It has been manufactured in many countries and has seen service with armed forces as well as revolutionary and terrorist organizations worldwide. Even after six decades the model and its variants remain the most widely used and popular assault rifles in the world because of their durability, low production cost, and ease of use.
The original AK-47 was one of the first true "assault rifles" to be manufactured, after the original Sturmgewehr 44. In 1949, the AK-47 was officially accepted by the Soviet Armed Forces and used by the majority of the member states of the Warsaw Pact. An early development of the design was the AKS (S- Skladnoy or "folding"), which was equipped with an underfolding metal shoulder stock. In 1947 the fixed-stock version was introduced into service with select units of the Soviet Army. After the war in 1946, the AK-46 was presented for official military trials. It is also known as a Kalashnikov, an "AK", or in Russian slang, Kalash.ĭesign work on the AK-47 began in the last year of World War II (1945). It is officially known as Avtomat Kalashnikova ( Автомат Калашникова). The AK-47 is a selective-fire, gas-operated 7.62×39mm assault rifle, first developed in the Soviet Union by Mikhail Kalashnikov. AK-47 ĥ.21 kg (11.5 lb) with loaded magazine ġ0, 20, 30, 40 or 75 -round detachable box and drum style magazine, also compatible with 40-round box or 75-round drum magazines from the RPKĪdjustable iron sights, 100–800 metre adjustments, 378 mm (14.9 in) sight radius For other uses, see AK-47 (disambiguation).