| I said I would talk about real guns and I am! | | | | |
| Everybody knows about the AK-47, but not much | | | | Kalashnikov didn't stop with the AK-47; he |
| about its technical information or the man | | | | became General Designer of small arms for the |
| behind it. I'll start off talking about the | | | | Soviet Army, and developed several other |
| man; Mikhail Kalashnikov (born November 10, | | | | machine guns, which were used but never |
| 1919). Kalashnikov should be a familiar name, | | | | became as famous as the AK-47. Despite his |
| because the AK-47 is sometimes referred to it | | | | success, he has lived in the same place since |
| as that. Anyways, Kalashnikov was born to a | | | | 1949, and has pursued other interests. For |
| poor peasant family in a small village | | | | example, he has his own brand of vodka, which |
| located in Altai Krai, a part of Russia. He | | | | is sold worldwide. |
| was an engineer for a train depot for awhile, | | | | |
| and that is where he picked up his knowledge | | | | What Kalashnikov is somewhat upset about is |
| of mechanics. After being drafted and serving | | | | the widespread use of his weapon by |
| in the Red Army for three years, he was sent | | | | terrorists. Because of their durability yet |
| home because he was badly wounded. As he | | | | high power, they are terrorists' weapon of |
| recovered in the hospital, he started working | | | | choice, and have been used to kill hundreds |
| on gun designs, and after he healed he went | | | | of innocent people. However, he does not |
| to work for a Russian Institute. There, he | | | | regret making the weapon, as he feels that |
| designed many innovations for tanks, and his | | | | the positive effects it has had outweigh the |
| accomplishments earned him a promotion and | | | | negative. Ironically, he has become deaf from |
| more resources. He made use of those | | | | firing the AK-47 so many times, and even more |
| resources to design his most famous creation, | | | | ironic, he does not get any money from the |
| the "Avtomat Kalashnikova model 1947″ | | | | huge sales of the weapon. Kalashnikov |
| (English translation). Two years later, the | | | | survives on the money he made years ago and a |
| weapon was already implemented into the Red | | | | small state pension paid to him periodically. |
| Army. | | | | |