[Kov]

"The Ak would be one of my last choice if I were to take a rifle into battle."

But it would be my first choice. I own one and a bloody AR (not anymore however since I sold it), and to my tastes the AR is not very well as rounded as my AK-74. As for the AN-93...

[Rowan.]

The Ak-47 is a great weapon in fact so that they made all other versions of it. Light Machine gun-RPK and RPD
Sniper Rifle-Dragunov SVD
Sub Machine gun-AK-74 SU
the Kalashnikov series is one of the best, that good in fact that Kalashnikovs son, has further devolovped rifles.

[Jing]

is it me that AK is similar to MP-5 and things? look at MP-5, because of its succession MP5SD, MP5K, and etc etc was born- much a like similarity- i am not talking about gun structure of things but the popularity and things

[Comrade Ogilvy]

While the AK-47 is widespread and indeed durable it will never compare to the Virgin Madsen ... the fav weapon of socialist uprising in South American.



A remarkable gun in almost every way, it was the first light machinegun produced in quantity. Used by the Russian cavalry during the Russo-Japanese War in 1904, the same basic model was manufactured for over 50 years and saw service in innumerable wars. 7.62 mm, 450 rpm, 30 shot detachable gravity feed magazine. Metal bipod. The weapon pictured here is engraved "Property of the Chilean Army".

However, one might point the the MG42, which is still seeing service in the ongoing slaugter in Iraq (Mounted on the turret of the Danish submarine the in the Eufrates)



The MG42, called "Hitler's Buzz Saw", reputed to be the world's best machine gun, had an awesome rate of fire of 1200-1500 rpm, fired 7.92 x 57mm rounds. The "swoosh" sound of the MG42 firing, compared to the "rat-a-tat" of the MG34, was terrifying to Allied troops, many of whom took cover when hearing the sound of the devastating MG42. Current American M60 said to be derived from the MG42. The MG42 came out in 1942, was machine stamped, thus easier to manufacture than the MG34, and came with replacement barrels. See this weapon in the movies "Saving Private Ryan" and "Band of Brothers", about the 101st Airborne Division.

[Jing]

Band of Brothers- another good war drama... WW2 created alot of oldies but goodies... e.g. M1Thompson SMG, MG42, and etc etc-

[Rowan.]

RudeBwoy I positive that the second weapon that you have shown is actually an MG34. not an MG42.

[jaakko]

RudeBwoy I positive that the second weapon that you have shown is actually an MG34. not an MG42.

Wrong, it is MG-42. It should be easy to recognise by its barrel sleeve.

[Truth-a-naut]

Speaking of WW2 weapons the Legion here has a STG-44 on display brought back as a war trophy... how is the relevant to the AK-47? Kalishinikov studied the 44 while working out the 47.

[Kov]

Visiting some World War 2 museums in Russia one cant but wonder if the AK is in any way like the German K-98 (or so I think).

One has to just look at a K-98 in detail to see how very much, if not exactly, it looks like the AK. Everything, sights to stock; minus its color and size (due to when it was made). To me there would be no surprise to see that Kalashnikov deprived his general design from it.

[Yeddi]

Ak-47 and the Stg-44 side by side.

[Truth-a-naut]

Kov I think you have names mixed up, the K-98 was a bolt-action rifle... quite different from the '44 or the '47 for that matter.

[Political Interest]

I would always pick a AK-47 as my choice of weapon for my Nations Military because it is cheap,reliable and offers alot of ammo.

[Rowan.]

sorry rudebwoy, further studies teach me that there is an MG42. I wasn't aware of it i onlt htought there was MG34.

K98 is bolt action.
AK 47 is the russian equivelent to the german MP44 because the Germans were the first Army in 20century history to supply a standart autmatic assault rifle to it army. The Russians copied creating the AK 47.

[Comrade Ogilvy]

Its quite okay colombian drug lord. From my time in the army I was educated on MG42 so I was more surprised than anything. However, I’m not ‘gun adoring’ and normally wouldn't know the difference between a pellet gun and the M16. But I'm familiar with MG42 because they forced me to use it during my mandatory service. That stupid thing weighs a ton.

[Jesse]

Which army did you serve in? I was unaware that any second world war German weapons saw service after the end of the conflict. I recall seeing photos of some sort of rebel in Africa using a Sturmgewehr 44, probably because it used the same type of ammunition (I believe) as the Kalashnikov series of weapons, therefore, giving it versatility, but thats pretty well all.

[Truth-a-naut]

The West German armies used the mg42 and various other rifles up until the 80's.

[Jesse]

Wow - I knew it was a popular and high-tech weapon for the '40s, but its obviously of a higher caliber (aha, puns ) than I thought.

[jaakko]

I recall seeing photos of some sort of rebel in Africa using a Sturmgewehr 44, probably because it used the same type of ammunition (I believe) as the Kalashnikov series of weapons, therefore, giving it versatility, but thats pretty well all.

Stg 44 has indeed seen some service in Africa, but it's of different calibre than AK-47 / AKM. The former is in 7.92mm x 33 and the latter is in 7.62mm x 39. Sturmgewehr and Kalashnikov have most in common in their appearance. Apart from that, they're quite different. Both are gas-actuated and use a similar kind of magazine, but that's quite it. The idea of "assault rifle" is of course German and no one can deny it. Still, the assault rifles of other nations that followed nevertheless are designs of their own.

MG-42 isn't much in use anymore. After WWII, BRD began producing a NATO calibre version of it, the MG-1 which was later replaced by MG-3. It's essentially the same as MG-42, just in different calibre and a little modernised.

Back to Kalashnikov. The Finnish assault rifles are a proof that the design of AK-47 can be used for accurate rifles. They don't differ from original AKs in much else except that the parts are of tigher fit (it must be said that the "looseness" of AK's moving parts does contribute a lot to its reliability) and the barrel is non-chromed and gives better accuracy (again resulting in that it must be taken better care of). I think the Finnish RKs are a good balance between reliability and accuracy (altough this results in somewhat higher price). Look yourselves:

http://world.guns.ru/assault/as43-e.htm

[Truth-a-naut]

Back to Kalashnikov. The Finnish assault rifles are a proof that the design of AK-47 can be used for accurate rifles.

The Fins have produced the best AK clone on the planet... the Sako M90.

[Comrade Ogilvy]

Which army did you serve in? I was unaware that any Second World War German weapons saw service after the end of the conflict.

My mandatory service was served in the Danish Panzer Infantry before transferring to a scout/patrol unit under our version of the 'Hunter Force'. The MG42 was standard issue in all infantry units in early 90s and to my knowledge still is. Transferring to the scout unit I was first issued a 9mm MP49 (at least that was the name used by the Danish Army). I have never seen the MP49 anywhere else but it was very similar to the MP38 (It certainly seemed as old as the MP38). Think it was an H&K - but I'm not sure. Just before leaving the army I was finally issued an H&K MP5.

The West German armies used the mg42 and various other rifles up until the 80's.

Now this might explain why. Basically all handguns in the Danish Army were rented from the German Army up until the mid-90s when a gradual replacement started taking place. Of course only obsolete guns where available for rent.