The Weapon That Changed The Face of War

With as many as 100 million weapons produced, often available at prices as low as $10, the AK-47 is "the world's most prolific and effective combat weapon, a device so cheap and simple that it can be bought in many countries for less than the cost of a live chicken. This weapon, depicted on the flag and currency of several countries, has changed the geopolitical landscape of the post-cold war era. It has been responsible for more than a quarter million deaths every year. It is the undisputed firearm of choice for at least fifty legitimate standing armies, along with untold numbers of disenfranchised fighting forces ranging from international insurgents and terrorists to domestic drug dealers." So argues Larry Kahaner in AK-47: The Weapon That Changed The Face of War.

In this engrossing book, Kahaner argues that the AK-47's cheap price, ease of use, and widespread prevalence across the globes puts it on par with the atomic bomb in terms of changing warfare. Kahaner details the history of the weapon, beginning with inventor Mikhail Kalashnikov's injury in World War II. As Kalashnikov recovered in a military hospital, he reflected on the inadequacies of Russian firearms at the time, and dreamed of a weapon that would drive invading Germans from his homeland. Those dreams would ultimately not come true in time for WWII, but they would eventually sweep the world of modern weaponry.

Kahaner manages to meld intricate ballistic discussions with historical examinations of the impact the AK-47 had on cultures around the world. For example, Kahaner explains how the weapon was a frighteningly effective arm for children soldiers in Africa. During the civil war in Sierra Leone, "as many as 80 percent of all combatants were between seven and fourteen," and most of them used AKs. Relatively light-weight, easy to shoot, durable, and incredibly cheap, the gun was despicably perfect for child soldiers. Kahaner also examines the weapon's impact on nations in South America and the Middle East.

Ironically, the gun's designer continues to live in near poverty. Eugene M. Stoner, the inventor of America's M-16 received a dollar for each weapon sold. At the time of a 1990 meeting with Kalishnikov, about six million M-16's were in circulation. In contrast, the Russian designer "was a man whose invention was found in virtually every country, and had made millions of dollars for middlemen and gun dealers, yet he was a pauper who knew practically nothing of the outside world," Kahaner writes. "His country had kept him purposely isolated." While Kalishnikov held to the party line that he invented the weapon in support of his country, not to get rich, it's difficult to imagine he didn't experience some bitterness at a situation where he was rewarded with a $50-a-month pension.

Ultimately, AK-47: The Weapon That Changed The Face of War by Larry Kahaner isn't necessarily a fun read, but it is an important, educational, and engrossing one.