Mikhail timofeevich kalashnikov meets eugene stoner jeans blog. It is a fascinating portrait of a man of ingenuity and vitality in the context of the harsh and often brutal russia of the twentieth century. Father timofei alexandrovich kalashnikov 18831930 mother alexandra frolovna kalashnikova 18841957. He was famed for his manual the science of victory by the way kalashnikovs most favorite book, and noted for the saying train hard, fight easy.
Sia ru009532, twentieth century small arms development. Mikhail kalashnikov and eugene stoner holding the others rifle. The father of 100 million rifles mikhail kalashnikov was a poor russian farm. The two most common assault rifles in the world are the russian ak47 and the. They would spend the next few days talking, sharing stories, shopping, going out to dinner and touring washington d. He was an employee of armalitefairchild and was paid a salary. Kalashnikov medias gun myths brings to you ak12 vs m4 or the kalashnikov vs stoner. Weapons are just inanimate objects, the intent of the person wielding is what. Stoner was an interesting figure, and in a number of ways shared many traits with his design competitor mikhail kalashnikov on the other side of the world. Kalashnikov came to the united states by invitation from the smithsonian institution, which was administered by edward ed ezell, author and former curator for the. In 1944, he designed a gasoperated carbine for the new 7.
Kalashnikov several books he had authored, including the ak47 story. Book 1 albania israel book 2 italy russia book 3 serbia vietnam. Stoner designed airplane components for fairchild, prior to devoting himself to arms design. Media in category eugene stoner the following 4 files are in this category, out of 4 total.
The ak 47 automatic kalashnikov model 47 was designed by mikhail kalashnikov. Travelogue with several unique photographes of martin velthuizen who visited dr. The name of mikhail timofeyevich kalashnikov has become well known the world over because of the avtomat kalashnikova, the eponymous assault rifle which he designed and perfected. Eugene stoner first met his russian opposite number, the arms designer mikhail kalashnikov, in 1990 at dulles international airport, washington dc. Collection division 3 session 12, recorded in western virginia, features the first meeting between the two inventors. If mikhail kalashnikov and eugene stoner were never born, how much impact will it affect have on assault rifle technology. Picture of two of the most famous rifles in the world, with the designers. I just thought i would make this quick video thanking him for his service as a marine and giving america its definitive rifle. Lethal kalashnikov designer is now russias hero reuters. Two 20th century gun design that still have that cold war rivalry going strong into the 21st century with fans of both camps give much respect to their preferences and sometimes jokes. Ezell wrote him a letter in 1972 through the soviet embassy in washington. General mikhail kalashnikov in january 20 to hand over the first edition of the kalashnikov encyclopaedia. I was walking through the soviet pavillion, in uniform and a very tall and friendly gentleman asked what we thought of the show, and the emirates. Mikhail kalashnikov, the inventor of the ak47 assault rifle, attends festivities to celebrate his 90th birthday at the kremlin, november 10, 2009.
Actually, kalashnikov saw combat and was wounded on the eastern front before he designed the original ak47, and stoner served with u. Does anyone know anything concrete about the designing and the origins of the ak. Mikhail kalashnikov, soviet russian firearms designer. Though he often shrugged off criticisms that hed given the world a tool that has helped. They are used by military, police, security forces, revolutionaries, terrorists, criminals and civilians alike and will most likely continue to be used for decades to come. Eugene stoner and mikhail kalashnikov discussion in the powder keg started by brandhard, jan 18, 2009. Both stoner and kalashnikov had design parameters that were dictated by military ordnance boards, just as with any other military weapon. But eugene stoner was dedicated to making an infantry rifle to save our troops weight, aggravation, and keep them alive. Probably less than 5% of gun owners even know who stoner is. Iconic picture of mikhail kalashnikov and eugene stoner exchanging rifles. Hearing about his work, army experts sought out mr. Eugene stoner was quite receptive to the use of new materials in his designs, but. Eugene morrison stoner november 22, 1922 april 24, 1997 was an american firearms designer who is most associated with the development of the armalite ar15 rifle that was modified by the us military as the m16 rifle early life. After meeting m16 designer eugene stoner in the 1990s, kalashnikov said his rich american colleague was flying his own plane, while the russian could hardly afford a flight to moscow.
Created by senior sergeant mikhail kalashnikov, and first adopted by the ussr soon after world war ii 19391945, its production continues to this day, with an estimated 75 million produced. In 1990, mikhail kalashnikov, during a visit to the united states by the invitation of edward izzel, a weapons historian at the smithsonian institution, met with eugene stoner, the creator of aks main competitor, the m16 assault rifle. Eugene m stoner, who developed m16 assault rifle and other weapons. Mikhail kalashnikov holding the highest ranking order of russian federation order. The son of lloyd lester stoner and billie morrison, stoner attended high school in long beach and upon graduation worked for the vega aircraft company. The two most common assault rifles in the world are the soviet ak47 and the american m16. Kalashnikov, a tiny whitehaired man who lived on a state pension in a small apartment east of moscow. Eugene stoner first met his russian opposite number, the arms designer mikhail kalashnikov, in 1990 at dulles international airport. In 1990, under the goodwill of glasnost, mikhail kalashnikov, aging and. The guys that armed the worlds two greatest super powers are hanging out. Noted as the designer of the ar15, later adopted as the m16 rifle.
People who know nothing about guns have heard the name kalashnikov. Also in the collection were tapes of eugene stoner, inventor of the m16, the aks rival. Kalashnikov of the former soviet union are responsible for the m16 and ak47 automatic rifles, two of the. It would only be in 1990, the year before the collapse of the soviet union and the end of the cold war, that their respective creators would meet. Noted for creating the ak47 and ak74 line of assault rifles and submachine guns. Ive seen that picture before but havent been able to find it. Rifle designer mikhail kalashnikov dead at 94 i had the privilege of meeting mr. Mikhail timofeyevich kalashnikov, the inventor of the ak47 assault rifle, died in 20 at the age of 94. See more ideas about guns, kalashnikov rifle and assault rifle. Eugene stoner and mikhail kalashnikov met in washington d. Mikhail kalashnikov was born on november 10, 1919, in the village of kurya, altai territory, in a large peasant family. Rex applegate and bill jordan, all in the same booth. Does anyone know if eugene stoner became wealthy before he. Chivers described in his 2011 book the gun, when stoner was working on the ar15, he also redesigned a commercially available.
Mikhail kalashnikov was known for developing guns such as ak47 assault rifle, ak74 and akm. Topics include the design evolution of the ak47 automatic rifle, philosophic. Inventor of the ar10, coinventor with jim sullivan of the ar15, the stoner 63 weapons system, the sr25 precision rifle, and numerous other small arms designs. Wikiproject firearms along with pageviews to report bugs, please write on the community tech bot talk page on meta list. Eugene stoner with mikhail kalashnikov, designer of another famous rifle, the ak47 the first armalite rifles shortly after its incorporation, armalite began creating rifles, and its early designs were unique in that they were intended to be broken down into pieces and put back together as necessary. Eugene stoner, 74, designer of m16 rifle and other arms the.
If memory serves, kalashnikov also designed the pk family of lmgs, one of the best ever fielded. Mikhail kalashnikov is the author of the gun that changed the world 3. I personally think eugene stoner is right up there with john moses browning, the mauser brothers, john c. Today, kalashnikov designs have become the most widely. In may of 1990, eugene stoner and mikhail kalashnikov creator of the notorious ak47 had the opportunity to meet for the first time in washington d. Inventors thoughts although by some estimates there are 100 million ak47style assault rifles in circulation around the world, the guns inventor, mikhail kalashnikov, did not become rich unlike eugene stoner, the inventor of the american. And yet kalashnikov seems almost longingly to note the millions of dollars in profits that came to eugene stoner from his m16, even as he ostensibly prefers the. In upper left corner photo of mikhail timofeevich kalashnikov with eugene stoner. Mikhail kalashnikov, the russian designer of the ak47 assault rifle which has killed more people than any other firearm in the world, died on monday aged 94, officials said. Global development and production of selfloading service rifles.
Mikhail kalashnikov and eugene stoner holding the others. It was about fifteen years ago before i was really into guns so i might be mistaken. Prying kalashnikov out of the soviet union had not been easy. Eugene morrison stoner november 22, 1922 april 24, 1997 was an american firearms designer who is most associated with the development of the armalite ar15 rifle that was modified by the us military as the m16 rifle. It seems like i saw a picture of mikhail kalashnikov, eugene stoner, and uzi gal together before. Inventors of killing machines like the ak47 often regret. Rifle development, standardization, and procurement in the united. I came across this thread in the axis history forum which brought into the fore the dispute on whether mikhail kalashnikov really designed the ak47. The gun that changed the world by mikhail kalashnikov.
These cold warera rifles have been used in conflicts both large and small since the 1960s. Ltgen mikhail kalashnikov, left, meets with eugene stoner in this russianprint. The rifles were created by archenemies the ak47 by the soviets and the m16 by the americans. The new kalashnikov encyclopaedia consists of 3 books namely. They were the standard issue rifles for the armed forces of the usa and ussr. In this brief but engaging book, kalashnikov s story is told in an engaging and colloquial style. Kalashnikov hold the rifles they designed, taken may 1990. Ezell, curator for the armed forces division of the smithsonians national museum of american history nmah, recorded twelve interviews with two of the last solo designers.
In 1930 his family was dispossessed and deported to nizhnaja mokhovaya village, tomsk region. Mikhail kalashnikov meets eugene stoner on this day. Iconic picture of mikhail kalashnikov and eugene stoner. An interesting picture of kalashnikov and stoner the. A poster named baltas seems to be adamant that ol mikey t. Eugene stoner designer of the m16 rifle and mikhail. Most small arms survey publications are available for free download from. Garand, mikhail kalashnikov and the other firearms designers that made huge strides in firearms technology. Pages in category firearm designers the following 148 pages are in this category, out of 148 total. A history of the rifle used in the sandy hook massacre. Mikhail kalashnikov author of the gun that changed the world. One of the more memorable moments in my writing career happened at the shot show a decade or so ago when i had the chance to meet mikhail kalashnikov the ak47 designer, eugene stoner creator of the m16, col. The rich history behind the legendary ar15 rifle gun. I believe kalashnikov was polite about the meeting and stoner s design, seeing good qualities in it, but didnt believe it ultimately surpassed his weapon.
While stoner might be wealthier, kalashnikov will be remembered in history. Today would have been eugene stoner s 95th birthday. Several government designers began to work on rifles to meet these. If mikhail kalashnikov and eugene stoner were never born, how. In 1990, he joined knights armament company kac where he invented the stoner rifle25 sr25, which is currently being used as a sniper rifle by the u. Learn more the inventor of the ak47, mikhail kalashnikov right, meets the inventor of the m16, eugene stoner left.
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