The AK47 Story: Evolution of the Kalashnikov Weapons

by Edward Clinton Ezell

Looks at the history of small arms production in Russia, describes the career of Kalashnikov, the leading Russian weapons designer, and explains why the AK47 is used around the world

2 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 1986

Reviews

[Cody · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extremely interesting about the history and development of an iconic small arm.

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this book back during the Cold War when I was a SPC in the 82nd Airborne. Taught me that if you can use an AK-47, then you can use every variant of that weapon. Also, the author was perhaps the first Westerner to actually make contact and correspond personally with Mikhail Timofeyevich Kalashnikov himself and the results make this book a very authentic work indeed. Although I prefer the M-4 myself, I do love my Saiga 12, which is an AK shotgun, and this book covers the development of a truly groundbreaking rifle in addition to the first to show insight of its inventor. General Kalashnikov proven the adage "tankers are born engineers" and his story is great reminder of a great American firearms inventor, Carbine Williams, whose invention of the short stroke piston modification for the M-1 Garand resulted in the world's first true operational assault rifle, the M-2 Carbine of World War II fame, an invention that Williams had developed and patented while he was an inmate in a North Carolina prison which is a great redemption story so favored amongst Americans. Both men's knowledge of firearms design was largely self-taught and they made their marks.

As we are aware, yesterday, 23 December 2013, marked the passing of General Mikhail Timofeyevich Kalashnikov. He will be missed by millions in the field of small arms. RIP.

[Melzanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

i find the ak-47's story horrific, brutal, and fascinating.