AK-47

The AK-47 is an automatic rifle designed by the Soviet Union in the late 1940s. The name comes from 'Avtomat Kalashnikova', meaning 'Kalashnikov automatic', combined with the year 1947, when its design was adopted. The rifle was designed by Mikhail Kalashnikov, a Russian engineer.

The rifle fires 7.62×39 mm ammunition. It is widely used because of its simple construction, few moving parts, and ability to function in mud, water, and harsh terrain. It can also be operated by personnel without extensive technical training, making it a weapon adopted by armed forces and irregular groups worldwide.

Operating principle

The AK-47 operates on a gas system: when a round is fired, gases from the propellant push back an internal component (piston and bolt carrier), extracting the spent casing and chambering a new round. The bolt uses a rotating lock. Tolerances between parts are loose, which reduces jamming from mud or sand but compromises accuracy at long range.

Variants and development

The earlier milled receiver design was replaced by the AKM, which used a stamped receiver for ease and economy of production. Later came the AK-74, which fires the smaller 5.45×39 mm round. Many countries produced variants based on or copied from the original design, including China, Bulgaria, Romania, and Egypt.

Distribution and impact

During the Cold War, the Soviet Union and Warsaw Pact countries supplied this rifle to armed forces and armed movements in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Because of the large numbers produced and its durability, the AK-47 and its variants became the most widely used rifle in the world. Its image was incorporated into the flag of Mozambique and other political symbols, used to represent armed struggle.