Mikhail Kalashnikov, whose work as a weapons designer for the Soviet Union resulted in the creation of the famous (or infamous) AK-47, died today at the age of 94.
As an industrial designer, Kalashnikov is credited with the ability to design a machine that could cope with the real-life conditions in which it would be used. A concept that post-Browning American millitary firearms designers struggled to cope with.
There is a facinating book about the AK-47, I can’t recall the author offhand, but I’m sure others will have read it too. The book points out thet the success of the AK was due in no small part to it’s deliberately designed LACK of precision. Because of this “slop”, dirt, grit, mud, water, sand, etc don’t bind the moving parts.
Grouse
