Kalashnikov Turns 90

[joelukehart]

Comrade Kalashnikov is probably still PO'd at the Chinese and waiting for the royalty check. It's never going to happen. That's what the Chinese are best at, ripping off ideas from other people and making bucks at it.

[audihenry]

I love how some get riled up and starting pointing fingers left and right. It was Newton who said, "If I can see far it is because I stand on the shoulders of giants." Weapons are usually improved upon previous weapons, rather than designed from the ground up. The STG 44 argument is silly and internally they are very different.

[Bigballaizm]

Happy Birthday General Kalashnikov...

I agree, and thanx for the AK!

[bigstick61]

Comrade Kalashnikov is probably still PO'd at the Chinese and waiting for the royalty check. It's never going to happen. That's what the Chinese are best at, ripping off ideas from other people and making bucks at it.

Actually I read in the news somewhere that the ChiComs may actually be paying him the royalties they owe him soon.

[jumbopanda]

So does anyone else find it ironic that he was twice named Hero of Socialist Labor, while not getting paid for his invention?

[hoozaru]

Comrade Kalashnikov is probably still PO'd at the Chinese and waiting for the royalty check. It's never going to happen. That's what the Chinese are best at, ripping off ideas from other people and making bucks at it.

Currently they are some 30 nations making counterfeit Kalashnikovs, including China, US, former USSR East European nations, Romania, Bulgaria, and etc. The only legitimate licensed maker is Venezuela.

everyone has struck a deal with the Russian government so they dont have to pay ****

Kalashnikov should have setup his personal website to start collecting donations worldwide.

[igorts]

China, Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, Germany, Egypt, Libia and more were issued a license long time ago. most have not renew it, so they counterfit it now

[audihenry]

So does anyone else find it ironic that he was twice named Hero of Socialist Labor, while not getting paid for his invention?

Where's the irony? Hero of Socialist Labor is a title, like the Purple Heart or the Medal of Honor. It means much more than a paycheck.

[doctor_vals]

I think his design was largely based on the German Sturmgewehr 44, also known as STG 44 or MP 44, with an emphasis on simplicity in operation as well as production, as well as a loose enough fit to allow cycling with dirt and gunk. The question really is what would have happened if the Sturmgewehr came into service earlier. It's scary to think if all the kraut technologies entered service earlier (Sturmgewehr, ME 262, etc), what would have happened.

... I will continue.... and Gerr Von Braun will create Saturn rocket and it will be no Holocaust and scientists will help to develop A-bomb.... should I continue...?

To answer your question, no it’s not as reliable or cheap to make. After saying that, the STG 44 had direct influence and without it the AK may not have come to be. The trigger mechanism was also copied from the Garand. The Russians claim that the STG 44 have no influence in the making of the Ak, but come on who are they kidding. Like most things the Russians make, they needed something to copy before calling it there own. While I know that statement may upset some people. It’s the truth. I’m not trying to take anything away from Mr. Kalashnikov. The AK is obviously one of the best fire arms of all time.

Do you guys know internal parts of Sturmgewehr?
It is very, very similar to what you know as M-16 or AR-15. So, your statement -

"Like most things the Russians make, they needed something to copy before calling it there own."

- it isn't true.

You may ask Stoner - if he didn't copy from Germans.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1UcdhyMfzgI

The trigger mechanism was also copied from the Garand.

Could you find similarity - http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/s...6&postcount=89

For me - it is two type of DIFFERENT rifles.

[doctor_vals]

China, Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, Germany, Egypt, Libia and more were issued a license long time ago. most have not renew it, so they counterfeit it now

That's right.
All Romy or Bulgy or Yugo and other rifle, which you can find on American market - are illegal because produced without license. As well as home made rifles...

[doctor_vals]

Happy Birthday General Kalashnikov.......and many more.

Kalashnikov - 90 years

http://translate.google.com/translate?prev=hp&hl=en&js=y&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.itar-tass.com%2Flevel2.html%3FNewsID%3D14513588&sl=ru&tl=en&history_state0

Article translated with Google help.

[hoozaru]

That's right.
All Romy or Bulgy or Yugo and other rifle, which you can find on American market - are illegal because produced without license. As well as home made rifles...

except the saigas, all the converted saigas, VEPR and Tigers, we paid Izhmash for those

[joelukehart]

Actually I read in the news somewhere that the ChiComs may actually be paying him the royalties they owe him soon.

They are probably still telling him " Oh yes comrade, the check is in the mail."
I hope at least a few rubles from my Egyptian Maadi found its way into his pocket.

[run8]

That's gotta suck for him too all these years, while recognized so highly for his acheivements and what he created, to not get paid, though in the few interviews I've seen he always seems content.

I honestly thought he had passed a couple years ago, didn't realize he was still with us.

They are probably still telling him " Oh yes comrade, the check is in the mail."
I hope at least a few rubles from my Egyptian Maadi found its way into his pocket.