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Kalashnikov rifle

Kalashnikov rifle is a science topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Kalashnikov rifle rather than just read about it. In short: "Kalashnikov rifle" is a term referring to a family of assault rifles based on Mikhail Kalashnikov's original design. It is officially known in Russian as avtomat Kalashnikova (Russian: автомат Калашникова, lit. 'Kalashnikov's automatic [rifle]'), and informally as kalash.

Kalashnikov rifle — main illustration
Kalashnikov rifle — illustration

Key takeaways

  • Kalashnikov rifle belongs to science; place it in that map before memorising details.
  • Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
  • Connect Kalashnikov rifle to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
  • Reproduce the core statement of Kalashnikov rifle from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

"Kalashnikov rifle" is a term referring to a family of assault rifles based on Mikhail Kalashnikov's original design. It is officially known in Russian as avtomat Kalashnikova (Russian: автомат Калашникова, lit. 'Kalashnikov's automatic [rifle]'), and informally as kalash.

Background AK rifles were originally manufactured in the Soviet Union by Kalashnikov Concern (formerly Izhmash). Rifles similar to the Kalashnikov and its Soviet variants were later produced in many countries friendly to the Soviet Bloc, with rifles based on its design such as the Galil ACE and the INSAS also being produced. The Kalashnikov is one of the most widely used firearms in the world, with an estimated 72 million rifles in global circulation.

List of AK rifles The original Kalashnikov rifles and their derivatives, as produced in the Soviet Union and later the Russian Federation.

Rifles derived directly from the original AK The rifle's simple design makes it easy to produce, and the Soviet Union readily leased plans of the firearm to friendly countries, where it could be produced locally at a low cost. As a result, the Kalashnikov rifles and their variants have been manufactured in many countries, with and without licenses. Manufacturing countries in alphabetical order include:

Albania

Aside from the ASH-78, the ASH-82, the Albanian AKS-47 copy, was in production. Several other versions of the AKMS have been produced mainly with short barrels similar to Soviet AKS-74U for special forces, tank and armored crew and for helicopter pilots and police. There have also been modified ASh-82 (AKMS) with SOPMOD accessories, mainly for Albania's special forces RENEA and exports.

Armenia

Azerbaijan The AK-74M is locally produced under license in Azerbaijan as the Khazri.

Bulgaria

China

Croatia

Cuba The AKM is locally produced under license in Cuba.

East Germany

Egypt

Ethiopia The Et-97/1 is a locally manufactured AK-103 variant at the State-run Gafat Armament Engineering Complex.

Finland

Hungary

Iraq

Nigeria The Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria has been producing AK rifles as the OBJ-006.

North Korea

North Korea has been producing AK rifles as its standard issue weapons.

Pakistan Aside from Khyber Pass copies (near the border of Afghanistan), Pakistan has been producing AK rifles as the PK-10.

Poland

Romania

Sudan The MAZ is the Sudanese licensed copy of the Chinese Type 56 made by Military Industry Corporation.

Turkey The SAR 15T/308(V2) is a locally produced and modernized version of the AK platform by defense contractor Sarsilmaz (Sarsılmaz Silah Sanayi A.Ş.).

Ukraine

United States

Vietnam

AKM-1 AKM-VN (AKM) assault rifle TUL-1 (RPK) light machine gun

Venezuela The AK-103 is locally manufactured in Venezuela.

Yugoslavia/Serbia

Similar rifles

The following rifles were either based on the Kalashnikov design, or have a different design but are superficially similar in appearance:

Argentina

Bulgaria

China

Czechoslovakia

India

Israel

South Africa

Accessories

Sights PSO-1

Silencer PBS-1 silencer

Bayonets 6KH2 bayonet 6KH3 bayonet 6KH4 bayonet 6KH5 bayonet 6KH9 bayonet

Grenade launcher GP-25

Comparative characteristics of AK rifles

In the United States The Kalashnikov weapon design has become increasingly more popular in the American firearms industry. There are specific competitive shooting matches that require the use of its weapon variants like the Red Oktober match held just outside of St. George, Utah. It is a match designed for the use of ComBloc style weapons, but the Kalashnikov design is extremely heavy within the participants' arsenals. Due to sanctions to Russia preventing the import of arms, a number of companies started producing clones of the Kalashnikov family of weapons. In particular, the company Kalashnikov USA was created specifically for this purpose. Companies such as Palmetto State Armory and Century Arms also produce Kalashnikov clones.

See also AK-100 (rifle family)

References

Citations

General and cited references Gulevich, I. D., ed. (1967). НСД. 7,62-мм автомат АК [7.62 mm AK] (in Russian) (3rd ed.). Moscow: Voenizdat. Monetchikov, Sergei Borisovich (2005). История русского автомата [The History of Russian Assault Rifle]. Entsiklopediya Russkoi Armii (in Russian). Izdatel'stvo "Atlant 44". ISBN 5-98655-006-4. Archived from the original on 16 May 2013. Vilchinsky, I. K., ed. (1983). НСД. 7,62-мм автомат АКМ (АКМС) [7.62 mm AKM (AKMS)] (PDF) (in Russian) (3rd ed.). Moscow: Voenizdat. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 May 2023.

Further reading Brayley, Martin J. (2013). Kalashnikov AK47 Series: The 7.62×39mm Assault Rifle in Detail. Ramsbury, Marlborough, Wiltshire, UK: Crowood Press. ISBN 978-1-84797-526-3. OCLC 824183278. Chivers, C. J. (2010). The Gun. New York: Simon & Schuster. ISBN 9780743270762. OCLC 535493119. At the Internet Archive (registration required) Ezell, Edward Clinton (1986). The AK-47 Story: Evolution of the Kalashnikov Weapons. Harrisburg, PA: Stackpole Books. ISBN 0811709167. OCLC 12549027. Hodges, Michael (2007). AK47: The Story of a Gun. San Francisco: MacAdam/Cage Pub. ISBN 978-1-59692-286-0. OCLC 245302609. Long, Duncan (1 September 1988). AK47: The Complete Kalashnikov Family of Assault Rifles. Boulder, Col.: Paladin Press. ISBN 978-0-87364-477-8. OCLC 430510761. Poyer, Joe (2006). The AK-47 and AK-74 Kalashnikov Rifles and Their Variations: A Shooter's and Collector's Guide. Tustin, Cal.: North Cape Publications. ISBN 978-1-882391-41-7. OCLC 867174693. Rottman, Gordon L. (2011). The AK-47: Kalashnikov-series Assault Rifles. Oxford: Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84908-835-0. OCLC 651902408. Vorobiev, Marco (2016). Gun Digest Shooter's Guide to AKs. Iola, WI: Gun Digest Book. ISBN 978-1-4402-4647-0. OCLC 954541182.

External links Media related to Kalashnikov rifles at Wikimedia Commons

Illustrations

Kalashnikov rifle: Type 2 AK-47, produced from 1951 to 1955
Type 2 AK-47, produced from 1951 to 1955

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Kalashnikov rifle

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Kalashnikov rifle claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In science, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Kalashnikov rifle before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Kalashnikov rifle ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Kalashnikov rifle

In research
Kalashnikov rifle appears in science research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry
Engineering practice reuses Kalashnikov rifle in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom
Kalashnikov rifle is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Assault rifles, Assault rifles of the Soviet Union, Infantry weapons of the Cold War, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life
Look for Kalashnikov rifle outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.
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How to study Kalashnikov rifle in 20 minutes

  1. Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
  2. Close the page and write down what Kalashnikov rifle means in your own words.
  3. Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
  4. Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
  5. Explain Kalashnikov rifle out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Kalashnikov rifle in simple terms?

"Kalashnikov rifle" is a term referring to a family of assault rifles based on Mikhail Kalashnikov's original design. It is officially known in Russian as avtomat Kalashnikova (Russian: автомат Калашникова, lit. 'Kalashnikov's automatic [rifle]'), and informally as kalash.

Why does Kalashnikov rifle matter?

Because it connects several science ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Kalashnikov rifle?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Kalashnikov rifle.

Tags

  • Assault rifles
  • Assault rifles of the Soviet Union
  • Infantry weapons of the Cold War
  • Kalashnikov derivatives
  • Rifles of the Cold War
  • Soviet inventions

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