Kalashnikov (also known as AK-47 in the West) is a 2020 Russian biographical drama directed by Konstantin Buslov about the inventor of the AK-47, Mikhail Kalashnikov. The film takes place from 1943 to 1949, and chronicles the story of how Kalashnikov went from a tanker on the Eastern Front to the inventor of the service rifle of the Soviet Union.
The following weapons were used in the film Kalashnikov:
The Nagant M1895 revolver is used by Soviet soldiers. Captain Lyutyy (Artur Smolyaninov) celebrates the end of the Great Patriotic War by shooting his.
Submachine Guns
PPSh-41
Sahakyants is armed with a PPSh-41. PPSh-41s are also seen on the conveyor belt at a factory production line.
PPS-43
Alexey Sudaev (Dmitry Bogdan) presents his PPS-43 at the 1943 weapons competition and wins, defeating Kalashnikov's PPK-42. In 1945, some Red Army soldiers are seen armed with PPS-43s and celebrating the defeat of Nazi Germany.
PPK prototype
Mikhail Kalashnikov creates a first prototype at the Matay Railway Plant and goes with it to Alma-Ata to present it to Lieutenant Colonel Basarov (Seydulla Moldakhanov). Kalashnikov gets detained for showing the PPK prototype, which is mistaken for a threat on his part, and thus the weapon is seized by soldiers. Major Lebedev (Dmitriy Kulichkov) has the weapon delivered to Andrey Ivanovich Kazakov (Maksim Bityukov) to ask for his expertise on the gun. At the Gorokhovaya firing range, the PPK is tested and praised, which translates into getting Kalashnikov released and giving him a recommendation to continue his weapons development.
PPK-42
In 1942, while still on sick leave, Mikhail Kalashnikov modifies his prototype to the PPK-42 in order to present it before General Kurbatkin (Vitaliy Khaev), so he may get a recommendation for state trials. The PPK-42 eventually competes against Sudaev's PPS-43. His weapon, however, loses the contest to the PPS-43.
Rifles
Mosin Nagant M91/30
Red Army soldiers are armed throughout the film with Mosin Nagant M91/30 rifles.
SVT-40
Some Red Army soldiers are seen with shoulder-slung SVT-40s, although they are difficult to make out.
Mauser Karabiner 98k
Mikhail Kalashnikov and Sahakyants engage some German Wehrmacht soldiers, who are armed with Mauser Karabiner 98k rifles.
Assault Rifles
AK-46
In the process of developing an assault rifle for a weapons competition, Mikhail Kalashnikov creates the AK-46, the precursor to the AK-47. Following Sudaev's advice, he makes the device even simpler, which results in the creation of the legendary rifle.
AKS-47
Mikhail Kalashnikov creates and presents the Type I AKS-47 at state trials. It competes against the AD-46 (Dementiev KB-2) and the AB-46 (Bulkin TKB-415), managing to surpass them both. In the film, Kalashnikov produces and submits for trials an early development of the AK design, the AKS (S—Skladnoy or "folding"), equipped with an underfolding metal shoulder stock. The AK-47 was officially accepted by the Soviet Armed Forces in 1949 and used by the majority of the member states of the Warsaw Pact thereafter. The weapon and its derivatives quickly became legendary, the most ubiquitous assault rifle in the world since then, known for its ease of use, reliability and simplicity.
AK-47
Kalashnikov's work culminates in the creation of the legendary AK-47 rifle series, which is adopted as the official service rifle of the Soviet Union in 1949 as the "7.62 mm Kalashnikov rifle (AK)." This detail is important, as the final scene shows a blatant mistake: the rifle is referred to as the "AK-47" by Marshal Nikolay Voronov (Valeriy Afanasev), who asserts "his (Kalashnikov's) AK-47 represents the future of global armaments." It should be noted that this is a common mistake (even in Russia and the former USSR), which is to refer to the designation of the AK as "AK-47" after the name of its designer (Mikhail Kalashnikov) and its year of invention, claiming the designation was by the Soviet Army itself. In reality, the AK-47 designation has always been purely Western in nature, as in the Soviet Union it was officially designated simply "AK," after Avtomat Kalashnikova (Russian: Автомат Калашникова, "Kalashnikov's Automatic Device"). In Russia and other ex-Soviet States, the AK is simply referred to by the "AK" designation, and oftentimes together with its caliber (7.62x39mm) to avoid confusion with other variants. In recent years, however, due to the popularity of the "AK-47" designation abroad, this designation is now commonplace even in Russia and across the former USSR, probably since it is the term foreigners are acquainted with. Its official Russian designation remains "7,62mm Avtomat Kalashnikova (AK)."
Type I
Mikhail Kalashnikov creates the first AK at the Degtyaryov plant, but it is not seen in the film; only the AKS is shown and submitted to state trials.
Type III
Soviet soldiers are seen armed with the AK-47 Type III in 1949.
AB-46
Along with the AKS-47, AD-46 and other assault rifles, the AB-46 (Bulkin TKB-415) is presented at the assault rifle state trials. It competes against the AD-46 (Dementiev KB-2) and the AKS-47.
AD-46
Along with the AKS-47, AB-46 (Bulkin TKB-415) and other assault rifles, the AD-46 (Dementiev KB-2) is presented at the assault rifle state trials. It competes against the AB-46 and the AKS-47.
Machine Guns
Degtyaryov DP-27
Red Army soldiers are seen armed with DP-27s. The DP-27 also competes against the Kalashnikov LMG at State trials. Although both machine guns fail to meet State technical requirements, they are allowed to continue research and development because of the War.
Kalashnikov LMG
Mikhail Kalashnikov creates his very first LMG at the Degtyaryov plant, and later presents it during state trials. Although both machine guns fail to meet State technical requirements, they are allowed to continue research and development because of the War.
Other
T-34
Mikhail Kalashnikov drives a T-34 at the beginning of the film. The tank runs over an anti-tank gun and destroys it.