That is a very widespread notion, but even though the StG 44 looks like the AK, the operating mechanism is inspired by the M1 Garand. Kalashnikov himself mentio

That is a very widespread notion, but even though the StG 44 looks like the AK, the operating mechanism is inspired by the M1 Garand. Kalashnikov himself mentions the Garand as an inspiration: https://www.amazon.com/Kalashnikov-Arms-Edward-Clinton-Ezell/dp/0889352674 https://www.amazon.com/Kalashnikov-Arms-Edward-Clinton-Ezell... You can see a comparison done by a popular AK builder/engineer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4l33puWET0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4l33puWET0