put the style of weapon into the hand's of soldier's on a large scale.

Russia captured some of these rifles and the AK was a result of the German design.

Not true and common misconception. While the weapon's look similer the AK is FAR from a copy as far as the inner working's.

I do believe it is also the oldest production and issued weapon in any of the worlds militarys or militia's.

Actually the Browning M2 .50 cal is. I forget the exact year it was designed but it was designed well before WW2 and is still in use today. It may not be standard issue but it isn't exactly scarce either and it still in battlefield use by the US and other country's.

 

[Kurush]

Nobody mentioned Benjamin Hotchkiss yet, probably because he ended up moving his business to France after the US military stopped buying machine guns. His revolving cannons, based on the Gatling design, were used in Wounded Knee and the invasion of Cuba (the first one ). Hotchkiss company was also known for the Hotchkiss M1914 HMG and M1929 LMG.