Kalashnikov rifles (Russian: Калашников) or AK rifles are a family of assault rifles based on the original design of Mikhail Kalashnikov. They are officially known in Russian as avtomat Kalashnikova (Russian: автомат Калашникова, lit. 'Kalashnikov's Automatic Gun'), and informally as "kalash" in Russian. They were originally manufactured in the Soviet Union, first by Izhmash and later by Kalashnikov Concern. Rifles similar to the Kalashnikov and its Soviet variants were later produced in many countries friendly to the Soviet Bloc, with rifles based on its design such as the Galil ACE and the INSAS also being produced. The Kalashnikov is one of the most widely used guns in the world, with an estimated 72 million rifles in global circulation.[1][2][3]
List of AK rifles
The original Kalashnikov rifles and their derivatives, as produced in the Soviet Union and later the Russian Federation.[4][5]
Rifles derived directly from the original AK
The rifle's simple design makes it easy to produce, and the Soviet Union readily leased plans of the firearm to friendly countries, where it could be produced locally at a low cost.[2] As a result, the Kalashnikov rifles and their variants have been manufactured in many countries, with and without licenses. Manufacturing countries in alphabetical order include:
| Country | Variant(s) |
|---|---|
| Albania | Automatiku Shqiptar 1978 model 56 (ASH-78 Tip-1) copy of Type 56 based on AKM rifle; Tipi 1982 model (ASH-82) copy of AKMS; model 56 Tip-2, copy of RPK; and model 56 Tip-3. Several other versions of the AKMS have been produced mainly with short barrels similar to Soviet AKS-74U for special forces, tank & armored crew and for helicopter pilots and police. There have also been modified ASh-82 (AKMS) with SOPMOD accessories, mainly for Albania's special forces RENEA & exports.[6] |
| Armenia | K-3 (bullpup, 5.45×39mm) |
| Azerbaijan | Khazri (AK-74M)[7] |
| Bangladesh | Chinese Type 56 |
| Bulgaria | AKK/AKKS (Type 3 AK-47/w. side-folding buttstock); AKKMS (AKMS), AKKN-47 (fittings for NPSU night sights); AK-47M1 (Type 3 with black polymer furniture); AK-47MA1/AR-M1 (same as -M1, but in 5.56mm NATO); AKS-74M1 (AKMS in 5.56×45mm NATO); AKS-74S (AK-74M1, short version, with East German folding stock, laser aiming device); AKS-74UF (short version of -M1, Russian folding stock), AR-SF (same as −74UF, but 5.56mm NATO); AKS-93SM6 (similar to −74M1, cannot use grenade launcher); RKKS (RPK), AKT-74 (.22 rimfire training rifle) |
| Cambodia | Chinese Type 56, Soviet AK, and AKM |
| China | Type 56 |
| Croatia | APS-95 |
| Cuba | AKM[8] |
| East Germany[9] | MPi-K/MPi-KS (AK/AKS); MPi-KM (AKM, wooden and plastic stock); MPi-KMS-72 (side-folding stock); MPi-KMS-K (carbine); MPi-AK-74N (AK-74); MPi-AKS-74N (side-folding stock); MPi-AKS-74NK (carbine); KK-MPi Mod.69 (.22 LR select-fire trainer) |
| Egypt | AK, Misr assault rifle (AKM), Maadi |
| Ethiopia | AK, AK-103 (manufactured locally at the State-run Gafat Armament Engineering Complex as the Et-97/1)[10] |
| Finland | RK 62, (7.62×39mm) RK 95 TP, (7.62×39mm) improvements including a fire control selector and a muzzle device that enabled the firing of rifle grenades, the attachment of a silencer, or bayonet |
| Hungary[11] | AK-55 (domestic manufacture of the 2nd Model AK); AKM-63 (also known as AMD-63 in the US; modernized AK-55), AMD-65M (modernized AKM-63, shorter barrel and side-folding stock), AMP-69 (rifle grenade launcher); AK-63F/D (other name AMM/AMMSz), AK-63MF (modernized); NGM-81 (5.56×45mm NATO; fixed and under-folding stock) |
| Iran | KLS/KLF (AK-47/AKS), KLT (AKMS) |
| Iraq | Tabuk Sniper Rifle, Tabuk Assault Rifle (with fixed or underfolding stock, outright clones of Yugoslavian M70 rifles series), Tabuk Short Assault Rifle |
| Nigeria | Produced by the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria as OBJ-006[12][13] |
| North Korea | Type 58A/B (Type 3 AK/w. stamped steel folding stock), Type 68A/B (AKM/AKMS), Type 88 (AKS-74)[14][15] |
| Pakistan | Reverse engineered by hand and machine in Pakistan's highland areas (see Khyber Pass Copy) near the border of Afghanistan; more recently the Pakistan Ordnance Factories started the manufacture of an AK/AKM clone called PK-10. Pakistanis had also made a new caliber just by a little changing in original (7.62×39mm) ammo, that is known as 44 bore.[16] Pakistani 5.45mm AKs are sometimes called "Kalakovs" and also, there's a variant of the AKM called "Qalamcut", which it's cartridge is unknown (possibly the 7.62×39mm). [17] |
| Poland[18] | pmK (kbk AK) / pmKS (kbk AKS) (name has changed from pmK – "pistolet maszynowy Kałasznikowa", Kalashnikov SMG to the kbk AK – "karabinek AK", Kalashnikov Carbine in mid-1960s) (AK/AKS); kbkg wz. 1960 (rifle grenade launcher), kbkg wz. 1960/72 (modernized); kbk AKM / kbk AKMS (AKM/AKMS); kbk wz. 1988 Tantal (5.45×39mm), skbk wz. 1989 Onyks (compact carbine); kbs wz. 1996 Beryl (5.56×45mm), kbk wz. 1996 Mini-Beryl (compact carbine) |
| Romania | PM md. 63/65 (AKM/AKMS), PM md. 80, PM md. 90, collectively exported under the umbrella name AIM or AIMS; PA md. 86 (AK-74), exported as the AIMS-74; PM md. 90 short barrel, PA md. 86 short barrel, exported as the AIMR; PSL (designated marksman rifle; other names PSL-54C, Romak III, FPK and SSG-97) |
| Sudan | MAZ[19] (based on the Type 56) |
| Ukraine | Vepr (bullpup, 5.45×39mm), Malyuk (bullpup)[20] |
| United States | US132 rifle (7.62×39mm), US132Z assault rifle (7.62×39mm), US109L shotgun (12 gauge) & US109T shotgun (12 gauge). Produced by Kalashnikov USA.[21][22][23] |
| Vietnam | AKM-1, AKM-VN (AKM) assault rifle, TUL-1 (RPK) light machine gun, Galil ACE 31/32 assault rifle, STV series |
| Venezuela | AK-103[24] / License granted to Venezuela[25] |
| Yugoslavia/Serbia | M64, M70, M72, M76, M77, M80, M82, M85, M90, M91, M92, M99, M21 |
Similar rifles
The following rifles were either based on the Kalashnikov design, or have a different design but are superficially similar in appearance:
- FARA 83 (Argentina)
- BD-08 (Bangladesh)
- AR-M1 (Bulgaria)
- Type 56, Type 81 (China)
- Vz. 58 (Czechoslovakia)
- RK 62 (also called Valmet M76, Rk 62 76 or M62/76), Valmet M78 (light machine gun), RK 95 TP (Finland)
- AK-63, AMD-65 (Hungary)
- INSAS rifle (India)
- IMI Galil, IWI ACE (Israel)
- Bernardelli VB-STD/VB-SR (Italy)
- FB Beryl, FB Tantal (Poland)
- Pistol Mitralieră model 1963/1965 (Romania)
- Zastava M70 (Serbia, Yugoslavia)
- Zastava M21 (Serbia)
- Vektor R4, Truvelo Raptor (South Africa)
- MPi-KM (East Germany)
- MPi-KMS-72 (East Germany)
Comparative characteristics of AK rifles
| Name | Country | Type | Cartridge | Length extended/folded (mm) | Barrel length (mm) | Weight (kg) (empty) | Cyclic rate of fire (rounds per minute) | Maximum sighting range (m) | Muzzle velocity (m/s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AK-47 | Soviet Union | Assault rifle | 7.62×39mm M43 | 870 | 415 | 3.47 | 600 | 800 | 715 |
| AKM | Soviet Union | Assault rifle | 7.62×39mm M43 | 880 | 415 | 3.1 | 600 | 1,000 | 715 |
| RPK(s) | Soviet Union | Light machine gun | 7.62×39mm M43 | 1040/820 | 590 | 4.80/5.6 | 600 | 1,000 | 745 |
| PK(M) | Soviet Union | General-purpose machine gun | 7.62×54mmR | 1173 | 605 | 9.0/7.5 | 650 | 1,500 | 825 |
| AK-74 | Soviet Union | Assault rifle | 5.45×39mm M74 | 943 | 415 | 3.07 | 600 | 1,000 | 900 |
| AKS-74 | Soviet Union | Assault rifle | 5.45×39mm M74 | 933/690 | 415 | 2.97 | 600 | 1,000 | 900 |
| AK-74M | Soviet Union | Assault rifle | 5.45×39mm M74 | 943/705 | 415 | 3.4 | 650 | 1,000 | 900 |
| RPK-74 | Soviet Union | Light machine gun | 5.45×39mm M74 | 1060 | 590 | 4.7 | 600 | 1,000 | 960 |
| AKS-74U | Soviet Union | Carbine assault rifle | 5.45×39mm M74 | 730/490 | 207 | 2.7 | 700 | 500 | 735 |
| AK-101 | Russia | Assault rifle | 5.56×45mm NATO | 943/700 | 415 | 3.6 | 600 | 1,000 | 910 |
| AK-102 | Russia | Carbine assault rifle | 5.56×45mm NATO | 824/586 | 314 | 3.0 | 600 | 500 | 850 |
| AK-103 | Russia | Assault rifle | 7.62×39mm M43 | 943/705 | 415 | 3.4 | 600 | 1,000 | 715 |
| AK-104 | Russia | Carbine assault rifle | 7.62×39mm M43 | 824/586 | 314 | 3.0 | 600 | 500 | 670 |
| AK-105 | Russia | Carbine assault rifle | 5.45×39mm M74 | 824/586 | 314 | 3.2 | 600 | 500 | 840 |
| AK-107 | Russia | Assault rifle | 5.45×39mm M74 | 943/700 | 415 | 3.8 | 850 | 1,000 | 900 |
| AK-108 | Russia | Assault rifle | 5.56×45mm NATO | 943/700 | 415 | 3.8 | 900 | 1,000 | 910 |
| AK-109 | Russia | Assault rifle | 7.62×39mm M43 | 943/700 | 415 | 3.8 | 900 | 1,000 | 750 |
| AK-9 | Russia | Assault rifle | 9×39mm | 705/465 | 200 | 3.1/3.8 (with suppressor) | 600 | 400 | 290 (СП-5) / 305 (СП-6) |
| AK-12 | Russia | Assault rifle | 5.45×39mm M74 | 940/730 | 415 | 3.3 | 700 | 1,000 | 900 |
| AK-15 | Russia | Assault rifle | 7.62×39mm M43 | 922/862 | 415 | 3.5 | 700 | 1,000 | 715 |
| AK-19 | Russia | Assault rifle | 5.56×45mm NATO | 935/725 | 415 | 3.35 | 700 | 1,000 | 910 |
| AK-308 | Russia | Assault rifle | 7.62×51mm NATO | 885-945/695 | 415 | 4.3 | 700 | 800 |
In the United States
The Kalashnikov weapon design has become increasingly more popular in the American firearms industry. There are specific competitive shooting matches that require the use of its weapon variants like the Red Oktober match held just outside of St. George, Utah. It is a match designed for the use of ComBloc style weapons, but the Kalashnikov design is extremely heavy within the participants' arsenals.[26]
See also
References
Citations
General and cited references
- Gulevich, I. D., ed. (1967). НСД. 7,62-мм автомат АК [7.62 mm AK] (in Russian) (3rd ed.). Moscow: Voenizdat.
- Monetchikov, Sergei Borisovich (2005). История русского автомата [The History of Russian Assault Rifle]. Entsiklopediya Russkoi Armii (in Russian). Izdatel'stvo "Atlant 44". ISBN 5-98655-006-4. Archived from the original on 16 May 2013.
- Vilchinsky, I. K., ed. (1983). НСД. 7,62-мм автомат АКМ (АКМС) [7.62 mm AKM (AKMS)] (PDF) (in Russian) (3rd ed.). Moscow: Voenizdat. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 May 2023.
Further reading
- Brayley, Martin J. (2013). Kalashnikov AK47 Series: The 7.62×39mm Assault Rifle in Detail. Ramsbury, Marlborough, Wiltshire, UK: Crowood Press. ISBN 978-1-84797-526-3. OCLC 824183278.
- Chivers, C. J. (2010). The Gun. New York: Simon & Schuster. ISBN 9780743270762. OCLC 535493119. At the Internet Archive (registration required)
- Ezell, Edward Clinton (1986). The AK-47 Story: Evolution of the Kalashnikov Weapons. Harrisburg, PA: Stackpole Books. ISBN 0811709167. OCLC 12549027.
- Hodges, Michael (2007). AK47: The Story of a Gun. San Francisco: MacAdam/Cage Pub. ISBN 978-1-59692-286-0. OCLC 245302609.
- Long, Duncan (1 September 1988). AK47: The Complete Kalashnikov Family of Assault Rifles. Boulder, Col.: Paladin Press. ISBN 978-0-87364-477-8. OCLC 430510761.
- Poyer, Joe (2006). The AK-47 and AK-74 Kalashnikov Rifles and Their Variations: A Shooter's and Collector's Guide. Tustin, Cal.: North Cape Publications. ISBN 978-1-882391-41-7. OCLC 867174693.
- Rottman, Gordon L. (2011). The AK-47: Kalashnikov-series Assault Rifles. Oxford: Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84908-835-0. OCLC 651902408.
- Vorobiev, Marco (2016). Gun Digest Shooter's Guide to AKs. Iola, WI: Gun Digest Book. ISBN 978-1-4402-4647-0. OCLC 954541182.[permanent dead link]
External links
Media related to AK family at Wikimedia Commons
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