Kalashnikov variants include:
1955 AK-47 Type 3
- AK-47 1948–51, 7.62x39mm – The very earliest models, with the Type 1 stamped sheet metal receiver, are now very rare.
- AK-47 1952, 7.62x39mm – Has a milled receiver and wooden buttstock and handguard. Barrel and chamber are chrome plated to resist corrosion. Rifle weight is 4.2 kg (9.3 lb).
- AKS—Featured a downward-folding metal stock similar to that of the German MP40, for use in the restricted space in the BMP infantry combat vehicle, as well as by paratroops.
- RPK, 7.62x39mm – Hand-held machine gun version with longer barrel and bipod.
- AKM, 7.62x39mm – A simplified, lighter version of the AK-47; Type 4 receiver is made from stamped and riveted sheet metal (see schematic above). A slanted muzzle device was added to counter climb in automatic fire. Rifle weight is 3.1 kg (6.8 lb) due to the lighter receiver. This is the most ubiquitous variant of the AK-47.
- AKMS, 7.62x39mm – Folding-stock version of the AKM intended for airborne troops. Stock may be either side- or under-folding
- AK-74 series, 5.45x39mm
- AK-101/AK-102 series
- AK-103/AK-104 series
- AK-107/AK-108 series
- AK-200 series
- Saiga semi-automatic rifle – AK variant for hunting and civilian use. Built on AK receiver with hunting style stock and hand guard in 223/5.56, 7.62x39, 5.45x39, 308WIN
- Saiga semi-automatic shotgun – AK variant for hunting and civilian use. Built on AK receiver with hunting style stock and hand guard in 12-Gauge, 20-Gauge, and .410-Bore.
- KSK shotgun – A new version of AK variant military using shotgun
Usually the AKn was introduced in year 1900+n.
Production outside of the Soviet Union/Russia
Military variants only. Includes new designs substantially derived from the Kalashnikov.
| Country | Variant(s) |
|---|---|
| Albania | |
| Automatiku Shqiptar model 56 (ASH-78 Tip-1) Albanian Automatic Assault Rifle Model 56 Type-1 [Made in Poliçan Arsenal] (Straight forward copy of Type 56, which in turn is a clone of the Soviet AKM rifle) | |
| Automatiku Shqiptar Tipi 1982 (ASH-82) Albanian Automatic Assault Rifle Type 1982 [Made in Poliçan Arsenal] (Straight forward copy of AKMS) | |
| Automatiku Shqiptar model 56 (ASH-78 Tip-2) Albanian Light Machine Gun [Made in Poliçan Arsenal] (Straight forward copy of RPK) | |
| Automatiku Shqiptar model 56 (ASH-78 Tip-3) Albanian Automatic Hybrid Rifle Model 56 Type-3 [Made in Poliçan Arsenal] (Hybrid rifle for multi-purpose roles mainly Marksman rifle with secondary assault rifle and grenade launcher capability) | |
| Other unknown variants. several other unnamed & unidentified versions of the AKMS have been produce mainly with short barrels similar to the Soviet AKs-74u mainly for special forces, Tank & Armoured crew also for Helicopter pilots and police. There have also been modifications and fresh production of heavily modified ASh-82 (AKMS) with SOPMOD accessories, mainly for Albania's special forces RENEA & exports.[30] | |
| Bangladesh | Chinese Type 56 |
| Bulgaria | AKK (Type 3 AK-47), AKKS (Type 3 with side-folding buttstock) |
| AKKMS (AKMS) AKKN-47 (fittings for NPSU night sights) | |
| AK-47M1 (Type 3 with black polymer furniture) | |
| AK-47MA1/AR-M1 (same as -M1, but in 5.56 mm NATO) | |
| AKS-47M1 (AKMS in 5.56x45mm NATO), AKS-47MA1 (same as AKS-47M1, but semi-automatic only) | |
| AKS-47S (AK-47M1, short version, with East German folding stock, laser aiming device) | |
| AKS-47UF (short version of -M1, Russian folding stock), AR-SF (same as −47UF, but 5.56 mm NATO) | |
| AKS-93SM6 (similar to −47M1, cannot use grenade launcher) | |
| RKKS, AKT-47 (.22 rimfire training rifle) | |
| Cambodia | Chinese Type 56, Soviet AK-47, and AKM |
| People's Republic of China | Type 56 |
| German Democratic Republic | MPi-K (AK-47), MPi-KS (AKS), MPi-KM (AKM), MPi-KMS-72 (AKMS), KK-MPi Mod.69 (.22-Lr select-fire trainer); |
| Egypt | AK-47, Misr assault rifle (AKM), Maadi. |
| Ethiopia | AK-47, AK-103 (manufactured locally at the State-run Gafat Armament Engineering Complex as the Et-97/1) |
| Hungary | AK-63D/E (AMM/AMMSz), AKM-63, AMD-65, AMD-65M, AMP, NGM 5.56 |
| Iraq | Tabuk Sniper Rifle, Tabuk Assault Rifle (with fixed or underfolding stock, outright clones of Yugoslavian M70 rifles series), Tabuk Short Assault Rifle |
| India | Assault Rifle 7.62 mm, manufactured by Ordnance Factories Organisation |
| Iran | KLS (AK-47), KLF (AKS), KLT (AKMS) |
| Israel | IMI Galil |
| Finland | RK 62, RK 95 TP |
| Macedonia | M60 |
| Nigeria | OBJ-006 |
| North Korea | Type 58A (Type 3 AK-47), Type 58B (stamped steel folding stock), Type 68A (AKM-47) Type 68B (AKMS), Type 88 (AKS-74) |
| Pakistan | Reverse engineered by hand and machine in Pakistan's highland areas near the border of Afghanistan; more recently the Pakistan Ordnance Factories started the manufacture of an AK47/AKM clone called PK-10 |
| Poland | pmK/kbk AK (name has changed from pmK – "pistolet maszynowy Kałasznikowa", Kalashnikov SMG to the kbk AK – "karabinek AK", Kalashnikov Carbine in mid 1960s) (AK-47), kbkg wz. 1960, kbk AKM (AKM), kbk AKMS (AKMS), kbk wz. 1988 Tantal based on the 7.62 mm kbk AKMS wz. 81, kbs wz. 1996 Beryl |
| Romania | PM md. 63 (AKM), PM md. 65 (AKMS), PM md. 90 (AKMS), collectively exported under the umbrella name AIM or AIMS |
| PA md. 86 (AK-74), exported as the AIMS-74 | |
| PM md. 90 short barrel (AK-104), PA md. 86 short barrel (AK-105) exported as the AIMR | |
| Serbia | M92, M21 |
| South Africa | R4 assault rifle |
| Sudan | MAZ, based on the Type 56 |
| Vietnam | Chinese Type 56, Soviet AK-47, and AKM |
| Venezuela | License granted, factory under construction |
| Yugoslavia | M60, M64 (AK-47 with longer barrel), M64A (grenade launcher), M64B (M64 w/ folding stock), M66, M70, M70A, M70B1, M70AB2, M76, M77, |
Certainly more have been produced elsewhere; but the above list represents known producers and is limited to only military variants. An updated AKM design is still produced in Russia.
Derivatives
Type 56 and AKS-47
The basic design of the AK-47 has been used as the basis for other successful rifle designs such as the Finnish Rk 62/76 and Rk 95 Tp, the Israeli Galil, the Indian INSAS and the Yugoslav Zastava M76 and M77/82 rifles. Several bullpup designs have surfaced such as the Chinese Norinco Type 86S, although none have been produced in quantity. Bullpup conversions are also available commercially.
Licensing
OJSC IzhMash has repeatedly claimed that the majority of manufacturers produce AK-47s without a proper license from IZH. The Izhevsk Machine Tool Factory acquired a patent in 1999, making manufacture of the newest Kalashnikov rifles, such as AK-100s by anyone other than themselves illegal. However, older variants, such as AK and AKM are public domain due to age of design.
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