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"The Kalashnikov had been designed in 1947, (hence, AK-47), but it took more than a decade before a bug-free version (the AKM) was considered reliable enough to

"The Kalashnikov had been designed in 1947, (hence, AK-47), but it took more than a decade before a bug-free version (the AKM) was considered reliable enough to make standard-issue." Lost history fact. The "AK-47" saw combat in world war 2 as the German "StG_44" [1]. The StG_44 was a large round, automatic, large capacity, no belt, replaceable clip, death machine. Once the Russians captured a StG_44 they quickly modified it, and designed the AK-47, which was an even better version. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/StG_44 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/StG_44

ethelward 8y ago
That's just plain wrong. If the AK shares anything with another weapon, it's actually the M1 Garand and its bolt. https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2016/10/22/no-germans-didnt-design-ak-47-kalashnikov-conspiracy-theories-refute-part-1/ https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2016/10/22/no-germans-di...
- deleted 8y ago
  [deleted]
- ransom1538 8y ago
  Haha. The StG-44 looks very similar to the AK47. What a coincidence!!! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/StG_44 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/StG_44 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AK-47 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AK-47 Did you read the article you posted? My favorite line from the article you posted: "This isn’t to say that the sturmgewehr StG-44 didn’t make an impression on the Soviets: It’s difficult to imagine an enemy small arm that had as much impact on Soviet small arms design as the StG-44, but put into context the weapon represents more the proving out of a pre-existing idea than the introduction of something completely new." Hilarious.
  - simonh 8y ago
    They look similar, but the operating principle is significantly different. The STG-44 did have a huge impact on the Soviets, they learned a lot from it but operationally but not technically. Mikhail Kalashnikov took the concept, but the AK is not a modification of the STG-44 mechanically. That's a common misconception.
  - C1sc0cat 8y ago
    A Lee Enfield Looks Similar to the Gwer 98
  - dsfyu404ed 8y ago
    It's literally just a coincidence. The AK uses a totally different operating mechanism. The only similarity is the banana mag but that's just the reality of the cartridge dimensions. Had a little known designer ripped off the STG44 the Soviets would not have adopted it in 1947. They would have laughed at it.
    - 13of40 8y ago
      > totally different operating mechanism Not really. The bolt locks differently, but it uses a bolt carrier, gas piston, and buffer spring like an AK. That said, the easiest way to dismiss the idea that an AK47 is a copy of the STG44 is to look at some of the gas operated rifles that preceded it in the Soviet Union, like the SKS, SVT-38, and AVS-36. Except the rotating bolt, they already had all the features of the AK in the 30's, and the rotating bolt is the one thing the STG44 doesn't have. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/AVS-36 https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/AVS-36
  - PhasmaFelis 8y ago
    Your snark isn't doing your point any favors.
fsloth 8y ago
I've not found a reference anywhere that the AK-47 is a copy of StG-44. The outward look is kinda pointless. What matters in a rifle are all of the inner components. However, I can find only anecdotal references like https://www.forgottenweapons.com/ak-and-stg-kissing-cousins/ https://www.forgottenweapons.com/ak-and-stg-kissing-cousins/
azernik 8y ago
> The "AK-47" saw combat in world war 2 as the German "StG_44" The StG 44 was a different rifle with a different design. > The StG_44 was a large round, automatic, large capacity, no belt, replaceable clip, death machine. The StG 44's round was only slightly larger than the Soviets' AK round; the only reason for their slight difference is that each country decided to make their new intermediate round by taking the same caliber as their respective full-power rounds and making them shorter. (For ease of manufacturing.) > Once the Russians captured a StG_44 they quickly modified it, and designed the AK-47 They copied the concept (using a smaller round to shed weight and gain volume of fire), but the actual weapon design was new.

ethelward 8y ago

That's just plain wrong. If the AK shares anything with another weapon, it's actually the M1 Garand and its bolt. https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2016/10/22/no-germans-didnt-design-ak-47-kalashnikov-conspiracy-theories-refute-part-1/ https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2016/10/22/no-germans-di...

deleted 8y ago
[deleted]
ransom1538 8y ago
Haha. The StG-44 looks very similar to the AK47. What a coincidence!!! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/StG_44 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/StG_44 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AK-47 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AK-47 Did you read the article you posted? My favorite line from the article you posted: "This isn’t to say that the sturmgewehr StG-44 didn’t make an impression on the Soviets: It’s difficult to imagine an enemy small arm that had as much impact on Soviet small arms design as the StG-44, but put into context the weapon represents more the proving out of a pre-existing idea than the introduction of something completely new." Hilarious.
- simonh 8y ago
  They look similar, but the operating principle is significantly different. The STG-44 did have a huge impact on the Soviets, they learned a lot from it but operationally but not technically. Mikhail Kalashnikov took the concept, but the AK is not a modification of the STG-44 mechanically. That's a common misconception.
- C1sc0cat 8y ago
  A Lee Enfield Looks Similar to the Gwer 98
- dsfyu404ed 8y ago
  It's literally just a coincidence. The AK uses a totally different operating mechanism. The only similarity is the banana mag but that's just the reality of the cartridge dimensions. Had a little known designer ripped off the STG44 the Soviets would not have adopted it in 1947. They would have laughed at it.
  - 13of40 8y ago
    > totally different operating mechanism Not really. The bolt locks differently, but it uses a bolt carrier, gas piston, and buffer spring like an AK. That said, the easiest way to dismiss the idea that an AK47 is a copy of the STG44 is to look at some of the gas operated rifles that preceded it in the Soviet Union, like the SKS, SVT-38, and AVS-36. Except the rotating bolt, they already had all the features of the AK in the 30's, and the rotating bolt is the one thing the STG44 doesn't have. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/AVS-36 https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/AVS-36
- PhasmaFelis 8y ago
  Your snark isn't doing your point any favors.

fsloth 8y ago

I've not found a reference anywhere that the AK-47 is a copy of StG-44. The outward look is kinda pointless. What matters in a rifle are all of the inner components. However, I can find only anecdotal references like https://www.forgottenweapons.com/ak-and-stg-kissing-cousins/ https://www.forgottenweapons.com/ak-and-stg-kissing-cousins/

azernik 8y ago

> The "AK-47" saw combat in world war 2 as the German "StG_44" The StG 44 was a different rifle with a different design. > The StG_44 was a large round, automatic, large capacity, no belt, replaceable clip, death machine. The StG 44's round was only slightly larger than the Soviets' AK round; the only reason for their slight difference is that each country decided to make their new intermediate round by taking the same caliber as their respective full-power rounds and making them shorter. (For ease of manufacturing.) > Once the Russians captured a StG_44 they quickly modified it, and designed the AK-47 They copied the concept (using a smaller round to shed weight and gain volume of fire), but the actual weapon design was new.