Kalashnikov rifle

The Kalashnikov assault rifle 1974 model by Izhmash, Russia (AK-74)
The logo that is currently being used by Kalashnikov Concern to represent its series of AK-branded rifles.

Kalashnikov rifles (Russian: Автоматы Калашникова), also known as the AK platform, AK rifles or simply the AK, are a family of assault rifles based on Mikhail Kalashnikov's original design. They are officially known in Russian as avtomat Kalashnikova (Russian: автомат Калашникова, lit. 'Kalashnikov's Automatic Gun'), and informally as "kalash" in Russian. They were originally manufactured in the Soviet Union, by Kalashnikov Concern (formerly Izhmash). Rifles similar to the Kalashnikov and its Soviet variants were later produced in many countries friendly to the Soviet Bloc, with rifles based on its design such as the Galil ACE and the INSAS also being produced. The Kalashnikov is one of the most widely used firearms in the world, with an estimated 72 million rifles in global circulation.[1][2][3]

  1. ^ Blair, David (2015-07-02). "AK-47 Kalashnikov: The firearm which has killed more people than any other". Daily Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Archived from the original on 2022-01-12. Retrieved 2019-09-26.
  2. ^ Franko, Blake (2017-05-08). "The Gun That Is in Almost 100 Countries: Why the AK-47 Dominates". The National Interest. Archived from the original on June 3, 2023. Retrieved 2019-09-26.
  3. ^ McCarthy, Niall. "The Cost Of An AK-47 On The Black Market Around The World [Infographic]". Forbes. Archived from the original on May 9, 2023. Retrieved 2019-09-26.

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