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{{Short description|Russian automatic rifle family}}(File:Ak74l.png|thumb|right|upright=1.818|The Kalashnikov assault rifle 1974 model by Izhmash, Russia (AK-74))Kalashnikov rifles () or AK rifles are a family of assault rifles based on the original design of Mikhail Kalashnikov. They are officially known in Russian as avtomat Kalashnikova (), and informally as "kalash" in Russian. They were originally manufactured in the Soviet Union, first by Izhmash and later by Kalashnikov Concern. 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 guns in the world, with an estimated 72 million rifles in global circulation.NEWS,weblinkweblink 2022-01-12, subscription, live, AK-47 Kalashnikov: The firearm which has killed more people than any other, Blair, David, Daily Telegraph, 2015-07-02, 2019-09-26, 0307-1235, {{cbignore}}WEB,weblink The Gun That Is in Almost 100 Countries: Why the AK-47 Dominates, Franko, Blake, 2017-05-08, The National Interest, 2019-09-26,weblink June 3, 2023, WEB,weblink The Cost Of An AK-47 On The Black Market Around The World [Infographic], McCarthy, Niall, Forbes, 2019-09-26,weblink May 9, 2023,

List of AK rifles

The original Kalashnikov rifles and their derivatives, as produced in the Soviet Union and later the Russian Federation.WEB,weblink Концерн Калашников -- Официальный сайт, kalashnikov.com, WEB,weblink 200 series Kalashnikov assault rifle: AK-200, AK-201, AK-202, AK-203, AK-204, AK-205 (Russia), modernfirearms.net, 7 June 2018,

Rifles derived directly from the original AK

The rifle's simple design makes it easy to produce, and the Soviet Union readily leased plans of the firearm to friendly countries, where it could be produced locally at a low cost. As a result, the Kalashnikov rifles and their variants have been manufactured in many countries, with and without licenses. Manufacturing countries in alphabetical order include:{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left;"! Country !! Variant(s)! Albania

Type 56 assault rifle>Type 56 based on AK-47 rifle; Tipi 1982 model (ASH-82) copy of AKS-47; model 56 Tip-2, copy of RPK; and model 56 Tip-3. Several other versions of the AKMS have been produced mainly with short barrels similar to Soviet AK-74	for special forces, tank & armored crew and for helicopter pilots and police. There have also been modified ASh-82 (AKMS) with SOPMOD accessories, mainly for Albania's special forces RENEA & exports.HTTP://AFTERMATHGUNCLUB.COM/2015/04/20/ALBANIAN-SMALL-ARMS/	ARCHIVE-URL=HTTPS://WEB.ARCHIVE.ORG/WEB/20171014034429/HTTP://AFTERMATHGUNCLUB.COM/2015/04/20/ALBANIAN-SMALL-ARMS/	PUBLISHER=AFTERMATH GUN CLUB,

! Armenia

K-3 (rifle)>K-3 (bullpup, 5.45×39mm)

! Azerbaijan

	LANGUAGE=RU	WORK=ЦАМТО	LOCATION=MOSCOW	ACCESS-DATE=8 JULY 2011	ARCHIVE-DATE=APRIL 22, 2023,

! Bangladesh

Type 56 assault rifle>Type 56

! Bulgaria| AKK/AKKS (Type 3 AK-47/w. side-folding buttstock); AKKMS (AKMS), AKKN-47 (fittings for NPSU night sights); AK-47M1 (Type 3 with black polymer furniture); AK-47MA1/AR-M1 (same as -M1, but in 5.56mm NATO); AKS-74M1 (AKMS in 5.56×45mm NATO); AKS-74S (AK-74M1, short version, with East German folding stock, laser aiming device); AKS-74UF (short version of -M1, Russian folding stock), AR-SF (same as −74UF, but 5.56mm NATO); AKS-93SM6 (similar to −74M1, cannot use grenade launcher); RKKS (RPK), AKT-74 (.22 rimfire training rifle)! Cambodia

Type 56 assault rifle>Type 56, Soviet AK, and AKM

! China

Type 56 assault rifle>Type 56

! Croatia| APS-95! Cuba

	TITLE=KALASHNIKOV ARMS VERSIONS	URL=HTTP://KALASHNIKOV.GUNS.RU/MODELS.HTML	ARCHIVE-DATE=29 SEPTEMBER 2007, dead,

! East GermanyWEB, MPi-K / MPi-AK Assault Rifle Series, ru, Энциклопедия оружия и боеприпасов,weblink 19 February 2013,weblink April 27, 2023,

.22 Long Rifle>.22 LR select-fire trainer)

! Egypt| AK, Misr assault rifle (AKM), Maadi! Ethiopia

AK-103 (manufactured locally at the State-run Gafat Armament Engineering Complex as the Et-97/1)HTTP://ETHIOPIABOOK.COM/GALLERYIMG/L/PRINT-ADVERT-371.JPG	ACCESS-DATE=2014-01-23	ARCHIVE-URL=HTTPS://WEB.ARCHIVE.ORG/WEB/20110710203214/HTTP://ETHIOPIABOOK.COM/GALLERYIMG/L/PRINT-ADVERT-371.JPG, July 10, 2011, Retrieved on 8 October 2010.

! Finland| RK 62, (7.62×39mm)

---

RK 95 TP, (7.62×39mm) improvements including a fire control selector and a muzzle device that enabled the firing of rifle grenades, the attachment of a silencer, or bayonet! HungaryWEB, Hungary. Assault Rifles, ru, Энциклопедия оружия и боеприпасов,weblink 24 February 2013,weblink April 27, 2023, | AK-55 (domestic manufacture of the 2nd Model AK); AKM-63 (also known as AMD-63 in the US; modernized AK-55), AMD-65M (modernized AKM-63, shorter barrel and side-folding stock), AMP-69 (rifle grenade launcher); AK-63F/D (other name AMM/AMMSz), AK-63MF (modernized); NGM-81 (5.56×45mm NATO; fixed and under-folding stock)! Iran| KLS/KLF (AK-47/AKS), KLT (AKMS)! Iraq| Tabuk Sniper Rifle, Tabuk Assault Rifle (with fixed or underfolding stock, outright clones of Yugoslavian M70 rifles series), Tabuk Short Assault Rifle! Nigeria

	ACCESS-DATE=5 OCTOBER 2008	ARCHIVE-DATE=14 JANUARY 2009, HTTP://WWW.DICON.GOV.NG/MILITARY1.HTML>TITLE=DICON – DEFENCE INDUSTRY CORP. OF NIGERIA	ARCHIVE-DATE=2013-12-27, 23 June 2012,

! North Korea

Type 58 assault rifle>Type 58A/B (Type 3 AK/w. stamped steel folding stock), Type 68A/B (AKM/AKMS), Type 88 (AKS-74)US Department of Defense, North Korea Country Handbook 1997, Appendix A: Equipment Recognition, PPSH 1943 SUBMACHINEGUN [sic] (TYPE-50 CHINA/MODEL-49 DPRK), p. A-79.US Department of Defense, North Korea Country Handbook 1997, Appendix A: Equipment Recognition, TYPE-68 (AKM) ASSAULT RIFLE, p. A-77.

! Pakistan

Reverse Engineering>Reverse engineered by hand and machine in Pakistan's highland areas (see Khyber Pass Copy) near the border of Afghanistan; more recently the Pakistan Ordnance Factories started the manufacture of an AK/AKM clone called PK-10. Pakistanis had also made a new caliber just by a little changing in original (7.62×39mm) ammo, that is known as 44 bore.{{Citation	title=Russia confronts Pakistan, China over copied weapons	weblink >archive-date=2011-07-17	access-date=2011-10-16		DATE=16 JULY 2018	URL=HTTPS://WWW.THEFIREARMBLOG.COM/BLOG/2018/07/16/PASHTUN-NAMES-FOR-AKS-IN-PAKISTAN-AND-AFGHANISTAN/	ARCHIVE-DATE=JULY 1, 2023	WEBSITE=THE FIREARM BLOG,

! PolandWEB, Poland. Assault Rifles, ru, Энциклопедия оружия и боеприпасов,weblink 19 February 2013,weblink April 26, 2023,

kbkg wz. 1960 (rifle grenade launcher), kbkg wz. 1960/72 (modernized); kbk AKM / kbk AKMS (AKM/AKMS); kbk wz. 1988 Tantal (5.45×39mm), skbk wz. 1989 Onyks (compact carbine); kbs wz. 1996 Beryl (5.56×45mm NATO>5.56×45mm), kbk wz. 1996 Mini-Beryl (compact carbine)

! Romania

Pistol Mitralieră model 1963/1965>PM md. 63/65 (AKM/AKMS), Pistol Mitralieră model 1963/1965#PM md. 80	, Pistol Mitralieră model 1963/1965#PM md. 90>PM md. 90, collectively exported under the umbrella name AIM or AIMS; PA md. 86 (AK-74), exported as the AIMS-74; PM md. 90 short barrel, PA md. 86 short barrel, exported as the AIMR; PSL (designated marksman rifle; other names PSL-54C, Romak III, FPK and SSG-97)

! Sudan

	PUBLISHER=MILITARY INDUSTRY CORPORATION	ARCHIVE-URL= HTTPS://WEB.ARCHIVE.ORG/WEB/20081227202939/HTTP://WWW.MIC.SD/IMAGES/PRODUCTS/WEPONS/EN/MAZBN.HTML	URL-STATUS= DEAD, (based on the Type 56)

! Ukraine

Vepr (bullpup, 5.45×39mm), Malyuk (bullpup)RAIGORODETSKY	SCRIPT-TITLE=RU:Автомат "Малюк" ("Малыш") (Украина)	LANGUAGE=RU	WORK=Оружейная экзотика	ACCESS-DATE=1 DEC 2012	ARCHIVE-URL=HTTPS://WEB.ARCHIVE.ORG/WEB/20150903182400/HTTP://RAIGAP.LIVEJOURNAL.COM/87857.HTML?MODE=REPLY, 2015-09-03,

! United States

7.62×39mm), PSAK-47 GF4 rifle(7.62×39mm), PSAK-47 GF5 rifle(7.62×39mm),Soviet Arms Krink rifle(5.56x45mm), PSA AK-556 rifle(5.56x45mm), PSAK-74 rifle(5.45x39mm), PSA AK Type 56 rifle(7.62×39mm).Produced by Palmetto State Armory.HTTPS://PALMETTOSTATEARMORY.COM/AK-47/, Palmetto State Armory's Website, US132 rifle (7.62×39mm), US132Z assault rifle (7.62×39mm), US109L shotgun (12 gauge) & US109T shotgun (12 gauge). Produced by Kalashnikov USA.WEB,weblink Kalashnikov USA Website, WEB,weblink The first American-made Kalashnikovs are now for sale, CNN.com, Aaron, Smith, 30 June 2015,weblink July 1, 2023, WEB,weblink Max, Slowik, Kalashnikov USA prices out first wave of American AKs, Guns.com, August 10, 2015,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160201041520weblink">weblink February 1, 2016,

! Vietnam

STV rifle>STV series

! Venezuela

	PUBLISHER=INFODEFENSA.COM	ACCESS-DATE=14 SEPTEMBER 2015	ARCHIVE-DATE=NOVEMBER 23, 2022, (in spanish) / License granted to VenezuelaHTTP://WWW.UPI.COM/INTERNATIONAL_SECURITY/INDUSTRY/ANALYSIS/2007/08/15/DEFENSE_FOCUS_VENEZUELAS_KALASHNIKOVS/1273/ >ARCHIVE-URL=HTTPS://WEB.ARCHIVE.ORG/WEB/20080604095328/HTTP://WWW.UPI.COM/INTERNATIONAL_SECURITY/INDUSTRY/ANALYSIS/2007/08/15/DEFENSE_FOCUS_VENEZUELAS_KALASHNIKOVS/1273/	TITLE=DEFENSE FOCUS: VENEZUELA'S KALASHNIKOVS	FIRST=MARTIN	DATE=15 AUGUST 2007, 19 October 2008,

! Yugoslavia/Serbia

Zastava M70>M70, Zastava M72	, Zastava M76>M76, Zastava M77	, Zastava M80>M80, Zastava M82	, Zastava M85>M85, Zastava M90	, Zastava M91>M91, Zastava M92	, Zastava M99>M99, M21

Similar rifles

{{Unreferenced section|date=March 2024}}The following rifles were either based on the Kalashnikov design, or have a different design but are superficially similar in appearance:

• FARA 83 (Argentina)
• BD-08 (Bangladesh)
• AR-M1 (Bulgaria)
• Type 56, Type 81 (China)
• Vz. 58 (Czechoslovakia)
• RK 62 (also called Valmet M76, Rk 62 76 or M62/76), Valmet M78 (light machine gun), RK 95 TP (Finland)
• AK-63, AMD-65 (Hungary)
• INSAS rifle (India)
• IMI Galil, IWI ACE (Israel)
• Bernardelli VB-STD/VB-SR (Italy)
• FB Beryl, FB Tantal (Poland)
• Pistol Mitralieră model 1963/1965 (Romania)
• Zastava M70 (Serbia, Yugoslavia)
• Zastava M21 (Serbia)
• Vektor R4, Truvelo Raptor (South Africa)
• MPi-KM (East Germany)
• MPi-KMS-72 (East Germany)

Comparative characteristics of AK rifles{| class"wikitable sortable mw-collapsible wide" style"text-align:center"

!Name!!Country!Type!!Cartridge!!Length extended/folded (mm)!!Barrel length (mm)!!Weight (kg) (empty)!!Cyclic rate of fire (rounds per minute)!!Maximum sighting range (m)!!Muzzle velocity (m/s)

AK-47>|Soviet Union	Assault rifle>	7.62×39mm M43>					|715

AKM>|Soviet Union		7.62×39mm M43	880	415	3.1	600	1,000	715

RPK>RPK(s)	Soviet Union	Light machine gun>	7.62×39mm M43>					|745

PK machine gun>PK(M)	Soviet Union	General-purpose machine gun>	7.62×54mmR>					|825

AK-74>|Soviet Union		5.45×39mm M74>					|900

AKS-74>|Soviet Union		5.45×39mm M74>					|900

AK-74M>|Soviet Union		5.45×39mm M74>					|900

RPK-74>|Soviet Union		5.45×39mm M74>					|960

AKS-74U>|Soviet Union	Carbine assault rifle>	5.45×39mm M74>					|735

AK-101>|Russia		5.56×45mm NATO>					|910

AK-102>|Russia		5.56×45mm NATO	824/586	314	3.0	600	500	850

AK-103>|Russia		7.62×39mm M43>					|715

AK-104>|Russia		7.62×39mm M43>					|670

AK-105>|Russia		5.45×39mm M74>					|840

AK-107>|Russia		5.45×39mm M74>					|900

AK-108>|Russia		5.56×45mm NATO>					|910

AK-109>|Russia		7.62×39mm M43>					|750

AK-9>|Russia		9×39mm>					|290 (СП-5) / 305 (СП-6)

AK-12>|Russia		5.45×39mm M74>					|900

AK-12#AK-15>AK-15	Russia		7.62×39mm M43>					|715

AK-19>|Russia		5.56×45mm NATO>					|910

AK-12#AK-308>AK-308	Russia		7.62×51mm NATO>					|

In the United States

The Kalashnikov weapon design has become increasingly more popular in the American firearms industry. There are specific competitive shooting matches that require the use of its weapon variants like the Red Oktober match held just outside of St. George, Utah. It is a match designed for the use of ComBloc style weapons, but the Kalashnikov design is extremely heavy within the participants' arsenals.WEB, David, Reeder, 6 October 2018, Breach Bang Clear,weblinkweblink October 17, 2018,

See also

• AK-100 (rifle family)
• PBS-1 silencer

References

Citations

{{Reflist}}

General and cited references

• BOOK, Gulevich, I. D., 1967, НСД. 7,62-мм автомат АК, 7.62 mm AK,weblink ru, 3rd, Moscow, Voenizdat, {{sfnref, НСД. 7,62-мм автомат АК, 1967, 161–162, }}
• BOOK, Monetchikov, Sergei Borisovich, 2005, ru:История русского автомата, The History of Russian Assault Rifle,weblink dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20130516010402weblink">weblink 16 May 2013, Entsiklopediya Russkoi Armii, ru, Izdatel'stvo "Atlant 44", 5-98655-006-4,
• BOOK, Vilchinsky, I. K., 1983, НСД. 7,62-мм автомат АКМ (АКМС), 7.62 mm AKM (AKMS),weblinkweblink 7 May 2023, ru, 3rd, Moscow, Voenizdat, {{sfnref, НСД. 7,62-мм автомат АКМ (АКМС), 1983, 149–150, }}

Further reading

• BOOK, Brayley, Martin J., 2013, Kalashnikov AK47 Series: The 7.62×39mm Assault Rifle in Detail,weblink Ramsbury, Marlborough, Wiltshire, UK, Crowood Press, 978-1-84797-526-3, 824183278,
• BOOK, Chivers, C. J., C. J. Chivers, 2010, The Gun, The Gun (Chivers book), New York, Simon & Schuster, 9780743270762, 535493119, At the Internet Archive {{Registration required}}
• BOOK, Ezell, Edward Clinton, 1986, The AK-47 Story: Evolution of the Kalashnikov Weapons,weblink registration, Harrisburg, PA, Stackpole Books, 0811709167, 12549027,
• BOOK, Hodges, Michael, 2007, AK47: The Story of a Gun,weblink San Francisco, MacAdam/Cage Pub., 978-1-59692-286-0, 245302609,
• BOOK, Long, Duncan, 1 September 1988, AK47: The Complete Kalashnikov Family of Assault Rifles,weblink Boulder, Col., Paladin Press, 978-0-87364-477-8, 430510761,
• BOOK, Poyer, Joe, 2006, The AK-47 and AK-74 Kalashnikov Rifles and Their Variations: A Shooter's and Collector's Guide,weblink Tustin, Cal., North Cape Publications, 978-1-882391-41-7, 867174693,
• BOOK, Rottman, Gordon L., 2011, The AK-47: Kalashnikov-series Assault Rifles,weblink registration, Oxford, Bloomsbury Publishing, 978-1-84908-835-0, 651902408,
• BOOK, Vorobiev, Marco, 2016, Gun Digest Shooter's Guide to AKs,weblink Iola, WI, Gun Digest Book, 978-1-4402-4647-0, 954541182, {{Dead link |date=December 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

External links

• {{Commons category-inline|AK family}}

{{Kalashnikov rifle}}{{Firearms}}{{Authority control}}