The AK-47 Kalashnikov Museum Virtual Tour: Part 7 - military Museum of Mikhail Kalashnikov, the designer of AK-47, Hall of Fame, Pt.1 / Page 4 /

Pic.7-28


Museum of Kalashnikov. There are interesting photos in this showcase. In upper left corner - photo of Mikhail Timofeevich Kalashnikov with Eugene Stoner, designer of M-16 assault rifle.

Pic.7-29 : Kalashnikov-Stoner summit ad signed all over by Stoner, Kalashnikov and other participants
Pic.7-29 : Kalashnikov-Stoner summit ad signed all over by Stoner, Kalashnikov and other participants


 Pic.7-31 Mikhail Timofeevich Kalashnikov with the inventor
of the Uzi submachine gun, Uziel Gal of Israel.
Pic.7-31 Mikhail Timofeevich Kalashnikov with the inventor
of the Uzi submachine gun, Uziel Gal of Israel.




Museum of Kalashnikov. Pic.7-30 Kalashnikov shakes hands with Stoner
Pic.7-30 Kalashnikov shakes hands with Stoner


Pic.7-33 the gift set of cartridges given to Mikhail Kalashnikov when he was visiting SAKO munitions factory in Finland
Pic.7-33 the gift set of cartridges given to Mikhail Kalashnikov when he was visiting SAKO munitions factory in Finland

There are interesting photos in this showcase. In upper left corner - photo of Mikhail Timofeevich Kalashnikov with Eugene Stoner, designer of M-16 assault rifle.

Below is samurai sword Kalashnikov was presented with when visiting Spain; this oriental robe - the gift from Kazakhstan (former Soviet Republic), quiver with arrows - the gift from Bashkortostan (a body within Russian Federation).

Pic.7-32 Mikhail Timofeevich Kalashnikov
with Bill Ruger
                     
 Museum of Kalashnikov. Pic.7-32 Mikhail Timofeevich Kalashnikov
with Bill Ruger                      
 Few facts of interest:

- In 1949 (about the time AK-47 was adopted by Soviet Army), a young inventor named William B. Ruger approached a young financier named Alex Sturm with a prototype of a new .22 rimfire semi-auto pistol.

The pistol was a soundly designed piece that was inexpensive to produce and reliable (doesn't this sound similar to AK appraisals ?).

Ruger had the original design and the manufacturing knowledge to make it a reality, but he needed the venture capital required to start his company. Sturm, a young aristocrat with a love of sport shooting, invested $50,000, and Sturm, Ruger & Co. began a journey that would lead to the company becoming the largest and most respected manufacturer of sporting firearms in the U.S.

- Ruger's .22 auto pistols have been in continuous production throughout the life of the company, and millions have been produced to date (here goes another nod to AK-47).

- New examples of .22 auto pistols could be bought for as little as $250.00, which is about as cheap as one can get AK-47 in the U.S.

(information credit: http://www.Gunblast.com - The Online Gun Magazine)

- Bill Ruger has received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Alliance of Sporting Gun Dealers. Ruger was only the second person to receive this prestigious award.

Doesn't this fascinating story have much in common with AK-47 success ?

Upon reading Kalashnikov's bio, our editor has mentioned: "I always like those stories where raw genius is able to succeed by dint of hard work and persistence. They give me hope that those of us from lowly backgrounds can actually amount to something!" - these words may apply to Bill Ruger's story, too.

↑ Up Next