Mikhail Kalashnikov
Mikhail Kalashnikov | |
|---|---|
Михаил Калашников | |
| Deputy of the Supreme Soviet | |
| In office 1950–1958 | |
| In office 1966–1989 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 10 November 1919 Kurya, Russia |
| Died | 23 December 2013 (aged 94) Izhevsk, Udmurtia, Russia |
| Political party | United Russia CPRF (until 2001) CPSU (until 1991) |
| Spouse |
Ekaterina Moiseyeva
(m. 1940; died 1977) |
| Children | 4, including Victor |
| Occupation | Small arms designer |
| Known for | Designer of the AK-47, AKM, AK-74, RPK, and PK |
| Awards | |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Soviet Union |
| Branch/service | Red Army |
| Years of service | 1938 – 1941 |
| Rank | Lieutenant general |
| Battles/wars | |
Mikhail Timofeyevich Kalashnikov (10 November 1919 – 23 December 2013) was a Soviet and Russian lieutenant general, inventor, military engineer, writer, and small arms designer. He is most famous for developing the AK-47 assault rifle and its improvements, the AKM and AK-74, as well as the RPK light machine gun and PK machine gun.
Kalashnikov was, according to himself, a self-taught tinkerer who combined innate mechanical skills with the study of weaponry to design arms that achieved battlefield ubiquity. Even though Kalashnikov felt sorrow at the weapons' uncontrolled distribution, he took pride in his inventions and in their reputation for reliability, emphasizing that his rifle is "a weapon of defense" and "not a weapon for offense".