The AK-47: The Most Reliable Killing Machine in Modern History

F15 💪

Proud AK dad.😎

Most of the AK’s you’ll come across are Chinese made type 56 AK’s which were produced without license by China.

Guns are a necessary evil in my opinion. The cats already out of the bag. If you start restricting access, eventually the only people that will have them will be the people that you wouldn’t want to have them.

me going to wherever the frick they sell AKs for 10-300 dollars for and buying 30 of them

Guns have also been called the great equalizer, since they allow a physically weaker person to defend their families from physically stronger aggressors

The AK-47, commonly known as the Avtomat Kalashnikova 1947, holds a revered position in the annals of military history, representing an enduring testament to the ingenuity and design prowess of its creator, Mikhail Kalashnikov. Born out of necessity during the tumultuous post-World War II era, this iconic assault rifle emerged in the late 1940s and has since become an internationally recognized symbol of military might, insurgency, and the complexities of modern warfare. To delve into the profound impact, historical significance, technical intricacies, and far-reaching implications of the AK-47, we embark on a comprehensive exploration of this legendary firearm.

*The Genesis of Innovation:*
The story of the AK-47 begins with its inventor, Mikhail Kalashnikov, a Soviet engineer who, in 1947, designed a weapon that would revolutionize the world of small arms. Kalashnikov's vision for a dependable, easily maintainable, and cost-effective rifle was forged through his experiences as a tank commander during World War II. Witnessing the shortcomings of existing rifles, he set out to create a firearm that could endure the rigors of battle while remaining accessible to conscripts and irregular forces.

*The Iconic Design:*
The hallmark of the AK-47 is its distinctive design, characterized by a robust, stamped steel receiver, a curved detachable magazine typically holding 30 rounds of ammunition, and a piston-driven gas system. These features were meticulously engineered to ensure durability and reliability in various environmental conditions, from the harsh winters of Siberia to the arid deserts of Africa. Its selective fire system allows operators to switch between automatic and semi-automatic firing modes, providing adaptability and versatility in combat scenarios.

*A Global Phenomenon:*
The impact of the AK-47 transcends borders, cultures, and ideologies. Its widespread adoption by military forces, guerrilla groups, and paramilitary organizations across the globe has made it a ubiquitous presence in armed conflicts and revolutionary struggles over the decades. Its versatility, affordability, and simplicity of operation have made it the weapon of choice for both state armies and insurgent movements.

*The Complex Legacy:*
The AK-47's legacy is multifaceted and continues to evolve. Its enduring presence on the battlefield has fueled contentious debates about its role in perpetuating violence and instability. Critics argue that its ubiquity contributes to conflicts and terrorism, while proponents assert that it empowers those fighting against oppression and tyranny. The ethics of firearms proliferation and the moral responsibilities of weapon manufacturers and governments are subjects of ongoing discussion.

*Technological Advancements:*
The AK-47's impact on firearms design and development cannot be overstated. It served as a catalyst for the evolution of assault rifles, influencing subsequent generations of weapons systems. The AK-47's simplicity and reliability inspired engineers and designers worldwide to create their own iterations of the assault rifle, further shaping the landscape of modern warfare.

*Cultural and Symbolic Significance:*
Beyond its military and political dimensions, the AK-47 has seeped into popular culture, art, and literature. Its distinct silhouette is instantly recognizable, and it has been featured in countless films, video games, and works of fiction. It has become an enduring symbol of revolution, resistance, and armed struggle, resonating with those who seek to challenge oppressive regimes or protect their communities.

*The Global Reach:*
The AK-47's journey extends to nearly every corner of the globe. From the jungles of Southeast Asia to the battlefields of the Middle East, from the mountains of South America to the plains of Africa, the AK-47 has been wielded by combatants and peacekeepers alike. Its story is interwoven with the histories of nations, revolutions, and conflicts, leaving an indelible mark on the collective memory of humanity.

*Evolving Variants:*
The AK-47's enduring popularity has led to the creation of various variants and clones. Nations and manufacturers have adapted the design to meet their specific needs, resulting in a wide array of models, including the AKM, RPK, and AK-74, each tailored for different roles and environments. These variants have their own unique characteristics, but they all share the AK-47's core principles of reliability and simplicity.

*Impact on Geopolitics:*
The AK-47's influence extends beyond the battlefield; it has played a role in shaping global politics and diplomacy. The proliferation of the AK-47 and its variants has raised questions about arms control, international relations, and the role of arms exports in geopolitics. The weapon's availability and use in various conflicts have prompted international efforts to regulate the arms trade.

*Economic and Industrial Significance:*
The production and export of AK-47 rifles and their derivatives have contributed significantly to the economies of several countries. Arms manufacturing industries have emerged and thrived around the production of these firearms, providing jobs and revenue for nations that produce them. However, this economic benefit is also coupled with ethical and geopolitical dilemmas related to arms exports.

*The Paradox of Proliferation:*
The AK-47 embodies a paradox. While its design facilitates its widespread availability and use, it also raises important questions about responsibility, accountability, and the unintended consequences of its proliferation. Its ubiquity has led to complex geopolitical dynamics, with nations supporting or opposing various factions based on their use of the AK-47.

*The Human Cost:*
It is impossible to discuss the AK-47 without acknowledging the human cost of its use. Its involvement in numerous conflicts and acts of violence has resulted in untold suffering and loss of life. The ethical dimension of its continued use raises profound moral questions about the responsibility of individuals, governments, and manufacturers in the face of such consequences.

*Modernization and Adaptation:*
In the 21st century, the AK-47 continues to evolve. Some nations and manufacturers have introduced modernized versions of the rifle, incorporating features such as optics, accessory rails, and ergonomic improvements to meet the demands of contemporary warfare. These adaptations reflect the enduring relevance of the AK-47 in the arsenal of military forces worldwide.

*The Road Ahead:*
The legacy of the AK-47 is an intricate tapestry woven from historical events, technological advancements, cultural references, and geopolitical realities. Its impact on modern warfare, international relations, and human societies continues to shape our world today. As we contemplate the future, the story of the AK-47 serves as a reminder of the complex interplay between innovation, conflict, ethics, and the enduring power of an iconic design.

To answer the question "Does the gun kill people or does people kill people with a gun". The question only has one answer. People kill people with a gun.

A gun is just a tool as any other. If you load a gun and place it on a stable table it will still not kill anyone. Just like a hammer or a saw does not kill anyone when left undisturbed. It might be reckless to do this, but not that much less than leaving a power tool or a table saw always connected to energy.
If you still do not get my point, replace the gun with a sword. Did the sword kill someone or did the person holding the sword? The sword do not magically place itself inside of someone if correctly used.
Guns do no magically make people into murderers. Those people already wanted to kill someone. If they shouldn't have used a gun they should have used something else. Violence was not invented with the gun after all.

The problem I have with these kind of anti-gun rhetorics is that it only treat a gun as an offenisve and oppressive force. It completely forgets or ignore every single time a gun is used in defense to save someone else or their users life. A gun can be used to take life, but it is also used to protect life. The problem is that "lives saved" is not going to be listen on any record for the simple fact no one died. It is hard to record events of when perpetrators choose not to kill someone because they didn't like their chance when the someone is able to fight back. Nothing happened in the end.

Great video

You look like Vsauce

Dear Santa, .... I've been well behaved this year.......

It could actually be easier just saying.

It is worth noting that the biggest improvement that came with the AK-74 was not with the gun itself. Instead, the big change was the ammunition.

The AK47 used a 7.62mm (.30 cal) round, with the same diameter as the 7.62 round used by the Mosin-Nagant. This was done to simplify production , as all Soviet weapons, regardless of design, could use the same, 7.62mm barrel blanks.

However, during the Vietnam War, the Soviets first encountered the American 5.56mm cartridge via their North Vietnamese allies. This small .223 caliber cartridge was lighter, produced less recoil and seemingly counterintuitively, produced more lethal wounds than the 7.62. This was because the 5.56 was less likely to completely penetrate the target, thereby dumping all its kinetic energy into the target, whereas the 7.62 often overpenetrated, with much kinetic energy still left in the bullet.

As a result of this revelation, the Soviets designed their own small-caliber cartridge, the 5.45x39mm, which the AK74 was designed around.

I love hearing British people talk about guns 😂😂😂

Amazing research

Oh no, you didn't mention the "1 gun 2 men" thing. That's an absolute myth. It's ok to say the soviets were the bad guys, but they weren't stupid. A man with no gun is useless. And the USSR did not lack infantry guns. If you look at the production numbers of rifles like the Mosin, you'll see that they actually had a surplus. But well, "Enemy At The Gates" is a cool movie I'd say.

I have a Kalashnikov AKM bullt in 1962 brand new, Never been fired before, This was one of Muhamar Ghadaffi's confiscated by the Italian Police in the 70's,

guns kill guns/ people kill people. Taxes are as sure as death, WHY? .. Because the IRS has people with guns, and they will get what they think you owe them! What if the IRS didn't have guns? What if the police did NOT have guns? What if GOOD people did NOT have guns? The bad people will have all of the guns, and they will kill UNARMED good people. MOST serial killers prefer a knife cause it's up close & personal. GOOD FOLK HAVE GUNS! Four 4-letter words 2 member.

The Democratic armed nations choice*

This should speak volumes about the war in Ukraine 🧐

I thought I’d give this guy one more chance to try and make an accurate video about a subject, but apparently that was too much to ask for. My favourite bit was when he said it came with a type of bolt that closed the breach just after the weapon was fired….. absolutely no knowledge about the subject whatsoever.

I have fired an AK-47. This was back in the day when ATF would license them for private ownership for a pretty steep licensing fee (late 1980s). Damned thing felt like it would fly apart. This was comparing one to a Thompson submachine gun(too heavy with a 100 round drum and an Uzi(pulls badly up & left). It just felt CHEAP and LOOSE in comparison. But, my stepbrother, who was a Class 3 gun dealer said that was part of the point. They were cheap, and their loose tolerances meant you could drag it through a swamp and it'll still fire.

No, people kill people. It doesnt matter how desparate, how eady it is to get a weapon, if sombody is forcing them to do it. It is always a person. A gun is just a tool. Tgat comment where you try to lawyer a argument against tgat absolute truth is the reason i've disliked this video.

If guns kill why has no gun been convicted of murder?

The AK family has not only killed a lot of people, it's also killed a lot of wild animals. It's principally responsible for the elimination of many African Elephant herds - as a percentage of total population lost it's been far more devastating for that species and other common poached mammals than it has been for Humans.
The AK has not made Humans an endangered species.

Yeah… f that politics statement in the end. Im done with everything Simon. For someone who comes off so intelligent its obvious he is so narrow minded.

"Freedom Fighter"

I wonder if in the future ak 47 weapon will be like. An what weapons show signs of being that

Fun fact, The AK-47 Could never be accepted for service in the US military because it couldn't pass the mud test.
The mud test is where you dunk the rifle in a barrel of mud and then it has to shoot accurately.

Stepping on Ian’s toes😂

fun fact, the ak 47 is no more reliable than any other rifle. its famed reliability is sales propoganda

Let me just address the typically British pearl clutching whinging about "assault rifles," which the AK actually is: First of all, the AK is cheap because of a surplus of them. They're actually quite expensive to make, requiring high quality steal and advancing milling, billeting, or stamping processes. America has struggled to reproduce budget AKs and has suffered for it. Second, people do kill people and small arms are hardly the best way of doing it. Even in war, most deaths come from artillery and air strikes. Assault rifles are merely to give the cannon fodder and door kickers a slight advantage. Even today, if the goal of mentally ill were to kill as many as possible in as little time, they'd use bombs and poison, and they have, but the media just didn't give them the attention they craved until they started using specific guns the media wanted to vilify. The answer, of course, is not to assume that humanity has too much freedom and that the government should be trusted even more. The exact opposite, in fact. I would think the naked tyranny of governments across the world over the last three years would demonstrate that, but people have the memory of goldfish when convenient.

The AK is supremely overrated. It's a good gun, but I've seen them jam all the time. Point that out and the owner will gaslight you with variations of:"Not the guns fault, doesn't count." Be it from the "light primer strikes on terrible steal case ammo" that doesn't give an AR any trouble at all, or "this gun just doesn't like these magazines," because they're made in the wrong factory on the wrong day in the wrong Soviet Bloc country like a shitty wine. However, get the right gun with the right ammo and the right magazines and shooting an AK is a hell of a time.

Heh even you fell in "assault rifle " hokus pokus

I think the AR-15 is more reliable in the mud than the AK-47. Garand thumb proved it in his videos. Go look for yourselves.

Fun Fact, the AK is actually NOT reliable at all.. and it's also rather clunky, inaccurate, and... well.. just plain Shyte.
AR's are much better weapons. Eugene Stoner made a phenomenal gun for the American military...
If the AK is so good, then why is it that the Ukranian military is largely tossing the AK for NATO weaponry instead?
Oh right, because it's shit.

Making guns easy to use equalises people. Banning guns is not the solution, talking is. We need to negotiate peace with our neighbours.

Simon- I love you’re channel and think you’re great but this wasn’t one of your best videos. Let’s start with “For urban fighting it was better to have the AK-47 instead of something requiring heavier shells” The AK-47 fires a 7.62mm cartridge or bullet or round- not a “shell” as you called it, so did the M1 Garand. This is the largest caliber standard assault rifle ammo in the world. All standard NATO assault rifles use a 5.56mm round and the AK-74 uses a 5.45mm round-both of which are much smaller than the 7.62mm round. The AK-12 currently used by the Russian military also uses the 5.45mm round. “ Then there’s “the AK-12 shots a broader range of shells…”. No, it only shoots the 5.45 mm cartridge. They have an AK-15 that shoot the 7.62mm cartridge. Enough about technical info. When you said/read “Those who sell guns often hide behind the statement that a person needs to make the conscious decision to pull the trigger. Guns don’t kill people, people kill people.” you abruptly veered off from an interesting video about the most produced gun ever into a very liberal- and naive- ideology. Do you or Oliver Guiberteau seriously think that if Mikhail Kalashnikov didn’t invent the AK-47 rifle that there would be significantly fewer total firearm deaths since 1947? If you do think that it’s based on fantasy or hope- not reality. People DO kill people and always have and always will. March 29th 1461 during the War of the Roses up to 27,000 Englishmen were hacked to death in one day! Another commenter here mentioned the machetes used in the Rwanda genocide. People will always find a way to kill people and they will always use the most efficient way available to them. Please keep your Megaprojects videos about actual Mega projects and leave the always liberal and predictable political or moral ideology content to one of your other channels like Brain Blaze that most of us on this channel don’t watch. We get enough of that exact same naive ideology on regular mainstream media already. In an ever more polarized world this channel is an escape from ideology and politics for most of us. Were just here for entertainment and information NOT ideology. Thank you for your assistance with this and your usually awesome content. Note to Oliver- kind of lazy on your writing here. You could have interviewed hundreds of thousands (or millions) of people with more firearm knowledge than yourself before you wrote this in order to avoid such basic mistakes like calling a bullet a shell. (Shotgun ammo is called shot shells or just shells) You made Simon and yourself look a little silly with this one. You can do better! Cheers!

This is entertaining, but God awful. Riddled with inaccuracies

You mean the ak74 or akm not many ak47 were actually built

My knowledge of and interest in firearms history and development goes pretty deep. Obviously, deeper than than whoever wrote this garbage. This script is so full of oversimplifications and outright falsehoods that I turned the video off halfway through yesterday. Having just finished the second half the only good thing I can say about it is, "at least the writer is consistent" .

Terrorist or freedom fighter, the label all depends on who is paying for the press.

You passivist ALWAYS look at the GUNS kill people but NEVER a gun saved some people. A intruder breaks into you house hellbent on injuring your family what's your solution...talk him to death? Just exactly in WW II would we have defected Hitler and his ilk with slingshots or rocks and arrows? Yeah I can hear you now.

People kill people with their hands by pulling triggers

I'm a U.S ARMY VET FROM 1978 -1992

I,d like one so I could send the bad guys to where they belong