The AK 47 (Designed 1946-1948) is best described as a hybrid of previous rifle technology innovations: the trigger, double locking lugs and unlocking raceway of the M1 Garand/M1 carbine, the safety mechanism of the John Browning designed Remington Model 8 rifle, and the gas system and layout of the Sturmgewehr 44. There are many variants. The weapons are used by the former Warsaw Pact countries, and they are still in service with numerous armed forces, both regular and irregular. The model and its variants remain the most popular and widely used rifles in the world because of its reliability under harsh conditions, low production costs.
