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Mikhail Kalashnikov

Soviet and Russian small arms designer (1919-2013) · Russia · Scientists · Died at 94

Mikhail Kalashnikov is read about 2,485 times a day, in 89 languages.

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He designed the most-produced firearm in history - a rifle so simple and so durable it became the standard weapon in conflicts on every continent. The AK-47 carries his initials, and by some counts, more than a hundred million have been made.

DevelopersScientistLiteraturePoliticsWeb Development20th Century

A life in dates

2013Died23 December 20132009“When a young man, I read somewhere the following: God the Almighty said, "All that is too complex is unnecessary, and it is simple that is needed" ...”In their words26 October 2009"Kalashnikov, 90, decries 'criminal' use of rifle" by Dmitry Solovyov, at Reuters (26 October 2009)

Hero of the Russian FederationAwardOrder “For Merit to the Altai Krai”, 1st ClassAward2007“I sleep well. It's the politicians who are to blame for failing to come to an agreement and resorting to violence.”In their words6 July 2007As quoted in "AK-47 Inventor Says Conscience Is Clear" by Joel Roberts at CBS News (6 July 2007)

“Blame the Nazi Germans for making me become a gun designer … I always wanted to construct agriculture machinery.”In their words6 July 2007As quoted in "AK-47 Inventor Says Conscience Is Clear" by Joel Roberts at CBS News (6 July 2007)

Order of Grand Duke Dmitry Donskoy 2nd ClassAward2004Order of Military MeritAward2002“I'm proud of my invention, but I'm sad that it is used by terrorists.”In their words29 July 2002As quoted in "Kalashnikov: 'I wish I'd made a lawnmower'" by Kate Connolly, in The Guardian (29 July 2002)

2001“You see, maybe all these feelings come about because one side wants to liberate itself with arms. But in my opinion, it is the good that prevails.”In their wordsJuly 2001Quotes of Kalashnikov, from "For Patriotism and Profit", by Robert Fisk, in World Press Review, Vol.48, No.7 (July 2001)

“My aim was to create armaments to protect the borders of my motherland.”In their wordsJuly 2001Quotes of Kalashnikov, from "For Patriotism and Profit", by Robert Fisk, in World Press Review, Vol.48, No.7 (July 2001)

1999Order of HonorAward1997State Prize of the Russian FederationAward1989Merited industrial worker of the USSRAward1982Order of Friendship of PeoplesAward1976Hero of Socialist LabourAward1974Order of the October RevolutionAward1964Lenin PrizeAward1958Hero of Socialist LabourAward1957Order of the Red Banner of LabourAward1949Order of the Red StarAward1919Born10 November 1919

Photos 8

Kalashnikov Mikhail (1)Kalashnikov Mikhail (1)Federal military Memorial Cemetery (2015-12-23)Federal military Memorial Cemetery (2015-12-23)Kalashnikov Medvedev (cropped)Kalashnikov Medvedev (cropped)Kalashnikov MedvedevKalashnikov MedvedevKalashnikov Mikhail (3)Kalashnikov Mikhail (3)Kalashnikov Mikhail (4)Kalashnikov Mikhail (4)Kalashnikov Mikhail (5)Kalashnikov Mikhail (5)MEDAL OF SMALL ARMS KONSTRUKTOR MT KalashnikovMEDAL OF SMALL ARMS KONSTRUKTOR MT Kalashnikov

In their own words 7

,
Mikhail Kalashnikov
,
7 statements, newest first

  1. When a young man, I read somewhere the following: God the Almighty said, "All that is too complex is unnecessary, and it is simple that is needed" ...

    Oct 26, 2009, "Kalashnikov, 90, decries 'criminal' use of rifle" by Dmitry Solovyov, at Reuters (26 October 2009), Own words

  2. I sleep well. It's the politicians who are to blame for failing to come to an agreement and resorting to violence.

    Jul 6, 2007, As quoted in "AK-47 Inventor Says Conscience Is Clear" by Joel Roberts at CBS News (6 July 2007), Own words

  3. Blame the Nazi Germans for making me become a gun designer … I always wanted to construct agriculture machinery.

    Jul 6, 2007, As quoted in "AK-47 Inventor Says Conscience Is Clear" by Joel Roberts at CBS News (6 July 2007), Own words

Wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0

Awards

Order “For Merit to the Altai Krai”, 1st Class2009
Military Order of Saint Nicholas, 1st Class2009
Hero of the Russian Federation2009
Gold Star2009
Order of Grand Duke Dmitry Donskoy 2nd Class2007
Order of the Star of Carabobo2006
Order of Military Merit2004
Dostyk Order of grade I2003
Order of Honor1999
Order of St. Andrew the Apostle the First-Called1998
State Prize of the Russian Federation1997
Order "For Merit to the Fatherland", 2nd class1994
Merited industrial worker of the USSR1989
Order of the Patriotic War, 1st class1985
Order of Friendship of Peoples1982
Order of Lenin1976
"Hammer and Sickle" gold medal1976
Hero of Socialist Labour1976
Order of the October Revolution1974
Order of Lenin1969
Lenin Prize1964
Order of Lenin1958
"Hammer and Sickle" gold medal1958
Hero of Socialist Labour1958
Order of the Red Banner of Labour1957
State Stalin Prize, 1st degree1949
Order of the Red Star1949
Zhukov Medal
Medal "For the Victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945"
Medal "For Distinction in Guarding the State Border of the USSR"
Medal "Veteran of Labour"
Medal "For Valiant Labour in the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945"
Jubilee Medal "50 Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945"
Jubilee Medal "60 Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945"
Jubilee Medal "65 Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945"
Medal "In Commemoration of the 850th Anniversary of Moscow"
Medal "Veteran of the Armed Forces of the USSR"
Jubilee Medal "Forty Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945"
Medal “For Outstanding Contribution to the Development of Collecting in Russia”.

Family

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About this person

Mikhail Timofeyevich Kalashnikov was born on 10 November 1919 in the Soviet Union and rose to the rank of lieutenant general. A self-taught tinkerer who combined mechanical instinct with a studied understanding of weaponry, he developed the AK-47 assault rifle and went on to refine it into the AKM and AK-74, as well as designing the RPK light machine gun and PK machine gun. The weapons achieved what he called "battlefield ubiquity" - renowned for their reliability in any condition. He took pride in the reputation, insisting his rifle was "a weapon of defense" and "not a weapon for offense," though he felt sorrow at their uncontrolled spread across the world. He died on 23 December 2013.

Country
Russia
Category
Scientists
Type
Scientist
Status
deceased
Dates
Lived 1919 to 2013 · aged 94

In common with Mikhail

Sergei ShoiguBoth received Order “For Merit to the Altai Krai”, 1st ClassDmitrii KozlovBoth received Merited industrial worker of the USSR

Scientists from Russia 4

Andrey Piontkovsky71.1Lev Landau69.7Mikhail Lomonosov72.3Alexander Y. Panchin68.6

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