AK-47s: The world’s deadliest weapon

Agent of chaos. The appeal of the AK-47 machine gun is that it’s so simple to use, it can be wielded by a child. The horror of the AK-47 is that it is used by children, as well as by terrorists, peasant revolutionaries, guerillas, and the soldiers in armies of more than 50 nations.Since the development of the first prototype by Mikhail Timofeyevich Kalashnikov, a Soviet weapons specialist, the design of the AK-47—the name stands for Avtomat Kalashnikova 1947—has been replicated widely, with dozens of knock-off versions manufactured around the world. It has been the weapon of choice for combatants ranging from the Viet Cong to the Taliban. It was used to [assassinate Anwar Sadat in 1981]( and by [ISIS supporters at the Bataclan theater]( in Paris in 2015. Since World War II, no weapon has killed as many. Let’s take a closer look. 🐦 [Tweet this!]( 🌐 [View this email on the web]( [Quartz Weekly Obsession] AK-47s January 13, 2021 Agent of chaos --------------------------------------------------------------- The appeal of the AK-47 machine gun is that it’s so simple to use, it can be wielded by a child. The horror of the AK-47 is that it is used by children, as well as by terrorists, peasant revolutionaries, guerillas, and the soldiers in armies of more than 50 nations.Since the development of the first prototype by Mikhail Timofeyevich Kalashnikov, a Soviet weapons specialist, the design of the AK-47—the name stands for Avtomat Kalashnikova 1947—has been replicated widely, with dozens of knock-off versions manufactured around the world. It has been the weapon of choice for combatants ranging from the Viet Cong to the Taliban. It was used to [assassinate Anwar Sadat in 1981]( and by [ISIS supporters at the Bataclan theater]( in Paris in 2015. Since World War II, no weapon has killed as many. Let’s take a closer look. 🐦 [Tweet this!]( 🌐 [View this email on the web]( By the digits [600:]( Maximum rounds per minute fired by an AK-47 [13:]( Time, in seconds, a trained soldier can field strip, or disassemble, an AK-47 [522:]( Songs with “AK-47” in the lyrics, according to AZLyrics’ database [797:]( Career NBA games for forward Andrei “AK-47” Kirlienko, now commissioner of the Russian Basketball federation [$700:]( Cost of a black market AK-47 in Iraqi Kurdistan [$4,000:]( Cost of black market AK-47 at Mexico’s southern border [100 million:]( Estimated number of AK-47s and its variants in existence Explain it like I’m 5! A foolproof gun --------------------------------------------------------------- The AK-47 is arguably the most successful piece of technology invented by the Soviet Union. Intended for use by unskilled conscripts, it was designed to prioritize simplicity and durability above all. The weapon can be buried in sand or soaked in muddy water and still won’t jam, according to CJ Chivers, a former Marine and Pulitzer-winning reporter who detailed the AK-47’s history in [The Gun](. Prior to the AK-47’s debut, fully automatic machine guns were heavy devices that were usually mounted on tripods or a vehicle, and could require several soldiers to operate. Combat soldiers instead typically carried semi-automatic weapons, like the M1 carbine used by US forces in World War II. The AK-47 combined the firepower of the heavier weapon with the portability of the carbine, and because it fired a smaller round, soldiers could carry more ammunition with them. Still, its novel design came with trade-offs, [Chivers said in an interview with NPR](. The AK-47 is not a very accurate weapon, in part because of its short barrel and smaller cartridge. Also, because the AK-47 needs almost no training to operate, fighters who use them often receive none. Mostly it doesn’t matter: Today’s conflicts are fought in streets and at close quarters, not across the fields of Gettysburg or Waterloo. The AK-47’s true effectiveness isn’t measured in how well it fares against well-trained armies, but in its use in ambushes, at roadside checkpoints, and against civilians. By those measures, said Chivers, it’s a terribly effective weapon. Quotable “I got it ‘cuz it’s my favorite gun.” — [Stitches, a rapper, explaining why he has an AK-47 tattoo on his face]( Reuters/Sergei Karpukhin Person of interest The complicated story of Mikhail Kalashnikov --------------------------------------------------------------- The AK-47’s name recognizes Kalashnikov as its inventor, and he spent much of his life honored by the Soviet Union and then the Russian Federation for developing a weapon superior in every way to western counterparts. But his story is more complicated than the hagiography would suggest.According to the legend, Kalashnikov was [badly wounded during World War II]( in 1941, when he was pulled from a burning tank. The idea for the gun came to him as he convalesced in a hospital. Although he had no experience in weapon design, nor had he even finished high school, he came up with 15 original gun designs, all based on the principle of simplicity. “I ignored the complex solution and built only what is simple,” he said in a 1993 interview. The story of the unsophisticated but patriotic soldier who changes history was polished over the years by the mighty Soviet propaganda machine. In truth, his original design was repeatedly modified, and the weapon wasn’t the product of a sole genius, but a concentrated effort by the Soviet military. “Heroism, in the classic sense, was nonexistent here,” Chivers writes. “The automatic Kalashnikov was the product of state process and collective work, the output not of a man but of committees.”Kalashnikov rose to become a general and continued to be toasted by his nation until his death in 2013 at age 94. He only occasionally expressed regret for the chaos his weapon caused. “This is a weapon of defense,” he said. “It is not a weapon for offense.” Reuters/Natalia Kolesnikova/Pool Pop quiz What honor has Mikhail Kalashnikov not received? Order of St. AndrewHero of Socialist LaborOrder of Parental GloryHero of the Russian Federation Correct. This medal is given to Russian parents of seven or more children. That slacker only had four. Incorrect. If your inbox doesn’t support this quiz, find the solution at bottom of email. Brief history [1288:]( Estimated date of the oldest known handgun, the Heilongjiang hand cannon, excavated in northeastern China. [1722:]( The “Brown Bess” musket becomes the standard issued weapon of the British Army. [1860:]( Richard Gatling files a patent for the Gatling Gun, a six-barreled, hand-cranked weapon that fires 200 rounds per minute. [1884:]( American inventor Hiram Maxim develops the Maxim machine gun, the first fully automatic machine gun, which is widely used in World War I. [1918:]( The Browning M2 .50 caliber heavy machine gun, in use from World War II until today, is first produced. [1921:]( Production of the Thompson submachine gun, or the Tommy Gun, begins. [1947:]( The first prototype of the AK-47 is produced in Kovrov, USSR. [1954:]( The Israel Defense Forces first use the Uzi submachine gun, designed by Uziel Gal. [1964:]( The M16 assault rifle enters into service and later becomes the standard issue weapon for US soldiers in Vietnam. [1986:]( The US passes the Firearm Owners Protection Act under Republican president Ronald Reagan, which keeps it legal to buy and sell all fully automatic weapons registered before 1986. There were an estimated 175,000 legal fully automatic firearms in circulation in the US as of Aug. 2020. Watch this! Samuel L. Jackson on the finer qualities of an AK-47 --------------------------------------------------------------- In Quentin Tarantino’s Jackie Brown, Samuel L. Jackson plays Ordell Robbie, a drug dealer and murderer with a fondness for automatic weapons. Warning: extremely not safe for work. Reuters/Grant Neuenberg Take me down this 🐰 hole! Since May 1, 1983, an AK-47 crossed with a farming hoe has been part of Mozambique’s flag. The symbol is based on that of the Mozambican Liberation Front, or Frelimo, the Marxist revolutionary force that successfully ousted the Portuguese in the 1970s. Frelimo became the country’s ruling party, and then fought a long and bloody civil war with the right-wing Renamo, with the gun on the flag serving as a reminder of the nation’s turmoil.The war ended in 1992, and in 2005, [a commission was formed to redesign the flag](. However, the flag remained popular with Frelimo supporters. While a panel of five judges considered 169 entries, Mozambique’s Frelimo-dominated parliament [eventually voted in favor of keeping the old flag by a vote of 155-79](. Membership Support Quartz journalism --------------------------------------------------------------- Quartz’s quality reporting depends on readers like you. Help support our mission to [make business better]( by signing up for a membership. Try it free for seven days! [Start your free trial.]( Giphy Poll Which of these movie quotes is the most iconic? [Click here to vote]( “Say hello to my little friend.”“Leave the gun. Take the cannoli.”“You've got to ask yourself one question: 'Do I feel lucky?' Well do ya, punk?”Any line that glorifies violence is gross. 💬 let's talk! In last week’s poll about [futons]( a full 50% of you said your least favorite overnight guest bed was a slowly deflating air mattress. We can relate. 🤔 [What did you think of today’s email?](mailto:obsession%2Bfeedback@qz.com?cc=&subject=Thoughts%20about%20AK-47s%20&body=) 💡 [What should we obsess over next?](mailto:obsession%2Bideas@qz.com?cc=&subject=Obsess%20over%20this%20next.&body=) 🎲 [Show me a random Obsession]( Today’s email was written by [Oliver Staley]( edited by [Liz Webber]( and produced by [Jordan Weinstock](. [facebook]( The correct answer to the quiz is Order of Parental Glory. Enjoying the Quartz Weekly Obsession? [Send this link]( to a friend! Want to advertise in the Quartz Weekly Obsession? Send us an email at ads@qz.com. Not enjoying it? No worries. [Click here]( to unsubscribe. 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