I didn't know the 47 in AK-47 stood for the year 1947 when it was invented

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L24410510.htm

Gun inventor Kalashnikov dreams of world peace

DELFT, Netherlands, Nov 26 (Reuters) - The inventor of what has been described as the world's most important and widespread weapon says he has one wish before he dies -- to live in a society without war.

"What I want is to live to see that moment when there is peace and happiness on the planet," Mikhail Kalashnikov, who created the assault rifle that bears his name, told Reuters.

"I want my legacy to be the spread of peace in the world; that the murders stop, that the wars stop and that politicians learn to settle their problems in a peaceful way."

Kalashnikov, 84, says that despite its proliferation in war zones around the world, he has never really viewed his invention as a killing machine, but as an instrument of peace.

Nearly six decades of test-firing have left the sprightly Kalashnikov -- now a decorated general -- hard of hearing. But he speaks clearly and passionately of what led him to create the AK-47, literally the "Automatic Kalashnikov, 1947".

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[GOPisEvil]

1. I saw that in a show about the AK-47 on The History Channel.

It's an amazing weapon. Edit - Mikhail is a pretty amazing guy, too.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

2. Mikhail is a really cool guy. He was active (as he could be)

in the Freeze movement, I met him a couple of times in NYC. Very sharp mind, very good at finding solutions to overlooked problems.

[brainshrub]

3. May he burn in hell

He knew what the weapon was going to be used for, and was probably paid very well for the use of his skills in creating it.
What a hypocrite to call for peace now, in his old age...when he had a hand in cutting short so many lives.

If there is a hell, the deepest pitts are populated with weapons-manufactures. (Including Alfred Nobel)

Bastards.

[drewb]

4. Well...

That certainly may be true, but I admire his pro-peace stand that he has taken later in life...

[brainshrub]

7. I don't buy that

What honor is there in making the hard choices in life once the risk is gone? As a young man he was given a choice...and he chose to use his education & skills to create a tool of death.

Now, in his old age with a pension earned from his years as a violence-enabler, we are to ADMIRE HIM???!!!

No!

Building weapons should be as taboo as child molestation. If it was, there would a lot fewer bastards like this pathetic old man.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

10. As a young man, he was NOT given a choice, he was under

attack from about a million Germans intent on killing every Russian. I am not sure that anyone who has not lived through that kind of trauma can come close to understanding the choices made or not made.
And furthermore, as a veteran and ex-carrier of such weapons, it is ludicrious to say a rifle is a tool of death. It is a tool of life to a combat soldier, an extension of your arms, eyes and mind.
Sure, we could get rid of all of them and go back to fighting with sticks and stones, but then life expectancy would drop and so would America's precious standard of living.
All in all, I think Mikhail did a damn fine job. He has been calling for sense in the world for about 25 years now, and IMHO is a true hero.

[brainshrub]

13. If the AK-47 was made in 1947

and WWII ended in 1945, why would he need to make a weapon to kill Germans?

It is a tool of life to a combat soldier

All weapons in the hands of a soldier are tools of death. Soldiers themselves are tools of death. The primary duty of a soldier is to do the will of the state by killing people & breaking things.
We can quibble wether or not we need armies to defend Liberty...but don't pretend that soldiering is a pro-life or pro-peace career choice.

Sure, we could get rid of all of them and go back to fighting with sticks and stones but then life expectancy would drop and so would America's precious standard of living.

Penacillin, sanitation, environmental laws and human rights have done more to extend my life than any bomb ever will.
If you mean to say that we need these weapons to be able secure the resources of other nations to maintain our standard of life, then I see no honor in our way of life. We should live sustainably, not depend on superior firepower.

But I digress from my point: People who make develop weapons for ruthless dictators or greedy corporations should not be given esteem in polite society.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

14. Ummm, development time, earlier versions,

things like that. It was completed in 1947, continuiously since 1941 or so.

Soldiers don't make policy. Some of us poor shlubs just ended up there. Are you saying I should have just stood up and let the VC/NVA use me for target practice? I am afriad I would not agree with that.

By fighting with stones, I meant we can return to the stone age. People will always kill other people.

And, one thing I agree with you whole heartedly...

If you mean to say that we need these weapons to be able secure the resources of other nations to maintain our standard of life, then I see no honor in our way of life. We should live sustainably, not depend on superior firepower.

There IS NO HONOR in our way of life. Period.

[brainshrub]

18. Fire away!

I agree that if you are in a combat situation FIRE AWAY!

I am tired of seeing commercials advertising the military as some sort of corporate-training program or self-improvement class. There is a legitimate role for a military in a society...but we should not view soldering as an opportunity for social advancement or education.

My beef isn't with solders; it's with the people who pretend or ignore the ramifications of their machines of death, then pretend they are working for peace.

[TexasMexican]

23. military deterent = peace

North Korea has nuclear deterent, we are at peace with them.

Iraq didnt have a nuclear deterent, look what we did to them.

[TexasMexican]

11. yeah making knives should be taboo

because they are weapons after all. :eyes:

[brainshrub]

15. Knives no, swords yes.

It's a matter of intent. If you knew the sword you were making was going to be used to kill people, then you bear a bit of the responcibility.

I know my viewpoint is extreme, and I understand there will be exceptions in wartime. However, as a rule I do not care to associate with people who work for weapons manufacturers much like you would not associate with Nazis.

[DoNotRefill]

22. Ummmm...if your country was literally being overrun by the Nazis....

would you hand them flowers, or fight them?

Oh, and BTW, he never received a penny in royalties, and receives the same pension that your average ex-soviet tractor driver gets. He's got spiffy medals from a defunct government, but no money. Even if you're an unemployed college student in the US, I GUARANTEE that you have a better standard of living than he does.

[TexasMexican]

9. thats a tad bit harsh.

I'm sure he didnt think his gun would be used by Islamic terrorists worldwide.

At the time when he started working on it the Soviet Union was just winding down the second world war, during that time the average Soviet infantryman was woefully underequiped.

He was just doing his patriotic duty so that the next time his nation was attacked they would have the necessary tools to defend themselves.

If its anyone's fault for current distribution of AK-47s worldwide it would be the fault of the Soviet Union. They were the ones that made it so widespread, not this man.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

12. Actually, no, it was designed during WWII, there were several

previous versions... AK42, 43a and 45 IIRC...
and most of the world-wide spread AK's were made in China, Yugoslavia and East Germany, who were authorized to make them for export.
The Soviet's did not want to export the rifle, the Red Army wanted to keep it for themselves, but the market demanded it.

[solinvictus]

19. Mikhail Kalashnikov

"was probably paid very well for the use of his skills in creating it."

Nope, he never was. He was given a medal for it, but received little financial gain for the weapon. The Ishvesk arms factory owns the licensing for it, but he receives no royalties.

"He knew what the weapon was going to be used for"

Wow! Brilliant observation! He designed a weapon and it was used as, stay with me here, A WEAPON! Kalashnikov designed the prototypes at the height of World War 2 when thousands of his countrymen were dying each day at the hands of an invader. I suppose in your powder puff, Care Bears world people don't hurt each other.

[0rganism]

5. So many weapon inventors hoping for peace...

"Now I am become Death, destroyer of worlds" -- RJ Oppenheimer
"If only I had known, I should have become a watchmaker." -- A Einstein

At least Kalashnikov seems at peace with himself in the end.

[T Roosevelt]

6. Yeah, the Soviets weren't very imaginative

Their tanks were the same...T-(year) for Tank, 19xx (example: T-80)

[NNN0LHI]

8. Look what is on the Mozambique flag

Flag of Mozambique

Flag Description:
three equal horizontal bands of green (top), black, and yellow with a red isosceles triangle based on the hoist side; the black band is edged in white; centered in the triangle is a yellow five-pointed star bearing a crossed rifle and hoe in black superimposed on an open white book

[dolo amber]

16. Kinda off topic, but

I didn't know there was a difference between a rifle and a shotgun till a couple years ago...:eyes:

[hussar]

17. Damn fine weapon watch the video

http://club.guns.ru/images/video/ak-74m.mpg

The image is very small you may want to maximise your screen view

[solinvictus]

20. AK 74

I will have one by February....oh yes I will.

[Aristus]

21. Word out to brainshrub re: the development of the AK-47;

The Soviets wanted Kalashnikov to develop a weapon that would help insure that no one else could invade the Soviet Union and kill 25 million people. I always thought the idea of developing weapons as a means of keeping the peace was an idiotic one, but in this case, it makes some sense.

[FDRrocks]

24. poor guy...

it's sad to see his motives... fending off the nazis... mixed with the results... cheaply arming various armies of cretins. I hope he can die with his dream in full realization!