Happy Birthday AK-47

[snayperskaya]

The world’s most notorious gun entered into its first round of production 68 years ago today.Love it or hate it, it is one of the worlds most recognisable products.

First put into production on July 6, 1947, the AK-47 quickly became one of the most ubiquitous firearms in the world — an honour it continues to hold.

According to NPR, the World Bank estimates that a fifth of all firearms in the world today are variations of the Kalashnikov rifle.

Vashee Zdarovye AK-47!

[Tower75]

I don't know how true this is, but I think I read somewhere that all the AK-47s we see in TV and pictures are infact AK-Ms, as apparently the actual AK-47 had a very short production run. As I say, I think I read that somewhere.
If so it's an interesting fact, can anyone enlighten me?

[Chuck]

You having a party then Snayperskaya

[Sixshot6]

I don't know how true this is, but I think I read somewhere that all the AK-47s we see in TV and pictures are infact AK-Ms, as apparently the actual AK-47 had a very short production run. As I say, I think I read that somewhere.
If so it's an interesting fact, can anyone enlighten me?

You'd be correct there. Also the actual AK47 has a milled receiver while the AKM's are stamped. Milled AK's do exist today in the Civvy world, but the milspec for both 47 and 74 Ak's called for stamped receivers.

[snayperskaya]

I don't know how true this is, but I think I read somewhere that all the AK-47s we see in TV and pictures are infact AK-Ms, as apparently the actual AK-47 had a very short production run. As I say, I think I read that somewhere.
If so it's an interesting fact, can anyone enlighten me?

You'd be correct there. Also the actual AK47 has a milled receiver while the AKM's are stamped. Milled AK's do exist today in the Civvy world, but the milspec for both 47 and 74 Ak's called for stamped receivers.

AK-47
Issue of 1948/49 – Type 1: The very earliest models, stamped sheet metal receiver, are now very rare.
Issue of 1951 – Type 2: Has a milled receiver. Barrel and chamber are chrome plated to resist corrosion.
Issue of 1954/55 – Type 3: Lightened, milled receiver variant. Rifle weight is 3.47 kg (7.7 lb)

AKM

AKM – A simplified, lighter version of the AK-47 introduced in 1957, the Type 4 receiver is made from stamped and riveted sheet metal. A slanted muzzle device was added to counter climb in automatic fire. Rifle weight is 3.1 kg (6.8 lbs) due to the lighter receiver. This is the most ubiquitous variant of the AK-47

Bulgaria produces milled receiver AKs and the AKM pattern is what is usually seen in the media etc, the most common variant is in fact the Chinese Type56.

[snayperskaya]

You having a party then Snayperskaya

Raised a few vodkas' Comrade

[breacher]

I found two type 1s while sorting through a batch of 2000 AKMs captured from the PLO by the Israelis.

Made my boss at the time a very happy man !!!

[James K]

Are deactivated Mark 1s valuable?

[Sixshot6]

I found two type 1s while sorting through a batch of 2000 AKMs captured from the PLO by the Israelis.

Made my boss at the time a very happy man !!!

I also believe some early Chinese AK's that have milled receivers have Cyrillic characters on them so its possible to get a technical chinese "fake". It was mentioned on the firearms blog a while back. How did you know they were type 1's and not the kind I mentioned? Is there something that gives them away?

[froggy]

AK 47 ... And the voice of the masses started to be heard much louder in the international 7.62x39 language ...
Happy B'day !!


My Serbian M92 has also a milled receiver.