Kyu said:
From what I've heard in a Discovery Channel documentary about weapons, it is true that the AK-47 is inspired from the MP-44. However, like many German design of WW2, the MP-44 was too sophisticated for mass production. So the Kalakschikov (Spelling?) design bureau simplified the weapon for mass production.
The MP44 was not sofisticated, and consisted of many stampings, including the reciever of the weapon. The AK-47's reciever was milled from solid stock.
The weapon was mass produced, at times 5,000 per month, and the constant Allied day and night bombing smashed the German machine. It was not the design or manufacture that killed it, it was the overwhelming Allied force which constantly shrank German productivity.
Ever seen a MP44? Handled one? Disassembled one? Fired one?
I have.
Stick to your lane mate. You can't even spell Kalashnikov!
Lastly, don't believe everything you hear on TV.
Another silly rumour comes to an abrupt halt.
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Now without going too techo crazy, and keeping things in lay terms for all.....
Disassembly of the MP44 is similar to the HK FOW. The butt stock is removed (pretty much exactly as the HK FOW) to get the guts of the weapon out.
MTK used the idea of a 7.62 x 39mm intermediate cartridge used in the SKS carbine (an obvious cartridge idea from the German 7.92x33mm), along with the recoil spring/op-rod style of design, incorperating the bolt carrier/piston into one assembly.
As early as 1934, the Germans were developing an intermediate cartridge. By 1941 the 33mm case was on the scene. A couple of prototype weapons were being toyed with in 1942 by Schmeisser and Walther..
We all know about the HK FOW delayed blowback, where the AK FOW is gas operated, like the MP44. The HK upper reciever has pretty much been copied from the MP44, as the lower trigger mech design of folding down in disassembly.
HK uses many ideas from the German MP44, more so than the AK FOW.
MTK and his engineering staff had their own ideas also. HK 'stole' much more from the MP44 than MTK did! IMHO anyways
Wes