AK47

The AK-47, short for Avtomat Kalashnikova 1947, is a gas-operated assault rifle designed by Mikhail Kalashnikov in the Soviet Union. It entered service with the Soviet Army in 1949 and became one of the most widely produced and distributed firearms in history.

The weapon uses a long-stroke gas piston and a rotating bolt. It was designed to be simple and robust, with a straightforward manual of arms and easy field maintenance. It is commonly chambered for 7.62x39mm; early models used a milled receiver, with later variants adopting stamped receivers to simplify production.

Variants: The original AK-47 was followed by the AKM, introduced in 1959, which used a lighter stamped receiver and improved certain components. Other major variants include the AK-74 and AK-74M, chambered for 5.45x39mm. Numerous licensed and unlicensed clones have appeared worldwide.

Impact: The AK-47 and its variants have been produced in large numbers and have seen service with many national militaries, insurgent groups, and paramilitary organizations. Its widespread distribution contributed to its status as a symbol of modern warfare. Sociopolitical impact includes both tactical utility and the challenges of arms proliferation.

Current status: While still in service in various forms, many countries regulate or restrict ownership of AK-pattern rifles. The design has influenced a wide family of rifles and continues to be manufactured and copied around the world.