Table of content
» Introduction » 2: Kalashnikov's family » 6: AK-74 / AK-100 / Saiga » 10: A study of Kalashnikov Vodka
» 1a: About The Kalashnikov Museum » 3: Kalashnikov: years 1933 - 1942 » 7: The Hall of Fame: Part I » 11: What's coming in the next version
» 1b: Izhevsk, Kalashnikov's homecity » 4: Kalashnikov's design career begins » 8: The Hall of Fame: Part II » Copyright
» 1c: Entering the Kalashnikov Museum » 5: The AK-47 is born » 9: The 2nd hall of the exhibition    Back to main page of ak47-guide.com

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


Pic.7-1 Hall of Fame


Museum of Kalashnikov. Pic.7-1 Hall of Fame

Museum of Kalashnikov. Kalashnikov's Stalin Prize certificate
Pic.7-3 Kalashnikov's Stalin Prize certificate


Kalashnikov Weapons Museum.  Kalashnikov's Lenin Prize certificate
Pic.7-4 Kalashnikov's Lenin Prize certificate


Pic.7-2


Museum of Kalashnikov. Kalashnikov has been honored throughout his career by the Soviet government. He was given the USSR Prize twice: the Stalin Prize for Industrial Work (1949) and Lenin Prize (1964).

This is the Hall of Fame.

Kalashnikov has been honored throughout his career by the Soviet government. He was given the USSR Prize twice: the Stalin Prize for Industrial Work (1949) and Lenin Prize (1964).

He became a Hero of Socialist Labor twice (1959 and 1976).
By his 85th anniversary, M.T. Kalashnikov is Lieutenant-General (retired).

Kalashnikov's insignia are plenty: he proudly wears his Lieutenant-General uniform marked with honors of Russia (three Orders of Lenin, Order of the Patriotic War First Class, Order of the Red Star, Order "For Distinguished Services for the Motherland" Second Class, Order of the Red Banner of Labor and many medals) and of foreign countries.

 

Pic.7-5


Museum of Kalashnikov. Mikhail Kalashnikov holding the highest ranking order of Russian Federation - Order of St. Andrew the First Called Apostle.

This picture features Mikhail Kalashnikov holding the highest ranking order of Russian Federation - Order of St. Andrew the First Called Apostle. In October 1998 Kalashnikov was awarded with the Order of St. Andrew the First Called Apostle �2.

Few facts:

- The order was instituted by Peter I The Great 300 years ago.

- Tsar Peter I The Great became 7th knight of the order in 1703 as "bombardier-captain Petr Mikhailov distinguished for his bravery and craftsmanship".

- Among the Order knights was Alexandr Suvorov, a Russian Generalissimo, reckoned one of a few great generals in history who never lost a battle. He was famed for his manual The Science of Victory (by the way - Kalashnikov's most favorite book), and noted for the saying "Train hard, fight easy."

- There were number of foreign citizens awarded with Order of St. Andrew the First Called Apostle - for their "sympathy for Russia". In 1807, 5 years prior to invading Russian in 1812, Napoleon Bonaparte was awarded with the order on account of signing The Tilzit peace treaty.

- In 1815 Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington, often referrer to as the Conqueror of Bonaparte, was awarded with the order on account of defeating Napoleon at Waterloo.

- In 1917 Bolsheviks discontinued it but on July 1st, 1998 Boris Eltsin, first President on Russia, re-instituted it.

- Nobel Prize-winning writer Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn (Soviet dissident, author of The Gulag Archipelago) turned down the Order of St. Andrew in December 1998, saying he was unable to receive an award from the authority that had "brought Russia to its present state of ruin" - never before such a denial occurred in the order's 300 years history.

- In January 2002, President Vladimir Putin has conferred the Order of St. Andrew the First Called on Valery Shumakov, Director of the Moscow Research Institute of Transplantation and Artificial Organs. Shumakov was the first in Russia to perform heart transplantation.


Museum of Kalashnikov. Pic.7-6 Star and sign on the chain of the Order of St. Andrew the First Called Apostle.
Pic.7-6 Star and sign on the chain of the Order of St. Andrew the First Called Apostle.


Museum of Kalashnikov. Sign of the Order of St. Andrew the First Called Apostle, against the Order blue band.
Pic.7-7 Sign of the Order of St. Andrew the First Called Apostle, against the Order blue band.


Museum of Kalashnikov. Star of the Order of St. Andrew the First Called Apostle.
Pic.7-8 Star of the Order of St. Andrew the First Called Apostle.


 Click to enlarge the picture
Pic.7-9 Tsar Peter I The Great
pictured wearing the blue band and
the star of the Order of St. Andrew



 Click to enlarge the picture
Pic.7-10 Alexandr Suvorov, reckoned one
of a few great generals in history
who never lost a battle. Among other insignia pictured is the blue band and
the star of the Order of St. Andrew (topmost).



 Click to enlarge the picture
Pic.7-11 Napoleon Bonaparte


 Click to enlarge the picture
Pic.7-12 Arthur Wellesley,
Duke of Wellington,
the Conqueror of Bonaparte.
You can see in the picture the blue band (half covered by pink band) and the star of the Order of St. Andrew (rightmost, in the shadow).



 Click to enlarge the picture
Pic.7-13 Nobel Prize-winning writer
Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn



 Click to enlarge the picture
Pic.7-14 Valery Shumakov, Director of the
Moscow Research Institute of
Transplantation and Artificial Organs.
He's wearing sign on the chain and star of the Order of St. Andrew the First Called Apostle.


 

Pic.7-15


Museum of Kalashnikov. This showcase is dedicated to publications about Kalashnikov in Russian and foreign press.


Museum of Kalashnikov. Closeup of the showcase dedicated to publications about Kalashnikov in Russian and foreign press, #1
Pic.7-16 Close-up of the showcase



Museum of Kalashnikov. Closeup of the showcase dedicated to publications about Kalashnikov in Russian and foreign press, #2
Pic.7-17 Close-up of the showcase



Museum of Kalashnikov. Closeup of the showcase dedicated to publications about Kalashnikov in Russian and foreign press, #3
Pic.7-18 Close-up of the showcase



Museum of Kalashnikov. Closeup of the showcase dedicated to publications about Kalashnikov in Russian and foreign press, #4
Pic.7-19 Close-up of the showcase

This showcase is dedicated to publications about Kalashnikov in Russian and foreign press.


Museum of Kalashnikov. Pic.7-20 Kalashnikov visited China
in 1991. This picture taken during
press conference after visiting
Chinese factory which makes
licensed AK-47s.
Pic.7-20 Kalashnikov visited China
in 1991. This picture taken during
press conference after visiting
Chinese factory which makes
licensed AK-47s.



Museum of Kalashnikov. Pic.7-21 Gift set of two AK-47 40th
anniversary medals given to
Kalashnikov by gunsmiths 
of Izhevsky Mekhanichesky Zavod.
Pic.7-21 Gift set of two AK-47 40th
anniversary medals given to
Kalashnikov by gunsmiths
of Izhevsky Mekhanichesky Zavod.



Kalashnikov Weapons Museum. Pic.7-22 Gift set of medals featuring
famous izhevskian hunting rifles.
Pic.7-22 Gift set of medals featuring
famous izhevskian hunting rifles.


 


Pic.7-25


Museum of Kalashnikov. Mikhail Timofeevich Kalashnikov had been actively involved in social and political activities

Pic.7-23 : Kalashnikov's Deputy of the USSR Supreme Soviet 
identification card and his Deputy sign 

 
Pic.7-24 Group photo of delegates of Udmurt Republic. Kalashnikov is first on the left in the lowest row. Moscow, Kremlin.













Pic.7-26 Kalashnikov's favorite lamp.

Pic.7-23 : Kalashnikov's Deputy of the USSR Supreme Soviet
identification card and his Deputy sign


Pic.7-24 Group photo of delegates of Udmurt Republic. Kalashnikov is first on the left in the lowest row. Moscow, Kremlin.

Pic.7-26 Kalashnikov's favorite lamp.





Pic.7-27 Reconstruction of Kalashnikov's favorite place to work at home


Museum of Kalashnikov. Pic.7-27 Reconstruction of Kalashnikov's favorite place to work at home

Mikhail Timofeevich Kalashnikov had been actively involved in social and political activities, more than once he was elected to serve as a Deputy of the USSR Supreme Soviet as a representative of Udmurt Republic.

He authored three books - "Memoirs of Small Arms Designer", "Trajectory of Destiny" and "From a Stranger's Doorstep to the Kremlin Gates" (latter available in English).

Further you can see partial reconstruction of Kalashnikov's favorite place to work at home. It features his old good lamp. You can see the original lamp displayed in that showcase, as well as saber - one of many gifts received by Kalashnikov from people worldwide.



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.

 

Pic.7-34 Other side of the showcase with Stoner photo


Museum of Kalashnikov. Pic.7-34 Other side of the showcase with Stoner photo


Kalashnikov Weapons Museum. Pic.7-35 Gift flag of People's Republic of Mozambique.

Kalashnikov recalls:

"Once we were offered to meet third world and Warsaw Pact army officers who attended Red Army advanced training courses.

There was a Minister for Defense of People's Republic of Mozambique talking - and then he suddenly turned my way and addressed me with following:

- Dear Sir, are you, being such a respective designer, aware what our flag bears silhouette of your gun ?

Kindly accept this gift flag of People's Republic of Mozambique.

There are three symbols embroidered on the banner - wide open book which symbolizes fight against illiteracy, hoe which symbolizes liberated labor, and assault rifle of your design - which symbolizes liberation from oppression of foreign imperialists."

 

 


Pic.7-36

 
Pic.7-37

Take a look at these pictures featuring current National Symbol and Flag of People's Republic of Mozambique. Current flag is somewhat different now from what's displayed in the Museum - however, the gun silhouette on the flag is distinctively Kalashnikov.

However, the National Symbol of People's Republic of Mozambique features the gun which looks like a mix of AK and M-16. It might be designer's fault or might be done knowingly - we don't know.

Another four pieces off Kalashnikov's collection of edged weapons:


Museum of Kalashnikov. A piece off Kalashnikov's collection of edged weapons #1
Pic.7-38


Museum of Kalashnikov. A piece off Kalashnikov's collection of edged weapons #2
Pic.7-39


Museum of Kalashnikov. A piece off Kalashnikov's collection of edged weapons #3
Pic.7-40


Museum of Kalashnikov. A piece off Kalashnikov's collection of edged weapons #4 (Knife of Kingdom of Judah)
Pic.7-41 : Knife of Kingdom of Judah