The AK-47 is a selective-fire, gas-operated 7.62×39mm assault rifle, first developed in the Soviet Union by Mikhail Kalashnikov. It is officially known as Avtomat Kalashnikova. It is also known as a Kalashnikov, an “AK”, or in Russian slang, Kalash. This weapon has it’s own museum. The Kalashnikov Weapons Museum and Exhibition Center was opened in the city of Izhevsk, Russia on November 4, 2004 – one week prior to Mikhail Kalashnikov’s 85th birthday. The construction of the museum began back in 1996, but was suspended due to insufficient funding. During a visit to Izhevsk in 2003, the CEO of RAO “UES of Russia”, Anatoly Chubais, had meetings with Mikhail Kalashnikov, the Udmurt Republic authorities, and potential investors. As a result of this visit, a funding schedule was established for the project in order that the museum and exhibition center could be opened before the designer’s birthday.
