Inventor of AK-47 rifle Mikhail Kalashnikov dies at 94

The famous small arms designer Lieutenant General Mikhail Kalashnikov, who developed the most famous assault rifle in the world died in the intensive care unit at the Central General Hospital in Russia's Udmurtia region, on December 23.

He was 94 years old. Today, his legendary AK-47 is used by more than 100 countries and it is estimated that over 150million AK-47 rifles exists all over the world.

 Kalashnikov is famous all across the globe. He was a living legend, an honorary member of several academies and universities in Russia, China and the US.

 Guinness book of records included his assault rifle on a list of outstanding inventions of the 20th century.

 Mikhail Kalashnikov was born on November 10, 1919, in Altai (western Siberia) in a peasant family of many children. 

In 1938, he was conscripted into the army where he served in a tank regiment. In August 1941, Mikhail Kalashnikov served with the troops that fought against the Nazis, but was wounded and had to retire for six months.

 It was during this vacation that Kalashnikov created the first model of a submachine gun of his own.

 In 1944, he created a multiple-shot rifle which actually was the first prototype of what is now widely known as the Kalashnikov gun.

 In 1947, Kalashnikov’s brainchild was tested and found to be very effective, hence it was termed 'Automatic Kalashnikov 47 (AK47)'.

 Mikhail Kalashnikov often said that he created his gun for rank-and-file servicemen like himself.

 When asked if he regretted the deaths caused by his invention he said "no, i blame the politicians." He was buried on 27th Dec. 2013.