Kalashnikov rifles (Russian: Автоматы Калашникова), also known as the AK platform, AK rifles or simply the AK, are a family of assault rifles based on Mikhail Kalashnikov's original design. 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, by Kalashnikov Concern (formerly Izhmash). 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 firearms 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:
Similar rifles
The following rifles were either based on the Kalashnikov design, or have a different design but are superficially similar in appearance:
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.[27]
Both the AK platform and the AR platform are considered the quintessential assault rifle platforms.
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^ a bFranko, Blake (2017-05-08). "The Gun That Is in Almost 100 Countries: Why the AK-47 Dominates". The National Interest. Archived from the original on June 3, 2023. Retrieved 2019-09-26.
^McCarthy, Niall. "The Cost Of An AK-47 On The Black Market Around The World [Infographic]". Forbes. Archived from the original on May 9, 2023. Retrieved 2019-09-26.
^"Концерн Калашников -- Официальный сайт". kalashnikov.com.
^"200 series Kalashnikov assault rifle: AK-200, AK-201, AK-202, AK-203, AK-204, AK-205 (Russia)". modernfirearms.net. 7 June 2018.
^"Albanian Small Arms". Aftermath Gun Club. 20 April 2015. Archived from the original on 2017-10-14.
^Азербайджан приступил к серийному производству автоматов АК-74М по российской лицензии [Azerbaijan began serial production of AK-74M assault rifles under Russian license]. ЦАМТО (in Russian). Moscow: Centre for Analysis of World Arms Trade. 8 July 2011. Archived from the original on April 22, 2023. Retrieved 8 July 2011.
^Dimov, Roman. "Kalashnikov Arms Versions". The AK Site. Archived from the original on 29 September 2007.
^"MPi-K / MPi-AK Assault Rifle Series". Энциклопедия оружия и боеприпасов (in Russian). Archived from the original on April 27, 2023. Retrieved 19 February 2013.
^"Advertisement flyer for manufacturing capabilities of the GAEC – Gafat Armament Engineering Complex". Archived from the original on July 10, 2011. Retrieved 2014-01-23. Retrieved on 8 October 2010.
^"Hungary. Assault Rifles". Энциклопедия оружия и боеприпасов (in Russian). Archived from the original on April 27, 2023. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
^"Nigeria to mass-produce Nigerian version of AK-47 rifles". Archived from the original on 14 January 2009. Retrieved 5 October 2008.
^"DICON – Defence Industry Corp. of Nigeria". Archived from the original on 2013-12-27. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
^US Department of Defense, North Korea Country Handbook 1997, Appendix A: Equipment Recognition, PPSH 1943 SUBMACHINEGUN [sic] (TYPE-50 CHINA/MODEL-49 DPRK), p. A-79.
^US Department of Defense, North Korea Country Handbook 1997, Appendix A: Equipment Recognition, TYPE-68 (AKM) ASSAULT RIFLE, p. A-77.
^Russia confronts Pakistan, China over copied weapons, 2009-11-16, archived from the original on 2011-07-17, retrieved 2011-10-16
^Onokoy, Vladimir (16 July 2018). "Pashtun Names for AKs in Pakistan and Afghanistan". The Firearm Blog. Archived from the original on July 1, 2023. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
^"Poland. Assault Rifles". Энциклопедия оружия и боеприпасов (in Russian). Archived from the original on April 26, 2023. Retrieved 19 February 2013.
^Raigorodetsky, Aleksandr (6 October 2011). Автомат "Малюк" ("Малыш") (Украина) ["Malyuk" Assault Rifle (Ukraine)]. Оружейная экзотика (in Russian). Archived from the original on 2015-09-03. Retrieved 1 Dec 2012.
^"Palmetto State Armory's Website".
^"Kalashnikov USA Website". 27 October 2022.
^Smith, Aaron (30 June 2015). "The first American-made Kalashnikovs are now for sale". CNN.com. Archived from the original on July 1, 2023.
^Slowik, Max (August 10, 2015). "Kalashnikov USA prices out first wave of American AKs". Guns.com. Archived from the original on February 1, 2016.
^"Primeros 3,000: Cavim inicia entrega de fusiles de asalto Kalashnikov AK-103 a la Fuerza Armada de Venezuela". infodefensa.com. 3 June 2013. Archived from the original on November 23, 2022. Retrieved 14 September 2015. (in spanish)
^Sieff, Martin (15 August 2007). "Defense Focus: Venezuela's Kalashnikovs". UPI.com. Archived from the original on 2008-06-04. Retrieved 19 October 2008.
^Reeder, David (6 October 2018). "Breach Bang Clear". Archived from the original on October 17, 2018.
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.
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]