Very few men can claim the legacy of changing the course of history with a single invention. Even fewer could claim to have accomplished it with just four kilos of sheet metal forged into a weapon costing less than $50. Mikhail Kalashnikov, who died last month at the age of 94, was one such man.
Kalashnikov’s invention, the ubiquitous AK-47, is probably the most prolific assault rifle ever produced. It has seen action in the hands of elite special forces like those of Israel, Russia and India as well as child soldiers of Congo, Somalia and Angola.
The AK-47 has been produced by several countries in the world and over 100 million of them are still in service somewhere—spewing death, protecting territory, hunting down rebels, launching coups and like the attacks in Mumbai, propagating terrorism. This is the weapon that drove Americans out of Vietnam and 15 years later, chased the Soviet Union out of Afghanistan. It is the preferred weapon of soldiers, rebels, gangsters and terrorists. Ironically, the man who started it all was almost killed by his own government when he was a little boy. (more)
Kalashnikov’s invention, the ubiquitous AK-47, is probably the most prolific assault rifle ever produced. It has seen action in the hands of elite special forces like those of Israel, Russia and India as well as child soldiers of Congo, Somalia and Angola.
The AK-47 has been produced by several countries in the world and over 100 million of them are still in service somewhere—spewing death, protecting territory, hunting down rebels, launching coups and like the attacks in Mumbai, propagating terrorism. This is the weapon that drove Americans out of Vietnam and 15 years later, chased the Soviet Union out of Afghanistan. It is the preferred weapon of soldiers, rebels, gangsters and terrorists. Ironically, the man who started it all was almost killed by his own government when he was a little boy. (more)
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