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Kalashnikov Wishes He'd Invented a Lawnmower

Josey1Josey1 Member Posts: 9,598 ✭✭
edited July 2002 in General Discussion
Kalashnikov Wishes He'd Invented a Lawnmower

July 29, 2002 01:45 PM ET Email this article Printer friendly version





BERLIN (Reuters) - Mikhail Kalashnikov, inventor of the assault rifle which bears his name, said Saturday he was proud of developing the AK-47 but wishes he'd designed something to help people instead -- like a lawnmower.

"I would have preferred to invent something which helps people and makes life easier for farmers. A lawnmower, for example," the 82-year-old general told Bild newspaper.

The Kalashnikov, which can fire 400 rounds per minute and is light and easy to maintain, has become the weapon of choice for guerrillas and insurgents across the globe but its inventor does not regret his achievement.

"I am proud of it. And sad, too, that the weapon is used by terrorists," said Kalashnikov, who was in Germany to open an exhibition about the weapon.

Kalashnikov is said to have come up with the idea for the submachine gun while he was in hospital recovering from shell-shock in 1941.

The Kalashnikov went into production in 1947 and was adopted by the Russian army in 1949. Up to 100 million have been built.

"Actually, you Germans are to blame," he told Bild. "Our soldiers often didn't have proper weapons in those days."

Despite the success of the AK-47, Kalashnikov has never earned any money from his invention.

"All the earnings went to the state," he said.
http://www.reuters.com/news_article.jhtml;?type=humannews&StoryID=1264464


"If cowardly and dishonorable men sometimes shoot unarmed men with army pistols or guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary and gallows, and not by a general deprivation of a constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878

Comments

  • pikeal1pikeal1 Member Posts: 2,707
    edited November -1
    talk about getting screwed. never made any money on it?
  • kimberkidkimberkid Member Posts: 8,858 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I'm not sure of the year, seems like it was in 95, I read Mikhail Kalashnikov came to the US for a small arms meeting of sorts ... he couldn't afford a plane ticket ... Eugene Stoner (also in the meeting) wanted to meet him so much that he (Stoner) paid for Kalashnikov's plane trip ... Stoner "blamed" having to develope the 30 round M16 mag (to keep up with the AK interms of firepower) on Kalashnikov ... they both had a chuckle about it.

    ... Maybe I saw it on the History Channel

    =================================
    The only bad thing about choosing a Kimber ...
    ... there are so darn many models to choose from!
    kimberkid@gunbroker.zzn.com
    If you really desire something, you'll find a way ?
    ? otherwise, you'll find an excuse.
  • SP TigerSP Tiger Member Posts: 872 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Yes, KK, it was on the History Channel. I have seen it a couple of times. I think it was the "Tales of the Gun" episode about the AK-47.

    Better to have and not need, than need and not have.
  • offerorofferor Member Posts: 8,625 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    So Stoner blames Kalashnikov, and Kalashnikov blames the Nazis. I think the buck stops there.

    - Life NRA Member
    "If cowardly & dishonorable men shoot unarmed men with army guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary...and not by general deprivation of constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878
  • 96harley96harley Member Posts: 3,992 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Offerer,
    The buck stops dead in his tracks when faced with the kalashnikov.
    There's only one problem we can't hunt with them for bucks here.
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