Russia | Mikhail Kalashnikov: AK-47 designer dies

[Manoni]

Mikhail Kalashnikov, designer of the AK-47, dies aged 94

Kalashnikov was in his 20s when he created the famous assault rifle, which has killed more people than any other firearm

Mikhail Kalashnikov with the gun that bears his name.

Mikhail Kalashnikov, the designer of the assault rifle that has killed more people than any other firearm in the world, has died aged 94, Russian officials said.

Kalashnikov, who was in his 20s when he created the AK-47 just after the second world war, died in his home city of Izhevsk near the Ural mountains, where his gun is still made, a spokesman for the Udmurtia province's president said on state television. The spokesman did not give the cause of death.

Kalashnikov was fitted with a pacemaker at a Moscow hospital in June and had been in hospital in Izhevsk since 17 November, state media reported.

The AK-47, which rarely jams even in adverse conditions, went into service in the Soviet armed forces in 1949. Today, Kalashnikov rifles are still a mainstay of Russia's armed forces and police. Known as the weapon of choice for guerrillas, the gun and its imitations have been used in conflicts around the world for decades.

At a lavish Kremlin ceremony on Kalashnikov's 90th birthday, then-president Dmitry Medvedev bestowed on him the highest state honour – the Hero of Russia gold star medal – and lauded him for creating "the national brand every Russian is proud of".

Kalashnikov, a son of Siberian peasants who never finished school, said pride in his iconic invention was mixed with the pain of seeing it used by criminals and child soldiers.

“Things that are complex are not useful, Things that are useful are simple.” - Mikhail Kalashnikov (1919-2013)

[Ratko Gavrilovic]

Rest in peace.

[Jaka_Lah]

In every game ever I picked this gun, from the design to the sound it is truly an authentic firearm and it will for years to go on represent the human weaponary strenght, Mikhail was a good man. Rest in Piece.

[Mircea_Niko]

   Oh, another legend is gone..
   Why always the good people!?

   Michael Jackson is dead, Justin Bieber lives on..
   Paul Walker is dead, Miley Cyrus lives on..

   Rest in Peace man, you made a difference in everything with the K..

[murdoxix]

RIP

[Denis_Pro]

R.I.P.

[Alfreddo.]

   Oh, another legend is gone..
   Why always the good people!?

   Michael Jackson is dead, Justin Bieber lives on..
   Paul Walker is dead, Miley Cyrus lives on..

   Rest in Peace man, you made a difference in everything with the K..

It's nature bro..one day everyone will die.



R.I.P

[Batta]

"That gun sounded so good", no matter how many people it killed. Human intelligence.

[Jeremy.]

Rest in peace.

[Jaka_Lah]

"That gun sounded so good", no matter how many people it killed. Human intelligence.

"no matter how many people it killed" - Human ignorance.
This is the gun that killed the most nazis, this is the gun that brought freedom to east europe and russia, yes it killed people, yes nowadays everyone just kills each other for no aparent reason, but WW2 had to be stopped by people dying, and this is the gun that did it. People would die no matter if this gun was created or not, but it was created for a good reason, it's the same concept as Alfred Nobel creating dynamite for a good reason and than it being missused to kill millions upon millions. Shit happens.

[TiMoN]

Yes, let's remember a weapon creator that took more lives than what it "saved", screw the others guys.

[KelviNC]

Rest in peace.

[Shorty.]

I didnt know that he invinted this gun(AK-47),anyways he have done something good in his life,RIP.

[Mario_Rinna]

"no matter how many people it killed" - Human ignorance.
This is the gun that killed the most nazis, this is the gun that brought freedom to east europe and russia, yes it killed people, yes nowadays everyone just kills each other for no aparent reason, but WW2 had to be stopped by people dying, and this is the gun that did it. People would die no matter if this gun was created or not, but it was created for a good reason, it's the same concept as Alfred Nobel creating dynamite for a good reason and than it being missused to kill millions upon millions. Shit happens.

AK was developed years after WW2 ended. It wasn't used to "kill nazis" or "bring freedom to Russia."

[Slavik]

RIP

AK still thee best assault rifle