Are you old enough to remember the Cold War? Not only did this era mark the epic struggle between democracy and communism, it was also a time when colonial powers worldwide receded. You probably recognize one of the most iconic and well-known firearms of the 20th Century, the AK-47. Invented by Mikhail Kalashnikov, the full name of the gun is actually "Avtomat Kalashnikova," and the 47 designates the year of its production. What you may not know is that many of the firearms of this design that you may have seen in news footage or in movies were actually manufactured in China, not Russia, and it's more properly called the Chinese Type 56. In this video, American Rifleman editor in chief Mark Keefe, writer Martin K.A. Morgan and NRA National Firearms Museum's Phil Schreier walk you through the fascinating history of this rifle.
Throwback Thursday: Chinese Type 56 Rifle
More like this from around the NRA
Latest
MidwayUSA Named Official Sponsor of 2024 NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits
MidwayUSA and Brenda and Larry Potterfield have been at the forefront of protecting Second Amendment freedoms for many years and are great friends of the NRA.
Reviewed: EAA Corp Girsan MC14T Solution Tip Up .380
Hand-strength challenges making it hard to rack a semi-auto's slide? This might just be your solution!
Your Picture Can Help Defend the 2nd!
We think your smiling face is the best way to deck the halls of the Kay Bailey Hutchinson Convention Center!
Bianchi Cup 2024: $30K in Prizes at Stake This May
The second-longest-running pistol championship in the world returns with an awesome prize package!
Throwback Thursday: Wild Bill Hickok & the "Dead Man's Hand"
Stagecoach driver, lawman, Army scout and professional gambler, Hickok left an outsize impression on American history.
Mossy Oak's 2024 Wild Turkey Stamp "Bottomland Bachelors" Available Now
Funding wild turkey conservation projects to ensure the wild turkey population is around for generations to come.
Interests
SECTIONS
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
EXPLORE MORE NRA PUBLICATIONS
