There's no such thing as an AK-47? With firearms and weapon expert Jonathan Ferguson

The 'AK-47' is the ubiquitous label for the most recognisable group of firearms on the planet, but would you be correct in calling all AK-type rifles AK-47s? Is there indeed any such thing as an 'AK-47'?
Join Jonathan Ferguson as he examines the lineage of the most produced firearm family of all time to see what, if indeed anything can truly call itself an AK-47.
This video is a part of the 'History Matters' Collaboration! A massive collab between ourselves and a host of other amazing channels where we explore common misconceptions in history, and talk about why they matter. Find the whole playlist here: • Because History Matters!
Chapters
00:00- On the range
01:14 The AK-55
05:53 The 'Type 1'
07:51 The 'Type 2'
09:24 AKM
11:32 AK-74
13:15 - AKS-47
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Пікірлер: 1 100

  • @jonathanferguson1211
    @jonathanferguson121111 ай бұрын

    Thanks to Jip for pointing out the goof in the AK Types graphic. I sent the team a link to our online collection and didn't make clear it was a photo of two rifles - a Type 2 AK on top, and an AKM on the bottom - the wrong one got included in the video.

  • @F1ghteR41

    @F1ghteR41

    11 ай бұрын

    Judging by how quickly people spotted it, and how many comments mentioned it, it seems like you've managed to get the message across quite successfully, so congratulations! Two questions, if I may: what was the ammo used for the shooting, and does the Hungarian AK have chrome lining in the barrel?

  • @F1ghteR41

    @F1ghteR41

    11 ай бұрын

    Also, seeing as the comments on the matter are still pouring in, how about pinning Jonathan's comment, @RoyalArmouries

  • @jonathanferguson1211

    @jonathanferguson1211

    11 ай бұрын

    @@F1ghteR41 I believe our current batch is Chinese-made - steel case, copper wash, laser marked, single numeric headstamp, steel core bullet. The barrel is indeed chrome-lined.

  • @F1ghteR41

    @F1ghteR41

    11 ай бұрын

    @@jonathanferguson1211 I see, thanks for the detailed answer.

  • @christianwilliams1690

    @christianwilliams1690

    11 ай бұрын

    If this is the Jip I'm thinking of (and I imagine it is) then I am not at all surprised he spotted that so quickly

  • @peterclarke7240
    @peterclarke724011 ай бұрын

    Jonathan Ferguson, a man who can look infinitely cooler than most of the tacticool gun-tubers out there while dressed in his traditional curator's garb. No pretence at military nonsense, just a brit dressed for after-work pints and armed with an AK.

  • @LilPistachiofr

    @LilPistachiofr

    11 ай бұрын

    What he said

  • @Rrgr5

    @Rrgr5

    11 ай бұрын

    Hope one day we'll see him doing the same with an EM-2.

  • @stanfordwillis4841

    @stanfordwillis4841

    11 ай бұрын

    I'm getting very big Hoxton vibes from Payday here.

  • @juandemarko8348

    @juandemarko8348

    11 ай бұрын

    He's a beast

  • @paom8476

    @paom8476

    11 ай бұрын

    Super hans, but guns instead of crack...

  • @ReFr4ct1oN
    @ReFr4ct1oN11 ай бұрын

    Hi, your friendly Russian here!) For those who are still confused in all those markings - here is a bit more AK variant names and what they actually mean: Basically we take the base model and add various "attachments" onto it. AK - the OG guy. (АКС) AKS - "Skladnoy" or "Foldable" - same thing but with foldable stock. AKM - "Modernized". (АКМС) AKMS - same as AKS but for M-variant. (АКМН) AKMN - "Nochnoy" or "Night-variant" - AKM with a "Lastochkin Khvost" mount for 1PN34 NSPU scope. Can also be used with any other soviet scopes such as PSO-1. (АКМСН) AKMSN - "Skladnoy & Nochnoy" - the ultimate AKM combining previous two variants in one. AK-74 - same story, but 5.45 (АКС-74) AKS-74 - you get the idea. (АКС-74у) AKS-74u - "ukorochenniy" or "shortened" or "the smol boi" - very short variant of AKS-74 made for police and vehicle crews. Also has few variants: AKS-74UN - same as other "N"-variants. Now obsolete because later scope mount became standart for base AKS-74u. (6S1 "Canary") AKS-74UB - "besshumniy" or "silent" - standart muzzle device replaced with a thread-mount for PBS-4 silencer. Also has mounts for BS-1M silent grenade launcher. (АК-74Н) AK-74N - same as AKMN. (АКС-74Н) AKS-74N - same as AKMSN. AK-74M - more modern variant of AKS-74N with black polymer furniture. AK-100 series - made mostly for export. AK-101 - AK chambered in 5.56 NATO. AK-102 - short-barrel variant of AK-101. AK-103 - 7.62 variant. AK-104 - short AK 103. AK-105 - short-barrel AK-74M (5.45) made also for MVD (police) and anti-terrorist units. Still bigger than AKS-74u. AK-107 - AK-74M with "balanced recoil system" somewhat similar to AEK-971 (5.45). AK-108 - same but for AK-101 (5.56). AK-109 - same but for AK-103 (7.62).

  • @mileskosik472

    @mileskosik472

    11 ай бұрын

    That's a super neat little guide, thanks! I always wondered what the u in the AKS 74u I saw in games was, now I know!

  • @ReFr4ct1oN

    @ReFr4ct1oN

    11 ай бұрын

    @@mileskosik472 yea, russian military is often pretty straightforward Take AKS-74, make shorter - call it AKS-74 shortened - profit) With vehicles they sometimes just take russian alphabet. That is why there are T-72, T-72A, T-72B etc. But they also love 2 words - "Modernezirovanniy" and "Uluchshenniy" ("Modernized" and "Upgraded") So there are also BTR-82M, T-80U or T-72AM Also bonus for you: notice how there is no "u"-variant of AK or AKM - that is because there was none, at least from the Kalashnikov factory. Only Ugo M-92 or other non-russian guns. So if you see something like AKMSu or AKMu - it's fake)

  • @antennastoheaven

    @antennastoheaven

    11 ай бұрын

    No one: Absolutely no one: Russian: )

  • @ReFr4ct1oN

    @ReFr4ct1oN

    11 ай бұрын

    @@antennastoheaven 🤣

  • @yesimrealhuman4245

    @yesimrealhuman4245

    11 ай бұрын

    you misspelled on the ak-105. in the parentheses you wrote 5.54.

  • @geiroveeilertsen7112
    @geiroveeilertsen711211 ай бұрын

    I love how he REALLY follow proper safety protocols at around 1:00. He removes (what is at this point thought to be) the empty magazine, he then shows an empty chamber, looks for confirmation from what I surmise is a renge safety person, and STILL points the weapon down range for a last "click" to be sure it's safe. If only everyone could keep it that safe on the range...

  • @shootmcrunfast

    @shootmcrunfast

    11 ай бұрын

    Agreed! Pretty normal for ranges in the UK when not shooting from a bench. I could hear the RO's prompts in my head!!!

  • @peterclarke7240

    @peterclarke7240

    11 ай бұрын

    Yep. I see the occasional comments in this and the Gamespot channel's videos, from what I assume are CoD players and Americans, who seem to assume that because Jonathan is a curator, and a British one at that, that he has no range time, when in fact I'd say he's probably MORE knowledgeable and experienced than most purely because of those things.

  • @blackm4niac

    @blackm4niac

    11 ай бұрын

    @@peterclarke7240 I mean, you can't be the keeper of firearms and artillery without having shot a rifle or two. If I was in his position I'd probably make it my duty to test fire every new gun in the collection if possible.

  • @F4Insight-uq6nt

    @F4Insight-uq6nt

    11 ай бұрын

    That is is standard practice. Basic Stuff.

  • @66kbm

    @66kbm

    11 ай бұрын

    SOP's for any Range.

  • @HotelBravoFoxtrot
    @HotelBravoFoxtrot11 ай бұрын

    It's only called an AK-47 if it's made autumn 1948 to summer 1949, otherwise it's just sparkling Kalashnikov

  • @johnn8223

    @johnn8223

    11 ай бұрын

    "Sparkling Kalashnikov" oh like the one Saddam had?

  • @irishwristwatch2487

    @irishwristwatch2487

    11 ай бұрын

    ​@@johnn8223Saddam's was more like a 3L bottle of Mountain Pew, thing was pimped

  • @inthefade

    @inthefade

    11 ай бұрын

    Oh Benjamin.

  • @theprancingprussian

    @theprancingprussian

    11 ай бұрын

    I call 1949 ak ak49

  • @theprancingprussian

    @theprancingprussian

    11 ай бұрын

    @@thomasb282 mostly at least

  • @strahinjastevic7480
    @strahinjastevic748011 ай бұрын

    Kinda weird that we do not see people calling an SKS a "SKS-45" or "RPD-44" or whatever, truly an intriguing fact that it only stuck with the AK for some reason

  • @Jezus42

    @Jezus42

    11 ай бұрын

    Same deal there is only sks and it's many copies variations and knockoffs

  • @Jezus42

    @Jezus42

    11 ай бұрын

    Gotta love Chinese innovation

  • @F1ghteR41

    @F1ghteR41

    11 ай бұрын

    I think I saw SKS called that a couple of times. There might be a similar story there: I believe there was a rifle grenade launcher for SKS called VG-45.

  • @superfamilyallosauridae6505

    @superfamilyallosauridae6505

    11 ай бұрын

    As it turns out, Mikhail Kalashnikov just kinda called it an AK-47 in public and everybody in the entire world colloquially ran with it this entire time.

  • @okaro6595

    @okaro6595

    11 ай бұрын

    SKS-45 is sometimes used.

  • @StacheMan26
    @StacheMan2611 ай бұрын

    I'm afraid the graphic at 11:16 is messed up, with an AKM image in place of the type 2 AK.

  • @marduk87

    @marduk87

    11 ай бұрын

    I can confirm that the type 2 is wrongly represented by the AKM image.

  • @joshuaicon8707
    @joshuaicon870711 ай бұрын

    Being born in Leeds, I'm proud of how much the RA has grown in the recent decades and how much work people (Such as Jonathan) have placed into such a brilliant museum. Keep it up!.

  • @Mikebumpful

    @Mikebumpful

    5 ай бұрын

    Where is Jonathan from exactly? He sounds vaguely Northern to my non-English ears.

  • @dothwalrus370
    @dothwalrus37011 ай бұрын

    Always a good day when we see Jonathan get to shoot.

  • @Pattern51lover

    @Pattern51lover

    11 ай бұрын

    The Brit’s don’t get to shoot much, but when they do they go for the top shelf 😂

  • @aceman67
    @aceman6711 ай бұрын

    One of the best lines in film: "This is the AK-47 assault rifle, the preferred weapon of your enemy; and it makes a distinctive sound when fired at you, so remember it."

  • @CatsT.M
    @CatsT.M11 ай бұрын

    I can not watch this right now so take this fun fact: the Russian Wikipedia page for Kalashnikov Rifles (there are not individual pages for the variants in Russian) accurately calls the AK-47 a prototype. The English Wikipedia page however calls the AK-47 the gun that is used.

  • @Anonymous-73
    @Anonymous-735 ай бұрын

    Johnathan Ferguson is one of very few people who can use modern lingo effectively and without any cringe despite not growing up with it.

  • @MichaelDodge27
    @MichaelDodge2711 ай бұрын

    I love the videos where we get to see him firing some of these iconic weapons! There is also something funny about them being used in a location that, from the angles provided, looks like the basement of an office instead of at a traditional shooting range.

  • @Gearparadummies
    @Gearparadummies11 ай бұрын

    Ak47s were hard to find by late 1960s. They stopped production shortly after the AKM was introduced. Neither media not the general public have realized this as of yet. Another giveaway for spotting early model AKs is the magazine. Later magazines had three to four grooves along the sides to improve grip while wearing gloves. The AKM is far more ubiquitous than all previous AK variants combined.

  • @petervonfroster8i

    @petervonfroster8i

    11 ай бұрын

    yes, but since the Magazine is exchangeable, i wouldnt tell people to count on that.

  • @Gearparadummies

    @Gearparadummies

    11 ай бұрын

    @@petervonfroster8i Production of early magazines ended in the mid-fifties. Not many people own type 1 and 2 magazines.

  • @rkan2

    @rkan2

    11 ай бұрын

    Ak47 was made in the thousands... AKMs and it's variants are in the 10 million range.

  • @ArchOfficial

    @ArchOfficial

    11 ай бұрын

    AK-47 production stopped in 1949. The AKM was introduced a decade after. Don't forget that most AKs were not 47s.

  • @Gearparadummies

    @Gearparadummies

    11 ай бұрын

    @@ArchOfficial I've had an Ak47 type 2 dated 1952 in my hands. Maybe type 1s stopped being produced in 1949, but there were 3 iterations of the AK47 as they switched from milled to stamped receivers. Also, the Soviets never stopped production of anything until its replacement entered production itself. 1949 es the year of full adoption by the Soviet military. It's hardly likely they stopped making AK47s that same year. Industrial production in the Soviet Union wasn't based on actual needs but on scale economy. That's why they made nearly 100,000 T-55s only to store, sell or give away most of them. They made AKMs by the tens of millions, 90% of them ended outside the USSR.

  • @Tore299
    @Tore29911 ай бұрын

    Isn't the "type 2" at 11:15 a AKM?

  • @stevemc6010

    @stevemc6010

    11 ай бұрын

    Looks like even the video editor got confused

  • @TheCleansingx

    @TheCleansingx

    11 ай бұрын

    Hahahahaha Noooooo the confusion will be here forever

  • @RustedCroaker

    @RustedCroaker

    11 ай бұрын

    Nope. AK Type 1 - stamped receiver. Very very rare. AK Type 2 - milled receiver. Doe to manufacturing problems with stamping in high volumes. AK Type 3 - a final varian with milled receiver. AKM - modernized AK with stamped receiver. When manufacturing problems with a high volume stamping were finally resolved. The most produced variant, before AK-74(M). If you see something called AK-47 there's 99.5% chance it's in fact the AKM. (or a Chinese knock off)

  • @TacticalBaguette

    @TacticalBaguette

    11 ай бұрын

    @@RustedCroaker In the diagram there is an AKM where there should have been a picture of a Type 2

  • @trashcompactorYT

    @trashcompactorYT

    11 ай бұрын

    @@RustedCroakerYou are correct in your info, but the image shows an AKM not a type 2 AK

  • @thelegendaryklobb2879
    @thelegendaryklobb287911 ай бұрын

    11:16 Isn't that "Type 2" an AKM? The absence of lightening cut on the receiver, the angled muzzle device, the straight buttstock, the bakelite grip, and the ribbed top cover

  • @lib556

    @lib556

    11 ай бұрын

    I was following along nicely until that pic came up. I think there's an error in listing the Type 2 and 3 and AKM. Very confusing.

  • @Davo759
    @Davo75911 ай бұрын

    one more note of the difference between the AK-55 and the Type III AK-47 is that the Russian guns use a laminated wood furniture with a shellac finish while the Ak-55 used a hardwood furniture with an oil finish.

  • @SpottedHares
    @SpottedHares11 ай бұрын

    I remember reading that true AK-47 are very rare as only a small number of them were made and run though their service life before they were replaced with later models.

  • @MSM5500

    @MSM5500

    10 ай бұрын

    Yes, that's true, that genuine AK-47 are quite rear things to find and most of "AK-47" available are actually AKMs. There were 3pcs of real demilitarised AK47s at out school back in 80's. They had deliberately made protrusion in a barrel from a gas chamber housing up to the front sight and a ground off firing pin. Those rifles were used at initial military training classes which were compulsory to attend for both boys and girls. Unlike the other AKs the AK47 were supplied with real sword bladed bayonets whereas the others were equipped with ugly multi purpose knife bayonets.

  • @XavierAway
    @XavierAway11 ай бұрын

    I don’t see the problem with calling AKs made between 1947 and 1959 AK-47s, because even the other variants made later were based on the same design that was presented to the Russian military in the year 1947. They then made various rifles based on that design and the few tweaks they made didn’t make it a different firearm fundamentally, until the AKM, as Jonathon says.

  • @dragonstormdipro1013
    @dragonstormdipro101311 ай бұрын

    At 11:17 the "type 2" is actually an AKM

  • @Ferrarilover108

    @Ferrarilover108

    11 ай бұрын

    I also spotted the dimple on the receiver and thought the exact same thing

  • @honzabalak3462

    @honzabalak3462

    11 ай бұрын

    @@Ferrarilover108 You need to look at the whole thing. The dimple is a feature which remained on all AKs since AKM and thus isn't a distinguishing feature for any of them. AK-74, AK-12, the 100 series, etc. all have the dimple.

  • @Nakker42
    @Nakker4211 ай бұрын

    Love this series and channel in general. WIll say it is one of the quietest channels I subscribe to, always need to crank the volume to hear your guys

  • @KickyFut

    @KickyFut

    11 ай бұрын

    I don't know what to say... My volume isn't even at 30%, and I'm only using one earbud and the volume isn't all the way up on that either. I heard him perfectly fine!

  • @ArnoldsKtm

    @ArnoldsKtm

    2 ай бұрын

    @@KickyFut good for you

  • @KickyFut

    @KickyFut

    2 ай бұрын

    @@ArnoldsKtm thanks!😁 In all seriousness, there are far quieter channels. He's just not a shouter.

  • @ArnoldsKtm

    @ArnoldsKtm

    2 ай бұрын

    @@KickyFut bro compare it to their other videos. this one is genuinely quiet.

  • @stalkerentertainment3671
    @stalkerentertainment367111 ай бұрын

    I hate it when people call every AK variant an AK 47 despite that it is not. I know that the average person does not know the differences between these variants but still grinds my gears.

  • @1lovesoni

    @1lovesoni

    11 ай бұрын

    As far as I understand, they didn't start using numbers until the AK-74. The "47" part was more of a NATO nomenclature thing. Edit: I guess they did use the 47 year designation for a very short time, and NATO just latched onto it after that.

  • @guyman7776

    @guyman7776

    11 ай бұрын

    Yeah, I rather just say AK or AK pattern, so that can cover non Russian origin AKs, like the Chinese Norincos which is one of the most common AKs out in the field.

  • @nam430

    @nam430

    11 ай бұрын

    nerd moment (dont worry im one too)

  • @RevanAlaire

    @RevanAlaire

    11 ай бұрын

    @@1lovesoni I have always found it a somewhat amusing coincidence that the AK-74 is basically 47 with the numbers switched around.

  • @davidvulakh744

    @davidvulakh744

    11 ай бұрын

    This is why I go with the more generic Kalashnikov name for these pattern of rifles because there's always differences between multiples.

  • @F1ghteR41
    @F1ghteR4111 ай бұрын

    Very nuanced summary as always, great job Jonathan! 2:53 Type 3 was sometimes distinguished in the nomenclature as 'lightened' (облегчённый). 3:53 Namely, АВ (AV - automatic) & ОД (OD - single, i.e. semi-auto). I believe the markings would be somewhat different with Bulgarian AKs. 11:08 More importantly, firing mechanism was modified to reduce the rate of fire, and bolt carrier was slightly improved, probably for better accuracy. 15:15 I was just about to mention it! Apparently no less than 14 thousand exemplars were printed with such cover. 16:09 It seems that some either still are or until very recently were in service in Mongolia.

  • @tiortedrootsky

    @tiortedrootsky

    11 ай бұрын

    AKM has "hammer retarder" thats made to combat bolt bounce in full auto. Hammer is hitting the pin just a little later, as the bolt settles. As i understand it almost doesnt slow down rate of fire.

  • @F1ghteR41

    @F1ghteR41

    11 ай бұрын

    @@tiortedrootsky It does, I can hear the difference in this video. Moreover, as trials had shown, it played a significant part in improving the accuracy of the rifle.

  • @williamk1060

    @williamk1060

    11 ай бұрын

    It does slow the rate of fire, but the purpose of it was to prevent bolt bounce and hammer following bolt as well as out of battery firing, which was the problem with the early AKs

  • @tiortedrootsky

    @tiortedrootsky

    11 ай бұрын

    Theres a video with full auto shooting of the same gun with and without hammer retarder - "Full Automatic AKM without rate reducer" I've *routhly* measured the ROF: with hammer retarder - 619 rpm without - 676 rpm Difference is ~57 rpm, thats 8,4%.

  • @F1ghteR41

    @F1ghteR41

    11 ай бұрын

    @@williamk1060 While it might very well be so, the 1957-58 test report indicates that improved firing mechanism played a significant role in improving accuracy.

  • @travismcgee9333
    @travismcgee933311 ай бұрын

    It looks like the three rifles shown together at 11:23 hase a typo. The one that is shown to be the type 2 is actually the AKM.

  • @___seb3341

    @___seb3341

    11 ай бұрын

    yes correct (comment for visibility)

  • @RDJ134
    @RDJ13411 ай бұрын

    Been to the militaire museum in Delft years ago after Mikhail Kalashnikov opended in 2010, incredible collection that they had, learned so much that day. There so many variants from so many countries.

  • @Chiller01
    @Chiller0111 ай бұрын

    I assumed the nomenclature of AK-47 was used by much of the world as a continuation of the nomenclature used for many other Soviet WW2 era small arms incorporating the weapon designer and year of adoption ie PPSh-41, SVT40, PPS43 etc. From an opponent’s point of view the only significant change is the change of calibre to 5.45X39 as the differences in external and terminal ballistics are significantly different. Of course as a subject expert (or a nerdish amateur) the nuances of nomenclature are important. This channel is biased toward the gun knowledgeable so I’ll likely get push back but I do think that if one is communicating to the general population the term AK47 is sufficiently precise to allow people to create the mental image of the ubiquitous Soviet designed select fire rifle that much of the world uses.

  • @strahinjastevic7480

    @strahinjastevic7480

    11 ай бұрын

    Touch grass

  • @darryldouglasmarbaniang7162
    @darryldouglasmarbaniang716211 ай бұрын

    One thing I definitely have to laud Johnathan and his crew for is how he'd mentioned having contacted Mr. Onokoy for some information on the AK. Mr. Onokoy has worked with Kalashnikov Group for quite a while now, and has also handled a considerable amount of AK variants around the world. As such, he's very familiar with them. Yeah, if there's one expert who I'd really recommend consulting, with regards to the AK and it's derivatives, it'd be him.

  • @darryldouglasmarbaniang7162

    @darryldouglasmarbaniang7162

    11 ай бұрын

    Brandon Herrera is another guy who I'd definitely recommend consulting. He's more of an enthusiast than an expert, but he's also got a really good understanding on the AK and it's history.

  • @sunil_de6856
    @sunil_de685611 ай бұрын

    That AKS-47 stock looking a lot like the MP-40 stock... Also isn't that "Type 2" at 11:17 actually an AKM? With the straighter mag, different handguard and buttstock?

  • @stanislavczebinski994

    @stanislavczebinski994

    11 ай бұрын

    Indeed - the shown "Type 2" is an AKM. Maybe the video editor got it wrong.

  • @thebigpig4632

    @thebigpig4632

    11 ай бұрын

    An MP40 stock wouldn't fit the weapon, it'd be too short

  • @sunil_de6856

    @sunil_de6856

    11 ай бұрын

    @@thebigpig4632 Yea i know

  • @strahinjastevic7480

    @strahinjastevic7480

    11 ай бұрын

    AKS and AKMS have different folding stocks, the AKS one might aswell be deyigned after the MP40's but the AKMS one is waaaayy better

  • @TheWabbitSeason
    @TheWabbitSeason11 ай бұрын

    @17:20 - "Just call it an AK" - And here comes the Chinese Type 56, Yugoslavian M70, Hungarian AMD-65, and Iraqi Tabuk

  • @TheSundayShooter

    @TheSundayShooter

    11 ай бұрын

    Chinese AK, Yugoslavian AK, Hungarian AK, Iraqi AK

  • @user-om3pi9rf3y

    @user-om3pi9rf3y

    22 күн бұрын

    @@TheSundayShooter اشعر بالفخر لاجل ذلك...من العراق

  • @treeweasel77
    @treeweasel7711 ай бұрын

    I really loved the immediate cuts to the next model of weapon. Let us look at it before you tell us everything. Very well edited and one of my favorite videos on the Kalashnikov I've seen in a long while.

  • @kradikt666
    @kradikt66610 ай бұрын

    You do so many great videos that are very informative and I love how enthusiastic about firearms you are

  • @petervonfroster8i
    @petervonfroster8i11 ай бұрын

    Well explained/described! It always bothered me how many People seem to be uneducatable about the Kalashnikov Family, even if you tell them, they still refuse to stop calling every Firearm that has wood on it "AK 47"...

  • @dickmelsonlupot7697

    @dickmelsonlupot7697

    11 ай бұрын

    or any black colored rifle an M16

  • @robertkalinic335

    @robertkalinic335

    11 ай бұрын

    Ok time traveller its not 90's anymore, unless you are pissed at extremely old ladies for some reason then nobody is really doing that and you are not the Wunderkind you imagine being. Real life actschually guy, put your fedora away.

  • @SkySpiderGirl
    @SkySpiderGirl11 ай бұрын

    Had to turn my headset right up to hear Jonathan this time

  • @Safetytrousers

    @Safetytrousers

    11 ай бұрын

    I didn't change my level from what I was previously watching. Not low for me.

  • @MrLilhauughh
    @MrLilhauughh11 ай бұрын

    Absolutely amazing video. Thank you for the continuing education of firearms, For future reference, any chance of moving the mic closer to you or perhaps checking the outbound volume before uploading? My speakers are maxed to hear you a lot of the time. Best Regards and thanks again for your work and for the Museum. Never forget our history regardless of what it might be.

  • @DC2022
    @DC202211 ай бұрын

    All of those EM-2 in the background 😲

  • @michaelguerin56
    @michaelguerin5611 ай бұрын

    Good video. Thank you. I have been aware of the ‘AK47’ naming controversy for some time. Nice to hear/see the extra information, courtesy of Mr Onokoy.

  • @mpersad
    @mpersad11 ай бұрын

    I learn so much from these videos, and I love it when common misconceptions are called out. Top video!

  • @sirflaps7619
    @sirflaps761911 ай бұрын

    Volume is quite low on this one, other than that good video!

  • @Safetytrousers

    @Safetytrousers

    11 ай бұрын

    I didn't change my level from what I was previously watching.

  • @1970bosshemi
    @1970bosshemi11 ай бұрын

    I’ve noticed from talking with people from around the world, most people from countries other than the US just refer to any AK style rifle as a “Kalashnikov”

  • @stasisthebest
    @stasisthebest11 ай бұрын

    Thank you. Very informative and well structured video

  • @daviddavidson2357
    @daviddavidson235711 ай бұрын

    Jonathan absolutely has the best job in the world.

  • @ML-tl7kw
    @ML-tl7kw11 ай бұрын

    I am a huge fan of the "nerd specs" type of videos. Thank you for the videos and please keep them coming.

  • @krisjooste
    @krisjooste11 ай бұрын

    Thank you for this presentation. Would you ever consider covering the AK-100 family of rifles?

  • @sadnikcontainik

    @sadnikcontainik

    9 ай бұрын

    I like them in Escape from Tarkov. Ak 101 and 102 are fricking nice because you can use AK mods on the 5.56 caliber and install a better nato supressor, AK 103 this is a bit like AKM but slightly more modern but some of the good AKM mods dont fit into it, I prefer this one over AKM - AK 104-105 - they have pretty short barrels so they arent as good in this game

  • @SPENJERE
    @SPENJERE10 ай бұрын

    Very informative, thank you.

  • @Tychus
    @Tychus11 ай бұрын

    Gotta love this shooting range/office/supplies storage

  • @AleksiJoensuu
    @AleksiJoensuu11 ай бұрын

    I used the RK-95 in the Finnish defence forces. Similar, but also different. Made in Finland. It had a plastic folding stock. Really enjoyed target practise with it, it felt quite accurate though I have no other comparison.

  • @G1NZOU

    @G1NZOU

    10 ай бұрын

    They're definitely regarded as being some of the best quality AK type rifles, good machining and the benefit of a few good ideas in the design changes. I imagine the plastic coated buttstock is nicer on your cheek than bare metal would be in the Finnish winter.

  • @Aliyah_666

    @Aliyah_666

    10 ай бұрын

    I'd say the RK-95 is a very accurate AK variant right up there with the VZ-58.

  • @nialltomy15
    @nialltomy1511 ай бұрын

    Haven't you got the pictures the wrong way round on the image at 11:18? Isn't the AKM, which is labelled "type 2" in the middle actually the type 3?

  • @marcinossowski3212
    @marcinossowski321211 ай бұрын

    I’m into AK topic for over 7 years and I learn something new every day. Neverending story.

  • @Yevgeny_N
    @Yevgeny_N11 ай бұрын

    AK-47 is the name of a trial batch that was tested in the military. He was not in service. After testing and improvements, it was adopted in 1949 under the name AK.

  • @sanchesseli

    @sanchesseli

    10 ай бұрын

    Exactly! AK-47 is the prototype and trial batch for large scale military tests (i heard about 20k pcs were produced). And in 1949 it was accepted as AK for service with some minor improvements.

  • @anthonyburke5656
    @anthonyburke565611 ай бұрын

    Another variation is the “under-barrel” bayonet. The bayonet, when fitted, varied by date, region and particular factory, from bladed to triangular to stainless steel to nickel plated.

  • @Helghastdude

    @Helghastdude

    5 ай бұрын

    wasn´t that the Chinese Norinco Type 56?

  • @samoljubesic6275
    @samoljubesic627510 ай бұрын

    Very informative lesson. Impressive. Thank You.

  • @vajaspiritos744
    @vajaspiritos74411 ай бұрын

    The power stance in the beginning, I love it!!! Amazing video btw.

  • @IVAN_ENT
    @IVAN_ENT11 ай бұрын

    Nice and informative always been alot of confusion ,I went shooting in Prague a few years ago was told I was shooting an ak47 after checking photos years later I realised it was actually a yugoslav rpk (Zastava M72)

  • @alexhatfield2987
    @alexhatfield298711 ай бұрын

    Encyclopaedic, ultra-informative, fascinating, and myth-busting. I wasn’t aware that the magazine changed geometry simply to accommodate the combined shape of stacked smaller rounds. For me, there’s also so much more credibility and authenticity to seeing and hearing somebody humbly conveying detailed knowledge about their passion…and not just trying to be a guy with guns, attempting to look cool.

  • @user-cd4bx6uq1y
    @user-cd4bx6uq1y11 ай бұрын

    Very interesting and simple

  • @mch12311969
    @mch1231196911 ай бұрын

    Thank you for this rather informative video.

  • @tocsa120ls
    @tocsa120ls11 ай бұрын

    Nice shout-out for Vladimir Onokoy. I was very sad when YT removed the Kalashnikov Media channel (for obvious reasons). His videos on the worst 5 AK manufacturers had me rolling on the floor 😊

  • @finnvonfalco1882
    @finnvonfalco188211 ай бұрын

    Hey, I really appreciate your work! I did already know this things because of my Kalashnikov autism😂 but hopefully, a few people know will learn the differences. Only oopsi I saw was the picture with the type 1-3 rifles, on the type 2 there isn't a type 2 its an AKM! Greetings from Germany!

  • @michawiseka1785
    @michawiseka178511 ай бұрын

    Wow, that was really good video - I would like to see similar style of video with versions of m16s

  • @MacDorsai
    @MacDorsai11 ай бұрын

    Nice shooting and very nice weapon handling!

  • @sergei6572
    @sergei657211 ай бұрын

    Thanks! Very informative video!!! In 1979, at the training station, I had an AK type 1 of 1949. I shot it well and only with a burst of two rounds, no one ever had any delays when shooting. We were given 20 rounds, several of them tracers. Two targets moving at a distance of 250 meters, and then one target machine gun 350 meters. The shooting was carried out from a prone position and the targets appeared for about 10 - 15 seconds. Then I didn't think that I was holding a military rarity in my hands. Border troops of the KGB of the USSR.

  • @_b_x_b_1063

    @_b_x_b_1063

    8 ай бұрын

    Я за всю срочку отстрелял патронов 30 и то у наших Калашей были уже кривые стволы из-за дикого настрела. А по мишеням мы даже нормально не стреляли, обычно просто в их сторону.

  • @sergei6572

    @sergei6572

    8 ай бұрын

    @@_b_x_b_1063 Кривые стволы? Охотно НЕ верю!

  • @AlbonitumG
    @AlbonitumG11 ай бұрын

    Glad this misconception get addressed.

  • @brilliantmonarch
    @brilliantmonarch11 ай бұрын

    Jonathan's steely visage as he operates the weapon on the range wouldn't be out of place in a gritty 80s action film.

  • @MasterDomolvl
    @MasterDomolvl11 ай бұрын

    Thanks for making this explanation video possible, Jonathan. Games, movies, and non AK people will always point them as "AK-47", regardless of what design it is. It always tick me off when I hear someone call them that.

  • @nimbusshadow-wings

    @nimbusshadow-wings

    11 ай бұрын

    calm down its not a huge deal. though i agree it should just be an AK

  • @sigma80

    @sigma80

    11 ай бұрын

    I call semiautomatic only ones "AK Pattern rifle", it lacks select fire completely.

  • @benedictjajo

    @benedictjajo

    11 ай бұрын

    And people will still call it that because some 7 billion people haven't watched this video. Just accept it and let it be. You're losing your hair over nothing.

  • @cabbage0dusk
    @cabbage0dusk11 ай бұрын

    I swear this man has the best job in the world... Especially when based in the UK!

  • @parrotraiser6541
    @parrotraiser654111 ай бұрын

    Just as well there are subtitles. If I hadn't turned them on, I would have missed most of Jonathan's presentation. Surely the Royal Armouries could arrange audible sound?

  • @JohanKlein
    @JohanKlein11 ай бұрын

    Great video! Unfortunately there is a mistake on the picture with types of AK. Instead of the type 2 AK there is an image of the AKM on it... for some reason.

  • @codyydocy
    @codyydocy11 ай бұрын

    I’d love to see Jonathan, Ian from forgotten weapons and Brandon Herrera talk about and shoot AKs

  • @moshlundgren
    @moshlundgren11 ай бұрын

    Brilliant video, however the sound is very quiet on this one!

  • @Sweenis80
    @Sweenis8011 ай бұрын

    the sound quality in the start of this video is fantastic

  • @billydeewilliams9104
    @billydeewilliams91047 ай бұрын

    That last under folder is a GEM. WOW.

  • @user-tr2li3vu6u
    @user-tr2li3vu6u11 ай бұрын

    6:50 the grip isn't made of plastic. Plastic wasn't a commonly used material at the time, it's actually made of "bakelite", which is vulcanized tree resin Edit: forgot to add, the reason why such a good material was abandoned was soldier comfort (yes, in USSR, imagine). The grip heated up in the sun to incredible temperatures, making the rifle borderline unusable

  • @peterscasny2803

    @peterscasny2803

    11 ай бұрын

    bakelite is a type of plastic lmao

  • @mcfeddle

    @mcfeddle

    11 ай бұрын

    ​@@peterscasny2803it's a type of polymer, not the same.

  • @kristofferjohansson3768

    @kristofferjohansson3768

    11 ай бұрын

    I looked it up and it is a quiet interesting material. And not made from oil as pointed out.

  • @vaenii5056

    @vaenii5056

    11 ай бұрын

    @@mcfeddle Bakelite is the world's first synthetic plastic lmao 😄 Like seriously you have absolutely no idea what you are talking about. The same goes with tr2li3vu6u.

  • @BlueBockser

    @BlueBockser

    11 ай бұрын

    Apart from the fact that you're wrong about Bakelite (it's a PF plastic), the grip most likely isn't even made of Bakelite. Instead it's AG-S4, which is similar to Bakelite but most definitely not the same.

  • @petrihadtosignupforthis8158
    @petrihadtosignupforthis815811 ай бұрын

    You cannot but look cool when shooting AK. GJ Royal Armouries, but mostly Jonathan.

  • @combat-greyhound565
    @combat-greyhound56510 ай бұрын

    well there is an AK-47 that even was called AK-47 by the soviets. Its the prototype where Michael Kalaschnikow changed the gas system from a short stroke to the long stroke system to make sure the weapon will not fail in the tests. Its also the last prototype of the AK that was made for the 7.62×41 mm M43 cardridge. That however became the 7.62×39 mm cardridge later on because of problems with its ballistics and so on the Prototype AK-48 as well as an AK-47 became rechambered. Parts of both last prototypes became then the AK (Type 1) that was addoped. And also with the name of what most call an AK-47: here is a list of how the actual soviet names of those guns are: Western - Eastern Type 1 AK-47 - 7.62 AK Type 2 AK-47 - AK-49 Type 3 AK-47 - AK-53

  • @James-lr3xg
    @James-lr3xg11 ай бұрын

    That is a fantastic brief breakdown.

  • @Carnage1138
    @Carnage113811 ай бұрын

    He mentioned the AK 74. My brothers, we have not been neglected!

  • @Carnage1138

    @Carnage1138

    11 ай бұрын

    @kellyharbeson18 I got my Jim Fuller 74 10 days before the ammo ban was announced, lol. But I've got enough stocked up until US production can take off.

  • @Carnage1138

    @Carnage1138

    11 ай бұрын

    @@kellyharbeson18 PSA already had a factory that they imported from Eastern Europe before the ban was announced. It is "supposed" to be operational before the end of this year.....which probably means next year at best. It's going to make 5.45, 7.62x39, and I believe 7.62x54R under PSA's Soviet Arms brand.

  • @66kbm
    @66kbm11 ай бұрын

    Quite a specialist subject that i still don't understand Thanks for the info on these rifles. I must admit though, my eye was drawn with enormously toward the "Bullpups" behind you. "Not every rear magazine weapon is a Bullpup, sounds like the AK47 story above. However, i know you wrote the book on British Bullpups so you are the man as they would say. I defer to your vast knowledge on this subject.

  • @crashcraftyt
    @crashcraftyt11 ай бұрын

    Nice Kalashnikov Rifles breakdown, Jonathan !!

  • @Grasyl
    @Grasyl10 ай бұрын

    5:21 I can be wrong but was the original doctrine not to fire medium burst from the hip wile advancing and switch to shoulder singe fire when single targets could be seen?

  • @Montrala
    @Montrala11 ай бұрын

    In Poland it was initially adopted as pmK (submachinegun Kalashnikov), then later redesignated to kbk AK (carbine AK), then kbk AKM / kbk AKMS. Polish grenade launcher version was kbkg wz. 1970 / kbkg wz. 1960/72. So no “AK47” in Poland either.

  • @KothraStreamdiver

    @KothraStreamdiver

    11 ай бұрын

    East Germany followed a similar scheme where the early AK was adopted as the MPi-K (MPi just being read like "emm pee"), later AKM as MPi-KM, with some variants of each. When the AK-74 was adopted they changed the naming to MPi-AK-74.

  • @KwadDamyj
    @KwadDamyj11 ай бұрын

    A weapon anyone can use but no one can remember the model number of. 🤣

  • @peterclarke7240

    @peterclarke7240

    11 ай бұрын

    That's because if you've got one, and are using it in anger, it no longer matters what it is called.

  • @tylerlacor8116
    @tylerlacor811611 ай бұрын

    Great video Johnathan!!

  • @philash824
    @philash82411 ай бұрын

    I remember years ago someone said that no one ever patented (not sure if that’s the right word) the AK, so you were free to knock out copies without fear of lawsuits

  • @andrewgraham2546
    @andrewgraham254611 ай бұрын

    Sometimes the need for a number doesn't exist until there are enough different variants to require some differentiation. I've also noticed a change in stock design over the years. Some early type 1 stocks are really short and angled up like a Thompson whereas all the 74 style stocks seem to be straight.

  • @JaenEngineering
    @JaenEngineering11 ай бұрын

    I know enough that I just refer to them as AK pattern rifles until I get more info. Same with using AR pattern rifles for the US equivalents.

  • @TheSundayShooter

    @TheSundayShooter

    11 ай бұрын

    In the spirit of pedantry, _AR pattern rifles_ is problematic terminology considering the AR-17, AR-24, AR-7, AR-18, et cetera

  • @F1ghteR41

    @F1ghteR41

    11 ай бұрын

    @@TheSundayShooter Don't forget the AR-16, a design which approached the concept of multi-calibre modularity way before it became cool.

  • @Swat9541
    @Swat954111 ай бұрын

    jonathan shooting an ak is something i didn't know i needed in my life. Thanks XD

  • @alexm566
    @alexm56611 ай бұрын

    great to see shooting videos!

  • @johnnyjoseph1389
    @johnnyjoseph138911 ай бұрын

    I think all of them are AR14s, you know the ones that shoot the 50 caliber magazine clips....😂

  • @andrewp8284

    @andrewp8284

    11 ай бұрын

    In half a second, don’t forget they fire the 50 caliber 50 magazine clip in half a second😂 Thank god we have the AFT to legislate a law which they can then enforce, to deal with these AR-14s! Lol

  • @thebigpig4632

    @thebigpig4632

    11 ай бұрын

    Yo I heard that thing shoots your lung out of your body, it's scary what the Russian blasters can fo to people 😢

  • @BoofsBopHouse
    @BoofsBopHouse11 ай бұрын

    Love my AKM-S

  • @kuukeli
    @kuukeli11 ай бұрын

    thank you for the video

  • @rbrn-94
    @rbrn-9411 ай бұрын

    Beautiful examples, especially the 74 with its immaculate wood condition. 😲

  • @DK-gy7ll
    @DK-gy7ll11 ай бұрын

    It's very common in popular culture to reference entire families of weapons into one generic model name. Take the 1911 for example. The only true "1911" is the original Model of 1911 US Army (or Navy) produced by Colt, Springfield Armory and Remington-UMC for the United States military between 1912 and 1919. Everything we've seen since regardless of appearance or manufacturer is simply a 1911-style pistol.

  • @kolklown
    @kolklown11 ай бұрын

    Such pedantry. Very wow.

  • @alexstenin4530
    @alexstenin453011 ай бұрын

    I don't get everything clear, since English isn't my native but I'll try to explain what i know... 7:26 I got the coolest story about AK classification ever If you'll open soviet manual for T-10M Heavy tank of 1960 you'll find out that: - Crew of T-10M got two of AK-47 (!) with 600 rounds for 'em (page 11, "Автоматы", Chapter 1) - Same information is doubled further (page 64, "Вооружение танка", Chapter 3) - In common there are used names: "автомат Калашникова", "AK", "AK-47" or just "автомат" depending on the context BUT Very first time this book references to AK is page 4, where you can see: "Отделение управления (рис. 3) расположено в носовой части корпуса танка. В нём размещены: [down the page, under the pic of T-10M] ...электрофильтры генератора Г-5 и блока питания ТВН-2Т, ящик с запасным прибором наблюдения ТПВ-51, часть боекомплекта, пистолеты-автоматы АК-47..." Look at this "пистолеты-автоматы АК-47". It can be translated as "Automatic pistols" or "Pistol-automats" or straight up "SUBMACHINE GUNS" AK-47. Each variant is close enough to what is written in russian. It's like interwar Kharkov Locomotive Factory was numbered 183 (ХПЗ or just Machine-building Factory № 183); in 1941 it was evacuated into Ural and united with the Ural Wagon-building Factory / Uralvagonzavod. This is how we got Ural Tank Factory of Comintern № 183. And that is modern Ural Wagon-building Factory (УВЗ / Uralvagonzavod) - producer of T-72B3, T-90M and T-14/15/16 tanks, trains, wagons, trolleys and other specialized machines. And that's why technically in law the UWZ (УВЗ) is accurate heir of original Kharkov Steam train Building Factory of 1895, not the Kharkov Plant of Transport Machinery (rus. ХЗТМ им. Малышева), which is founded in 1943 at place of original Kharkov's facility № 183. And what's why the UWZ holds old interwar medals and rewards of Kharkov's Factory. (I mean the law and the level of mess and contradiction inside and between rus./soviet industry and army + the huge difference between modern and old classifications. No politics, pls) That's that... T-10M manual I speak about... (I'll drop the link later) djvu.online/file/GFgGvD6vJZszC About Ural's and Kharkov's facilities numbering... Here: kzread.info/dash/bejne/inVk0bBsZ9naoMo.html

  • @dillonpierce7869
    @dillonpierce78695 ай бұрын

    Good to know most of that. Felt like i sort of knew that but i also tend to prefer to differentiate between the 47 type and 74 type until they get further up into the newer ones they've been working on.

  • @Krayzpete
    @Krayzpete11 ай бұрын

    All 47s are AKs, but not all AKs are 47s...

  • @flatmoon6359
    @flatmoon635911 ай бұрын

    One of the few people in U.K. to have fired an A.K. Type. But in full auto, unique." I haven't bothered to get a AK out to show you". I now hate Jonathan .

  • @paleoph6168

    @paleoph6168

    11 ай бұрын

    The only other UK bloke I know for shooting an AK is Jeremy Clarkson in one of the Top Gear episodes.

  • @18robsmith

    @18robsmith

    11 ай бұрын

    @@paleoph6168 It think you would be surprised how many British army instructors fired them as part of firearms familiarisation in the 1970 to 1990 era. Jeremy & Jonathan are two of a very small number of Brits who have appeared on screen firing an AK of any sort.

  • @flatmoon6359

    @flatmoon6359

    11 ай бұрын

    Clarkson probably shot his own foot off, was that in UK. I've handled and field stripped one, but never fired one. Yes it was in a familiarisation course. M16,RPK,and pistols of different types. Long time ago. If balloon had gone up in BAOR, doing the job I was doing, I would have been carrying one. Two man detachments need firepower, not SMG/SLR.

  • @JammyGuns

    @JammyGuns

    11 ай бұрын

    @@18robsmith You can own a straight pull version here in the UK on a firearms certificate (Iv'e used a pic of my own one as my channel wallpaper) but of course it isn't really the same.

  • @niecokassa2425
    @niecokassa242510 ай бұрын

    Damn, been watching you for a long time, can't believe I wasn't subscribed!? Love your work. Thank you Jonathan.

  • @Grasyl
    @Grasyl10 ай бұрын

    11:05 The slant muzzle compensator is not a clear identification point, because this was only approved in 1965 and was widespread only in 1970.

  • @bobjoe1593

    @bobjoe1593

    10 ай бұрын

    It's sort of a one-way identifier. You can say that no pre-AKM type would have been shipped out with that configuration

  • @AntonAdelson
    @AntonAdelson11 ай бұрын

    What I can say is that in Russia no one calls any Kalashnikov as AK47 or anything 47, really. First time I had encountered it was much later in life after I left Russia

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