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Text/Editor/Xiao Yan's view of the world
While exploring the rich picture of military history, we can't help but be fascinated by the German 98K rifle and the Russian AK47. These two firearms not only performed well on the battlefield, but also left a deep mark on the hearts of gun enthusiasts. One of the most striking differences between them was the choice of materials: the 98K rifle received an expensive walnut, while the AK47 chose a lower-cost birch. What kind of military wisdom and strategic considerations are hidden behind these two different choices? Let us explore the answer and solve this historical mystery.
In the world of video games, especially in the game of chicken, the 98K rifle has become a popular choice for gamers due to its excellent performance. This firearm is known for its high accuracy and long range, especially when equipped with a high-magnification scope, which makes it a one-hit kill. However, 98K's reputation in the real world goes far beyond its in-game performance. As a classic German-made firearm, it is designed and functioned at a very high level of craftsmanship.
Most of the 98K's body is made of wood, not ordinary wood, but from high-value European walnut. Known for its durability and high value, this wood is particularly resistant to corrosion and moisture, which is especially important in battlefield environments. The sturdiness and durability of walnut wood is one of the main reasons for its high price.
In contrast, the AK47, produced in the Soviet Union, is also famous, made of a different type of wood, but still maintains the high quality of the firearm. Known for its durability and adaptability, the AK47 is widely regarded as one of the most important rifles in history.
Although modern gunsmithing prefers to use metal and synthetic fiber materials, the wood used in the 98K and AK47 still shows the unique charm of traditional firearms manufacturing. The wood used in walnut and AK47 has properties that cannot be replaced by other materials, including its unique feel and visual beauty.
The scarcity of walnut is also an important reason for its high value. During World War II, the demand for high-quality wood was extremely high while the supply was relatively limited, making high-quality materials like walnut even more valuable. This wood not only enhances the performance of firearms, but also gives them a unique aesthetic value.
The differences in design and choice of materials between these two classic rifles not only reflect their respective cultural and historical backgrounds, but also reflect different military philosophies and strategies. Whether on a real-life battlefield or in a virtual game, they all affect people's vision and mind in unique ways.
Since its inception, the AK47 rifle has won wide praise and favor around the world for its excellent performance and practicality. This classic firearm is known for its stable firing range of about 300 meters, a modest weight of about 4.3 kg, and a combat rate of fire of up to 600 rounds per minute. To this day, the AK47 not only continues to play an important role in the militaries of many countries, but also has more than 120 million units in circulation worldwide. Many countries have begun to imitate or officially obtain their production licenses, which shows its wide influence.
There are often misconceptions about the material composition of the AK47. In fact, it is mainly made of birch, which is widely distributed in Russia, and is known for its ease of processing and sturdiness. Birch wood has good cutting properties, which can ensure that the surface of the gun body is smooth and delicate. Although birch wood has the disadvantages of easy wear and low corrosion resistance, this has not affected the overall performance of AK47.
It is precisely because of the wide availability and low cost of birch, coupled with the simplicity and efficiency of the AK47's own construction, that this firearm has achieved an excellent value for money in the global market. The AK47's design philosophy emphasizes practicality and reliability, which allows it to maintain good performance even in harsh environments. Its easy maintenance requirements and durable construction are also reasons for its popularity.
The popularity of the AK47 has also changed the face of modern warfare to a large extent. Its widespread use proves that the combination of efficiency and economic utility in firearm design is the key to success. Not only did the AK47 leave a deep mark on military history, its design principles and philosophy also influenced many weapon designs in later generations.
AK-47, the world-famous name of the rifle, is an abbreviation of the Russian phrase "automatic Kalashnikov". The "A" in the name stands for automatic fire function, and the "K" is a tribute to its designer, Mikhail Kalashnikov.
Kalashnikov, the great weapons designer, born on November 10, 1919, served as a tank commander in the Soviet Red Army and served in World War II. In 1941, when Nazi Germany invaded the Soviet Union, he was wounded, thus ending his career at the front. His experience on the front lines gave him a deep sense of the power of the German army's automatic weapons, which inspired him to design a better weapon.
At a maintenance station in the rear of the Soviet Union, Kalashnikov told the station commander about his dream of designing weapons. Despite the initial cold reception and skepticism, he was able to win the right to use a laboratory with perseverance. He used his self-taught knowledge to draw his first weapon blueprints and, with the help of many enthusiastic workers, completed his first prototype gun. Although this prototype gun lost out in competition with other designs, Kalashnikov gained more attention and support as a result.
In 1944, Kalashnikov invented a revolutionary bolt-action rotary locking mechanism, which became the core technology of the later AK series of firearms. By 1945, despite the end of World War II, the Soviet military still had an urgent need for more advanced weapons. Kalashnikov continued to remain in the field of weapons research and development, serving the country.
In August of the same year, the designer of the STG44 rifle, Hugo Schmeiser, was captured by Soviet troops. After a period of torture and interrogation, Schmeiser was placed in the firearms design institute as a special engineer. There he met Kalashnikov. Kalashnikov greatly admired the design of the STG44, a rifle capable of fully automatic fire with medium-power ammunition, which he considered key to the development of future weapons.
The design of the Kalashnikov did not simply imitate the STG44. He adopted a unique "piston long-stroke gas conduction structure", in which the gunpowder gas is driven back by the piston rod and bolt through the air duct to achieve automatic reloading. This design allows the AK-47 to reach a rate of fire of 600 rounds per minute.
After several years of research and development, Kalashnikov's design passed the final test in 1947, and it withstood a variety of extreme conditions, including water immersion and soil covering. In 1949, when Kalashnikov's AK-47 officially became the standard weapon of the Soviet army, he was only 28 years old.
The history of the development of the AK family of rifles began in 1944, when Mikhail Kalashnikov, inspired by the German MP44 rifle during World War II, began to design a completely new automatic rifle. This rifle, known as the AK-46, was known as the AK-46 and formed the foundation of the subsequent AK series. After rigorous testing in the natural environment and several technical improvements, the AK-47 was finally selected as standard equipment by the Soviet Army in 1947 and mass production began in 1949.
In 1951, the AK-47 was officially equipped with the Soviet Army, and in 1953, in order to further improve production efficiency, the production process of its receiver was changed from stamping to machining. The AK-47 series is popular worldwide due to its simple construction, ruggedness, and ease of operation, especially in the armies or rebels of many developing countries and certain Western countries.
The design of the AK-47 also influenced the subsequent development of several models. AKS-47, which is a variant of the AK-47, is equipped with a metal folding butt. In 1959, the AKM entered production as an improved version of the AK-47, which made significant progress in reducing weight and production costs, while increasing the rate of fire and accuracy.
The AK series also includes the AKMSU, a short-barreled model designed for special forces and airborne forces. The AK-74 is a small-caliber modification of the AK-47 series, which was first unveiled at a military parade on Red Square in Moscow on November 7, 1974. It adopted 5.45 × 39 mm small-caliber ammunition and marked a new era in Soviet equipment.
The AK-74M is an improved version of the AK-74, developed in 1987 and put into production in 1991, with more minor improvements and a new black synthetic stock. The AKS-74U, on the other hand, is a significantly shortened version of the AK-74 and is equipped with a folding stock, which is more suitable for operations in confined environments.
In addition to the above models, the AK series has also developed the RPK light machine gun, which is a squad light machine gun version based on the AKM assault rifle. The AK-101/102 is a modernized version of the AK-74 that fires NATO 5.56 × 45mm ammunition and is designed for the export market.
The widespread popularity of the AK series rifle is reflected not only in its widespread use in the armies and armed organizations of various countries, but also in its profound influence on the design of modern small arms. Despite the fact that Kalashnikov personally did not benefit financially from it due to the lack of a patent system in the USSR, his creation left a deep mark on the world, earning him the title of "World Gun King".