The Man Who Invented AK-47 Is Dead
The AK47 is one of the most widely recognized — and used — rifles in history.
By Sadho Ram — 24 Dec 2013, 03:08 AM — Updated over 10 years ago
Mikhail Kalashnikov, the inventor of the iconic AK-47, has died at the age of 94
Mikhail Kalashnikov, the designer of the assault rifle that has killed more people than any other firearm in the world, died on Monday at 94, Russian state news agency Itar-Tass reported.
aljazeera.com
Kalashnikov, who was in his 20s when he created the AK-47 just after World War Two, died in his home city of Izhevsk near the Ural Mountains, where his gun is still made, a spokesman for the Udmurtia province's president said on state television.
Kalashnikov had long suffered from heart-related problems, and was staying in intensive care at a facility in Izhevsk, Udmurtia
While serving as a tank commander in World War II, he discovered an aptitude for designing small arms after recuperating from an injury
By 1949, the Soviet Armed Forces had adopted the AK-47 based on its ease of use, reasonable accuracy, and durability.
theverge.com
Since then, the AK's presence in both war and popular culture has been nearly unavoidable — especially since manufacturing the gun is simple enough to have spread worldwide.
cbsnews.com
The rifle now adorns the flags of both Mozambique and Hezbollah. Meanwhile, movies like Lord of War and Quentin Tarantino's Jackie Brown lavish praise on the weapon.
nytimes.comThe AK-47, which rarely jams even in adverse conditions, went into service in the Soviet armed forces in 1949
Today, Kalashnikov rifles are still a mainstay of Russia's armed forces and police.
reuters.com
Known as the weapon of choice for guerrillas, the gun and its imitations have been used in conflicts around the world for decades.
nytimes.comAt a lavish Kremlin ceremony on Kalashnikov's 90th birthday, then-President Dmitry Medvedev bestowed on him the highest state honour
He was bestowed with the Hero of Russia gold star medal - and was lauded for creating "the national brand every Russian is proud of".
cbsnews.comKalashnikov, for his part, was in the end proud of his invention, though he lamented its deadly potential
Kalashnikov, a son of Siberian peasants who never finished school, said pride in his iconic invention was mixed with the pain of seeing it used by criminals and child soldiers.
cbsnews.com
"I'm proud of my invention," he said, "but I'm sad that it is used by terrorists."
theverge.com