Mikhail Kalashnikov has passed away...

John Sabato · 12-23-2013, 01:28 PM

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2013/12...cmp=latestnews

K.Wilhelm · 12-23-2013, 02:11 PM

One genius of a tank mechanic! KW

George Anderson · 12-23-2013, 02:14 PM

Was he the father of the STG44 or the guy who copied it?

cirelaw · 12-23-2013, 04:10 PM

Here a good history of the man. He outlived all their leaders...http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/24/wo...e-94.html?_r=0 Thank You John~

sheepherder · 12-23-2013, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by George Anderson

Was he the father of the STG44 or the guy who copied it?

He was the father of the AK-47, which he says he was 'inspired by' the STG-44...

GySgt1811 · 12-23-2013, 05:51 PM

From one Tanker to another; Rest in Peace, Mikhail. You were a hero to your country in a time of need.

Gunny John

George Anderson · 12-23-2013, 06:21 PM

I was also a tanker. Kalishnikov's rifle has put and continues to put a lot of American soldiers in their graves. F---k him!

alvin · 12-23-2013, 06:55 PM

Curiously, is STG44's structure as simple as AK47? Never had a chance to look inside a STG44...

jagervw · 12-24-2013, 12:33 AM

Former 19K here too. Like George Luger, his weapon will live for ever in infamy.

Sieger · 12-24-2013, 02:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alvin

Curiously, is STG44's structure as simple as AK47? Never had a chance to look inside a STG44...

Hi,

Being of German design, I would doubt it. The Germans have a saying about Russian machines..."It's all one part!!!"...

Sieger

alanint · 12-24-2013, 07:30 AM

The MP44's bolt body/head and the gas piston are two seperate components, while the AK's bolt body/gas piston are one unit. Only the bolt head can be removed from the assembly.

The return spring is also not captured, but retained via the buttstock on the MP44, while the AK has the entire return spring within its receiver.

The first production AKs had a machined receiver, (although the truly first examples where stamped, just like the MP44) versus the MP44s stamped components.

Although Kalashnikov always denied a direct influence, (and would get upset when folks implied it), anybody with any brains can see a direct influence from one design to the other.

GySgt1811 · 12-24-2013, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by George Anderson

I was also a tanker. Kalishnikov's rifle has put and continues to put a lot of American soldiers in their graves. F---k him!

Yes. And so did/do Springfields, Garands, Colts, M1 carbines, M-14s, M-16s, M-4s, etc.

I feel strangely sad responding to your post, George. You're absolutely right...and I, like you, knew some of those soldiers/Marines; and yet, Kalishnikov was a patriot who deeply loved his country just as we do ours. And that's how I'm judging him.

To feel otherwise is to deny the honor of patriotism in others, or else then we will have to paint Eli Remington, Samuel Colt, Horace B. Smith, Daniel Wesson, Oliver Winchester, Paul Mauser, George Luger, John Garand, "Carbine" Williams, Eugine Stoner, etc. (You get the idea) with the same brush.

Or maybe there's another agenda in your response that I'm too...fill in the blank...to understand.

Anyway, Merry Christmas to all, and someday, God willing (are you listening, Lord?) may we please have World Peace.

Gunny John

Sergio Natali · 12-24-2013, 01:33 PM

While I still feel that the true designer behind the AK 47 was probably Hugo Schmeisser. It was Kalashnikov who put it all together. We cannot fault the man for trying to give his own country the best rifle possible.

DavidJayUden · 12-24-2013, 01:53 PM

One man's freedom fighter is another man's terrrorist.
dju

Piet · 12-28-2013, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidjayuden

one man's freedom fighter is another man's terrrorist.
Dju

amen

Piet · 12-28-2013, 01:04 PM

Read an article today in the local paper, that claims that the AK47 was responsible for more deaths than any other rifle.
In Africa this was the available weapon for the "terrorists / freedom fighters" Surely the weapon could fire under severe situations and was usually severely neglected and misused. Some of the captured weapons was damaged to the extend that one could not believe it could still fire.
With the South African Defence Force using the R1 (FN 7.62mm) in the savannah bushveld where shots of 80 to 150 meters were possible, one did feel much more comfortable with the heavy but accurate R1. Small trees or bushes were no threat for the heavy bullet just ripped through it.

cirelaw · 12-28-2013, 01:53 PM

Piet, I feel allot safer with yours!! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_FAL ~~Eric

12-23-2013, 01:28 PM	#1
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,155 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,308 Times in 1,098 Posts	Mikhail Kalashnikov has passed away... http://www.foxnews.com/world/2013/12...cmp=latestnews __________________ regards, -John S "...We hold these truths to be self-evident that ALL men are created EQUAL *and are endowed by their Creator* with certain UNALIENABLE* rights, and among these are life, LIBERTY, and the pursuit of happiness..."*

12-23-2013, 02:11 PM	#2
K.Wilhelm User Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: South Central Colorado Posts: 215 Thanks: 45 Thanked 109 Times in 66 Posts	Kalashnikov's passing One genius of a tank mechanic! KW __________________ NRA Endowment Life member Proud veteran of the Naval Security Group

12-23-2013, 05:51 PM	#6
GySgt1811 Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Southern Indiana Posts: 237 Thanks: 1,238 Thanked 126 Times in 84 Posts	Rip From one Tanker to another; Rest in Peace, Mikhail. You were a hero to your country in a time of need. Gunny John

12-24-2013, 01:33 PM	#13
Sergio Natali User Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Somewhere in Northern Italy Posts: 2,646 Thanks: 1,087 Thanked 1,783 Times in 1,007 Posts	While I still feel that the true designer behind the AK 47 was probably Hugo Schmeisser. It was Kalashnikov who put it all together. We cannot fault the man for trying to give his own country the best rifle possible. __________________ "Originality can't be restored and should be at the top of any collector's priority list.

12-28-2013, 01:53 PM	#17
cirelaw Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: PORT ST LUCIE, FLORIDA Posts: 12,216 Thanks: 6,209 Thanked 4,138 Times in 2,176 Posts	Piet, I feel allot safer with yours!! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_FAL ~~Eric Attached Images

12-23-2013, 02:14 PM	#3
George Anderson Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: VA Posts: 3,592 Thanks: 1,773 Thanked 2,531 Times in 788 Posts	Was he the father of the STG44 or the guy who copied it?

12-23-2013, 04:10 PM	#4
cirelaw Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: PORT ST LUCIE, FLORIDA Posts: 12,216 Thanks: 6,209 Thanked 4,138 Times in 2,176 Posts	Here a good history of the man. He outlived all their leaders...http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/24/wo...e-94.html?_r=0 Thank You John~

12-23-2013, 06:21 PM	#7
George Anderson Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: VA Posts: 3,592 Thanks: 1,773 Thanked 2,531 Times in 788 Posts	I was also a tanker. Kalishnikov's rifle has put and continues to put a lot of American soldiers in their graves. F---k him!

12-23-2013, 06:55 PM	#8
alvin User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: US Posts: 3,843 Thanks: 132 Thanked 729 Times in 438 Posts	Curiously, is STG44's structure as simple as AK47? Never had a chance to look inside a STG44...

12-24-2013, 12:33 AM	#9
jagervw User Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: S. Florida Posts: 47 Thanks: 52 Thanked 26 Times in 13 Posts	Former 19K here too. Like George Luger, his weapon will live for ever in infamy.

12-24-2013, 07:30 AM	#11
alanint User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Marco Island, Florida Posts: 4,867 Thanks: 1,685 Thanked 1,917 Times in 1,193 Posts	The MP44's bolt body/head and the gas piston are two seperate components, while the AK's bolt body/gas piston are one unit. Only the bolt head can be removed from the assembly. The return spring is also not captured, but retained via the buttstock on the MP44, while the AK has the entire return spring within its receiver. The first production AKs had a machined receiver, (although the truly first examples where stamped, just like the MP44) versus the MP44s stamped components. Although Kalashnikov always denied a direct influence, (and would get upset when folks implied it), anybody with any brains can see a direct influence from one design to the other.

12-24-2013, 01:53 PM	#14
DavidJayUden Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4,047 Thanks: 578 Thanked 1,414 Times in 887 Posts	One man's freedom fighter is another man's terrrorist. dju

12-28-2013, 01:04 PM	#16
Piet User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: South Africa Posts: 143 Thanks: 155 Thanked 35 Times in 22 Posts	Read an article today in the local paper, that claims that the AK47 was responsible for more deaths than any other rifle. In Africa this was the available weapon for the "terrorists / freedom fighters" Surely the weapon could fire under severe situations and was usually severely neglected and misused. Some of the captured weapons was damaged to the extend that one could not believe it could still fire. With the South African Defence Force using the R1 (FN 7.62mm) in the savannah bushveld where shots of 80 to 150 meters were possible, one did feel much more comfortable with the heavy but accurate R1. Small trees or bushes were no threat for the heavy bullet just ripped through it.