mp-44?

Mikhail Kalashnikov did examined and tested the MP43/Mp44/stg44.
see here: http://www.mindfully.org/Technology/200 ... 2aug03.htm

 

There can be no doubt that Kalashnikov examined the StG.44 - the Russians had thousands of them. And the development of the 7.62x39 cartridge which was used in the AK-47 (as well as the SKS and various other earlier designs) occurred following capture of an early MKb.42 and its 7.92x33 ammo.

It seems likely that Kalashnikov was influenced by the StG.44 in terms of its general configuration. But the AK-47 was very different in its operating mechanism, and was certainly not a copy.

Tony Williams: Military gun and ammunition website and Discussion forum

 

Kalashnikov didn't examine the M.P. 44 until after the AK-47 was designed. He was withdrawn from the front before the M.P. 44 was introduced. Even though the Russians would have captured relatively large amounts, it doesn't mean that they would show it around to everybody.

Christian

 

"In 1942 Kalashnikov was assigned to the Central Research Small Arms Range of the Main Ordnance Directorate of the Red Army."
http://www.milparade.com/kalashnikov/ch ... 1_01.shtml
That would put him right there were the weapons is tested, both German and Russian weapons.
And the Ak47 is from 1947
http://www.milparade.com/kalashnikov/

 

The same article also mentions that he had designed two submachine guns prior to being re-assigned.

I don't see why Kalashnikov just have to have looked at the M.P. 44 when designing the AK-47 (which wasn't designed in 1947, but much earlier, as mentioned in the article). They are different in both function and appearence. The AK-47 is much better comparable to the PPSh-41.

Christian

 

never sayed that he only looked at the MP43/MP44/Stg44, but he tested it....
and the Ak47 is the 1947 model of the weapon, before that there was a model called Ak46, from 1946
Yes he made the submachine before that...........
and it is not mentioned anywhere that the Ak47 is a copy of the stg44.
he tested the MP43/MP44/stg44 and he might got some ideas for the Ak47

 

I just don't know which ideas he would have gotten, though...

 

If you're designing a new weapon it's bound to be useful to try out an existing one in the same class. You note the good and bad points of it, and try to match the former and resolve the latter. It gives you a yardstick to judge your own work by. That doesn't mean that you copy any specific feature of the existing gun.

Tony Williams

 

The MP40 was a machine pistol, was it not?