Kalashnikov dead at 94

[Ronin13]

"He did createcopy The most widely copied, used, distributed and war proven rifle to ever grace this planet."

By that I hope you're not inferring that he copied the Sturmgewehr 44... a common misconception as the AK was the most logical design Kalashnikov could have created (in his words at least). In which case the Stg 44 was not very widely used or distributed.

[UrbanWolf]

"He did createcopy The most widely copied, used, distributed and war proven rifle to ever grace this planet."

By that I hope you're not inferring that he copied the Sturmgewehr 44... a common misconception as the AK was the most logical design Kalashnikov could have created (in his words at least). In which case the Stg 44 was not very widely used or distributed.

Actually the AR-15 has more similarities with the STG 44, grip--same, safety--same, mag release--same, magwell--same.

[Bailey Guns]

At any rate, Kalashnikov wouldn't even be qualified to sweep floors in John Browning's shop.

[KevDen2005]

At any rate, Kalashnikov wouldn't even be qualified to sweep floors in John Browning's shop.

+1,000,000

[Ridge]

+10000! MK was a one trick communist Siberian pony. Browning is/was the God of firearms! His contributions: 1911, HP, Woodsman, A5, BAR, Ma Deuce, 1917, 1919, 1892, M4...

Over 100 patents, numerous cartridges, and an AMERICAN! Just saying...

MK: AK47, AKM, AK74, RPK, PKM, Krinkov, AK-101, AK-103

[Bailey Guns]

MK: AK47, AKM, AK74, RPK, PKM, Krinkov, AK-101, AK-103

That's like saying an AR is a "new" rifle/invention because it's chambered in a different caliber or has a different barrel length, isn't it? The AR-15, M16, SP1, M16 A1, M16 A2, M16 A4, M4, AR-10, etc... may have all had minor variations from the original but they're basically the same rifle.

I'm not knocking the AK or Kalashnikov's efforts, really. Obviously, the history of the rifle speaks for itself. But the man certainly wasn't in the same league as a firearms designer as John Browning. Not even close. Objectively, I'm not sure I'd even put him in the top 10 designers. His gun is a different story in terms of it's proliferation and longevity.

[Hound]

That's like saying an AR is a "new" rifle/invention because it's chambered in a different caliber or has a different barrel length, isn't it? The AR-15, M16, SP1, M16 A1, M16 A2, M16 A4, M4, AR-10, etc... may have all had minor variations from the original but they're basically the same rifle.

I'm not knocking the AK or Kalashnikov's efforts, really. Obviously, the history of the rifle speaks for itself. But the man certainly wasn't in the same league as a firearms designer as John Browning. Not even close. Objectively, I'm not sure I'd even put him in the top 10 designers. His gun is a different story in terms of it's proliferation and longevity.

The difference is in the equation...... Quality or Quantity. Browning produced some revolutionary, quality, accurate, high tolerance guns. Kalashnikov produced a revolutionary gun process, based on low tolerance and the ability to be made easily. Roughly synonymous with the philosophies of the WW2 Panzer/Tiger tanks vs the Sherman.

[Bailey Guns]

The difference is in the equation...... Quality or Quantity. Browning produced some revolutionary, quality, accurate, high tolerance guns. Kalashnikov produced a revolutionary gun process, based on low tolerance and the ability to be made easily. Roughly synonymous with the philosophies of the WW2 Panzer/Tiger tanks vs the Sherman.

I don't dispute the quality v quantity thing. There are advantages to both philosophies.

I certainly don't think he invented the process of mass manufacturing (I know you didn't use that word). Just to be clear, he may have adapted it to rifle production, but he didn't invent it.

[Hound]

Um... The guys refurbishing Sherman's on that Discovery show might disagree with the Sherman tolerance issue. They were not happy when they tried to put two of them together to make one good one and bitched the entire show about tolerances and how the priority was get them out instead of use a measure. That being stated you missed my point and then backed it up. I was talking to quality vs quantity as a philosophy, which you seem to support. I was not going down the tolerances road for Shermans till you brought it up.

[Skip]

[snip]

But the man certainly wasn't in the same league as a firearms designer as John Browning. Not even close. Objectively, I'm not sure I'd even put him in the top 10 designers. His gun is a different story in terms of it's proliferation and longevity.

Not in the same league...