If a round is chambered in an AK-47, chances are good that weapon is going to fire. It was designed for all-around ease of use: easy to repair, easy to unjam (if it ever does), easy to maintain. The AK-47 was designed to do the same.īut the true brilliance of Kalashnikov's invention was in its simplicity.
It didn't shoot a heavy round but could still lay down heavy fire. Called StG-44 for short, the Sturmgewehr was the first real mid-range infantry rifle.
It was based on a number of other designs floating around at the time, mostly Germany's Sturmgewehr-44. AK-47 designer and Red Army soldier Mikhail Kalashnikov in 1949.Īfter five years of engineering, the former agricultural engineer made his famous weapon.
