The AK-47 is perhaps the most widespread firearm in the world. Carried by American enemies and allies alike since 1947, it is the standard infantry weapon for 106 countries. There are an estimated ...

Until warfare evolves, the AK-47 will remain as devastatingly useful as it was half a century ago. Update: This blog post has been amended to remove the news peg. Share. Reuse this content.

Rapper Lil Wayne scored a hit with his song “AK-47,” and Tupac Shakur had an image of the gun tattooed on his stomach. Many video games, such as “Grand Theft Auto,” feature AKs.

1947: The AK-47, one of the world’s first operational assault rifles and probably the most durable and enduring small-arms weapons ever made, goes into production in the Soviet Union. More than ...