The AK-47 Rifle

An AK-74

The AK-74 saw service during the Soviet intervention in Afghanistan (1979-1989), and many AK-74s remained in Afghanistan after the Soviets left. The Russians have what they perceive as a viable replacement for the Kalashnikov, but high production cost and complexity prevent the AN-94 "Akaban" rifle from widespread deployment. So, the AK-74 is the standard front line service rifle in Russia and a few other Eastern European nations.

The two War Wars are occasionally referred to in these oblique terms: the First World War was the chemist's war; the Second World War was the physicist's war. That said, the Cold War will likely be added to this description as the financier's war. The essence of the struggle between the East and the West in the 1946-1990 timeframe was competing for global economic dominance without the unrestricted warfare like World War II. When China and Russia opened their markets, they struggled to adapt their old weapons platforms to appeal to Western buyers.

Initially China flooded the US gun market with inexpensive Kalashnikov pattern rifles, both fixed and folding stock versions. The Chinese versions initially came with black fiberglass furniture; apparently they were worried the Kalashnikov wouldn't take root in the US market. Later versions had the correct wood furniture. Earlier black fiberglass models are extremely rare and command a premium when found. US shooters quickly discovered how controllable and reliable the Kalashnikov rifles were, and they immediately became extremely popular. The Kalashnikov market bottomed out at around $260 for a new semi-automatic Kalashnikov, fixed or folding, 7.62mm or .223 Remington (5.56mmx45) introduced around 1987-88. Apparently the negative association Kalashnikov rifles earned in the hands of our former opponents hasn't been completely erased, especially in the halls of Washington, DC. Based on the pattern of recent laws, it appears there's a concern that the US shooting community may develop into the western equivalent of Viet Cong, should the number of Kalashnikovs proliferate enough.