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AK-47
The AK-47 and variants are used by the following actors in the following movies, television series, anime, and video games:
NOTE: Please keep in mind that while "AK-47" is often a catch-all term for 7.62x39mm Kalashnikov rifles, most so-called "AK-47s" in movies - particularly American movies - are actually either Egyptian Maadi ARM copies of the highly improved AKM, or variants of the Chinese Norinco Type 56. Please check carefully to make sure that the rifle in question is a true AK-47 and not an AKM or a Chinese Type 56. When in doubt, it is probably safer to assume AKM or Type 56.
Specifications
(1949-present)
Type: Assault Rifle
Caliber: 7.62x39mm
Capacity: 10, 30, 40-round box magazines, 75-round drum magazine.
Fire Modes: Safe/Full-Auto/Semi (600 RPM)
AK-47
It is noteworthy that the U.S. government had a ban on all weapons imported from Warsaw Pact nations during the Cold War years (1947-1989). Communist nations which were not part of the Warsaw pact, such as Yugoslavia and Mainland China, were allowed to negotiate trade agreements with the U.S., thus the influx of Chinese AK type rifles and Yugo AKs (Zastava). The Maadi ARMs (the US version of the MISR) were allowed because Egypt was never a Communist country nor a member of the Warsaw Pact. But, as a result of this, virtually no U.S. movie has a real original AK-47 prior to a certain date. The exceptions are, custom build ups after the mid 1990s when original AK-47 rifle kits were available (as was done on "We Were Soldiers", using original blueprints and US made milled receivers), and movies filmed overseas where foreign movie armorers had no such restrictions. This is particularly true for films made in Israel and some parts of Europe. This is not the case now, with the current crop of films made outside the U.S., mostly in the newly democratic Eastern European nations (Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, Poland,Czech Republic, etc.) However, Russia has firmly blocked the export of their old AK-47 surplus guns outside of the country, having distributed most of them to client nations and guerillas throughout the world in the previous five decades. So the AK-47 one 'thinks' one sees may very well be a Poly Technologies Legend series AK (from China) or another AK Variant.
Film
Actor | Character | Title | Note | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
Christian Bale | Deiter Dengler | Rescue Dawn | 2007 | |
African Rebels and Russian Alfa commandos | Hitman | 2007 | ||
Leonardo DiCaprio | Danny Archer | Blood Diamond | 2006 | |
RUF rebels | Blood Diamond | 2006 | ||
ANC fighters | Catch a Fire | 2006 | ||
Nicolas Cage | Yuri Orlov | Lord of War | Type III model | 2005 |
Touraeg fighter | Sahara (2005) | 2005 | ||
Sue Price | Alex Sinclair | Nemesis 2: Nebula | 2005 | |
Criminals | Breaking News | Possibly Polytech Legend model | 2004 | |
Cameroonian border guard | Tears of the Sun | 2003 | ||
Viet Cong and NVA soldiers | We Were Soldiers | Built by armorer Mike Papac | 2002 | |
Sniper 2 | 2002 | |||
Serbian soldier | Behind Enemy Lines | 2001 | ||
Ukrainian Soldiers | Godzilla (1998) | 1998 | ||
Viet Cong fighters | A Better Tomorrow III | 1990 | ||
Waise Lee | Little Wing | Bullet in the Head | 1990 | |
Afghan Mujaheddin | The Beast of War | 1988 | ||
Afghan Mujaheddin | Rambo III | 1988 | ||
Enemy Soldiers | Iron Eagle II | 1988 | ||
Criminal Henchmen | Fatal Beauty | 1987 | ||
Art Malik | Kamran Shah | The Living Daylights | 1987 | |
Enemy Soldiers | Iron Eagle | 1986 | ||
Terrorists | The Delta Force | 1985 | ||
Soviet Soldiers | Rocky IV | 1985 | ||
East German border guards and Soviet Soldiers | Octopussy | 1983 | ||
Viet Cong fighters and Kurtz's men | Apocalypse Now | 1979 | ||
Viet Cong fighters | The Odd Angry Shot | 1979 | ||
East German (NVA) border guards | Escape from East Berlin | 1962 |
Television
Actor | Character | Title | Note | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
Red Army soldiers | Citizen X | 1995 |
Anime
- Islamic revolutionaries in an unidentified desert state and USSR soldiers seen in flashback in Noir
- Shion in When They Cry
- BMA terrorist in Rideback
Video Games
Animation
AKS-47
Basically the same as the AK-47, but the rear-trunion is altered with a swivelling mechanism to allow for the under-folding stock.
Film
Actor | Character | Title | Note | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
Mesrine | Mesrine: Public Enemy Number 1 | 2008 | ||
Navy SEALs | Behind Enemy Lines II: Axis of Evil | Modified with AK-74 style muzzle brake, gas block and bayonet lug | 2006 | |
North Korean soldiers | Behind Enemy Lines II: Axis of Evil | Modified with AK-74 style muzzle brake, gas block and bayonet lug | 2006 | |
Criminal gang | Breaking News | Poly Tech AKS-47 side-folder copy | 2004 | |
Indian Army soldiers | Lakshya | 2004 | ||
Nomads | Flight of the Phoenix | 2004 | ||
Militsioners | Bumer | 2003 | ||
Edward Norton | Steve | The Italian Job | 2003 | |
Branko Duric | Ciki | No Man's Land | w/ two magazines taped together | 2001 |
Mustafa Nadarevic | Old Serbian soldier | No Man's Land | Fitted with orange bakelite magazine | 2001 |
Gangbangers | Darkman II: The Return of Durant | w/ AKM-style muzzle brakes | 1995 | |
Iraqi soldiers | Hot Shots! Part Deux | 1993 | ||
Navy SEALs | Navy SEALs | 1990 | ||
Lebanese terrorists | Navy SEALs | 1990 | ||
Colombian terrorists | Toy Soldiers | 1990 | ||
Soviet tank crew members | The Beast of War | 1988 | ||
Enemy soldiers | Iron Eagle II | 1988 | ||
Soviet soldiers | Rambo III | 1988 | ||
Aliens | Bad Taste | 1987 | ||
Enemy soldiers | Iron Eagle | 1986 | ||
Soviet Marines | Solo Voyage | 1985 |
Television
Actor | Character | Show Title / Episode | Note | Air Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
Adam Cantor | Rocko | The Kill Point | 2007 | |
Frank Grillo | Albert "Mr. Pig" Roman | The Kill Point | 2007 | |
Keifer Sutherland | Jack Bauer | 24: Redemption | 2008 | |
Unknown actors | Tajik mafia | Brigada | 2002 |
Video Games
Game Title | Appears as | Mods | Notation | Release Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
007: The World Is Not Enough | Soviet KA-57 | 2000 | ||
Timesplitters 2 | Soviet SV7 | w/ an M203 grenade launcher | 2002 | |
Project Reality | With AKMS-style ribbed reciever cover | 2005 |
AKM
The improved version of the AK-47, featuring a number of refinements such as a stamped receiver (as opposed to the milled receiver of the original AK-47), a slant compensator on the tip of the barrel (to reduce recoil), an improved gas tube (without vents), and use of lighter materials to reduce weight and simplify construction.
Most of the AKMs seen in Hollywood movies are actually Egyptian Maadi MISR copies, which were sold in the U.S. as the ARM in the 1980s - such weapons were first procured by Stembridge Gun Rentals for Red Dawn and subsequently re-used in numerous other motion pictures. The Maadi is almost identical to the original Soviet-built AKM, save for the markings, and is nearly impossible to tell apart.
Film
Actor | Character | Title | Note | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
Extras | African soldiers | X-Men Origins: Wolverine | 2009 | |
Extras | Burmese Junta soldiers | Rambo (2008) | 2008 | |
Extras | Taliban | An American Carol | 2008 | |
Extras | Cuban Soldiers | An American Carol | 2008 | |
Thomas Rosales Jr. | Cuban Soldiers | An American Carol | 2008 | |
Extras | Iraqi insurgents | The Hurt Locker | 2008 | |
Extras | Terrorists | Body of Lies | 2008 | |
Seth Rogen | Dale | Pineapple Express | 2008 | |
Extras | Saudi terrorists | The Kingdom | 2007 | |
Extra | Qatari village militiaman | Transformers | 2007 | |
Extras | Iraqi insurgents | Redacted | 2006 | |
Extras | Refugees | Children of Men | 2006 | |
Extras | ANC guerrillas | Catch a Fire | 2006 | |
Nicolas Cage | Yuri Orlov | Lord of War | 2005 | |
Extras | Rwandan National Army soldiers | Hotel Rwanda | 2004 | |
Reynaldo A. Gallegos | Tito Vargas | Bad Boys II | 2003 | |
Extras | Cuban soldiers | Bad Boys II | 2003 | |
Extras | Bank robbers and gang members | S.W.A.T. | Bank robbers' rifles have drum magazines | 2003 |
Extras | Nigerian rebels | Tears of the Sun | 2003 | |
Extras | Lycans | Underworld | 2003 | |
Extras | Cuban guards | Die Another Day | 2002 | |
Owen Wilson | Lt. Chris Burnett | Behind Enemy Lines | 2001 | |
Extras | Serbian soldiers | Behind Enemy Lines | 2001 | |
Extra | Resistance member | Equilibrium | 2001 | |
Martin Hub | Ivan Podrov | XXX | w/ AK-74 muzzle brake and M203 grenade launcher | 2001 |
Extras | Colombian cartel soldiers | XXX | 2001 | |
Extras | Hitmen | Analyze This | 1999 | |
Virus | 1999 | |||
Extras | Iraqi soldiers and Shiite refugees | Three Kings | 1999 | |
Mel Gibson | Det. Martin Riggs | Lethal Weapon 4 | 1998 | |
Extra | Thug | The Replacement Killers | 1998 | |
Extras | Terrorists | The Siege | 1998 | |
Extras | Russian prison guards | Air Force One | 1997 | |
Extras | Holnist soldiers | The Postman | 1997 | |
Extras | Gang members | Escape from LA | 1996 | |
Extras | Russian mobsters | Eraser | 1996 | |
Extras | Escobedo's men | Clear and Present Danger | 1994 | |
Extras | Iraqi soldiers | Hot Shots! Part Deux | 1994 | |
Arnold Schwarzenegger | Harry Tasker | True Lies | 1994 | |
Extras | Crimson Jihad terrorists | True Lies | 1994 | |
Extras | Johnny Wong's thugs | Hard Boiled | 1992 | |
Extras | IRA terrorists | Patriot Games | 1992 | |
Various Actors | Terminator 2: Judgment Day | 1992 | ||
Extras | Ramon Cota's men | Delta Force 2: The Colombian Connection | 1990 | |
Sylvester Stallone | John Rambo | Rambo 3 | w/ M203 grenade launcher and Galil stock | 1988 |
Richard Crenna | Col. Trautman | Rambo 3 | 1988 | |
Randy Raney | Sgt. Kourov | Rambo 3 | w/ M203 grenade launcher and Galil stock | 1988 |
Extras | Mujaheddin and Russian soldiers | Rambo 3 | 1988 | |
Matt Mulhern | SSgt. Declan Patrick Coker | Extreme Prejudice | 1987 | |
Extras | Mexican cartel gunmen | Extreme Prejudice | 1987 | |
Extras | Guerrillas | Predator | 1987 | |
Extras | Sal's men | Robocop | 1987 | |
Clint Eastwood | GySGT Tom Highway | Heartbreak Ridge | 1986 | |
Extras | Cuban soldiers | Heartbreak Ridge | 1986 | |
Tommy Lee Jones | Mitch Garnett | The Park is Mine | w/ two magazines "jungle taped" | 1986 |
Richard L. Duran | Libyan terrorist in Van | Back to the Future | 1985 | |
Extras | Arius' soldiers | Commando | 1985 | |
Extras | NVA Soldiers and Russian Spetnaz Commandos | Rambo: First Blood Part II | 1984 | |
Julia Nickson-Soul | Co Bao | Rambo: First Blood Part II | 1984 | |
George Cheung | Capt. Vihn | Rambo: First Blood Part II | 1984 | |
Sylvester Stallone | John Rambo | Rambo: First Blood Part II | 1984 | |
Extras | Soviet soldiers | Red Dawn | 1984 | |
Jennifer Grey | Toni Mason | Red Dawn | 1984 | |
C. Thomas Howell | Robert Teasdale | Red Dawn | 1984 | |
Charlie Sheen | Matt Eckert | Red Dawn | 1984 | |
Patrick Swayze | Jed Eckert | Red Dawn | 1984 |
Television
Actor | Character | Show Title / Episode | Note | Air Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
Henchmen | 24 | 2001 - 2010 | ||
Terrorists | 24 | 2001 - 2010 | ||
Dennis Haysbert | CSM Jonas Blane | The Unit / "Johnny B. Good" | With Surefire Universal Weaponlight and silencer | 2006 - 2009 |
Max Martini | MSgt. Mack Gerhardt | The Unit / "Johnny B. Good" | With Surefire Universal weaponlight and silencer | 2006 - 2009 |
Scott Foley | Sgt. Bob Brown | The Unit / "Johnny B. Good" | With Surefire Universal weaponlight and silencer | 2006 - 2009 |
Michael Irby | Sgt. Charles Grey | The Unit / "Johnny B. Good" | With Surefire Universal weaponlight and silencer | 2006 - 2009 |
Michael Irby | Sgt. Charles Grey | The Unit / "Two Coins" | 2006 - 2009 | |
Soldiers | The Unit | 2006 - 2009 | ||
Terrorists | The Unit | 2006 - 2009 | ||
Con O'Neil | Lavelle | Ultimate Force / "Weapons of Choice" | 2002 - 2006 | |
Militant | Ultimate Force / "Dead Is Forever" | 2002 - 2006 | ||
Soldiers | The X-Files / "The Sixth Extinction" | 1993 - 2002 | ||
George Peppard | Col. John "Hannibal" Smith | The A-Team | 1983 - 1987 | |
NVA soldiers | The A-Team / "The Sound of Thunder" | 1983 - 1987 | ||
Terrorists | CSI: NY / "Snow Day" | 2004 - ???? | ||
Cultists | Criminal Minds / "Minimal Loss" | 2005 - ???? | ||
Steven Caffrey | Lt. Myron Goldman | Tour of Duty | 1987 - 1989 |
Anime
Title | Character | Note | Date |
---|---|---|---|
Flag | Militia fighters | 2006 | |
Spriggan | Turkish soldier | 1994 | |
Full Metal Panic! | 2002 | ||
Canaan | Canaan | 2009 |
Video Games
Game Title | Appears as | Mods | Notation | Release Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
Uncharted: Drake's Fortune | 2007 | |||
Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops | 2006 | |||
Kane and Lynch: Dead Men | Cannot be used by player | 2007 | ||
Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days | Kaliningrad 47 | The metal parts are a pink-ish purple, while the wood is lighter, almost faded. | 2010 | |
Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2 | 2007 | |||
Combat Arms | AK-47 | 2004 | ||
Half-Life 2 | AR-1 | Cut Weapon | 2004 | |
ArmA II | 2009 | |||
Left 4 Dead 2 | AK-47 | w/ flashlight by zip ties and optional laser sight 40 rounds Tapco polymer magazine |
2009 | |
Splinter Cell Chaos Theory | ||||
Counter-Strike Online | With Metal and Gold finishes | 2007 |
AKMS
Basically the same as the AKM, but the rear-trunion is altered with a swiveling mechanism to allow for the under-folding stock. The AKMS nomenclature also indicates that the rifle is not a milled receiver variant and has the AKM style of gas block, top cover, barrel assembly, front sight, and appropriate forearm furniture.
Film
Actor | Character | Title | Note | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
Jeremy Renner | James 'Jem' Coughlin | The Town | w/ shortened barrel | 2010 |
General Zaya's soldiers | The Expendables | Normal and shortened barrel models | 2010 | |
Ralph Fiennes | Private Military Contractor Leader | The Hurt Locker | Customized with RIS foregrip | 2009 |
British Private Military Contractors | The Hurt Locker | Customized with RIS foregrips and C-More sights | 2009 | |
African soldiers | X-Men Origins: Wolverine | 2009 | ||
Thugs | Crank: High Voltage | 2009 | ||
Human trafficker | Taken | w/ shortened barrel | 2009 | |
James Franco | Saul | Pineapple Express | w/ shortened barrel | 2008 |
Supakorn Kitsuwon | Myint | Rambo (2008) | w/ shortened barrel | 2008 |
Tim Kang | En-Joo | Rambo (2008) | 2008 | |
Burmese Junta soldiers | Rambo (2008) | Hungarian SA-85M variant | 2008 | |
Flaming Dragon guerrillas | Tropic Thunder | 2008 | ||
Guards | Get Smart | 2008 | ||
Louis Lombardi | Phobos | The Spirit | 2008 | |
Tamerlane Private Military Contractors | War, Inc. | 2008 | ||
Alex Veadov | Vadim Nezhinski | We Own the Night | 2007 | |
Jamie Foxx | FBI Special Agent Ronald Fleury | The Kingdom | w/ RIS and foregrip | 2007 |
Saudi terrorists | The Kingdom | w/ RIS and foregrip | 2007 | |
Breach | Seen in the trunk of Robert Hanssen's (Chris Cooper) car | 2007 | ||
Russian hitmen | Lord of War | 2005 | ||
Rwandan National Army soldiers | Hotel Rwanda | 2004 | ||
Bank robber | S.W.A.T | 2003 | ||
Claire Danes | Katherine Brewster | Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines | w/ shortened barrel and dual-mag clamp | 2003 |
Nick Stahl | John Connor | Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines | w/ shortened barrel and dual-mag clamp | 2003 |
Militsioners | Bumer | 2003 | ||
South American guerrilla | Hulk | 2002 | ||
Isla Los Organos clinic guards | Die Another Day | 2002 | ||
Resistance fighters | Equilibrium | 2002 | ||
General Radek's men | Air Force One | w/ shortened barrels and custom folding stocks | 1997 | |
Terrorists | Executive Decision | 1996 | ||
Thug | Face/Off | 1996 | ||
Art Malik | Salim Abu Aziz | True Lies | 1994 | |
Iraqi soldiers | Hot Shots! Part Deux | 1993 | ||
Michele Placido | Major Bandura | Afghan Breakdown | with 75-round RPK drum magazine | 1990 |
Soviet paratroopers | Afghan Breakdown | w/ plastic magazines | 1990 | |
Colombian terrorists | Toy Soldiers | 1990 | ||
U.S Navy SEALs | Navy SEALs | 1990 | ||
Sylvester Stallone | John Rambo | Rambo 3 | 1988 | |
Mujaheddin | Rambo 3 | 1988 | ||
Soviet Spetznaz soldiers | Rambo 3 | w/AK-74 style muzzle brakes | 1988 | |
Mujaheddin | The Living Daylights | 1987 | ||
Czech soldiers | The Living Daylights | 1987 |
Television
Actor | Character | Show Title / Episode | Note | Air Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
William Devane | Secretary of Defense Heller | 24 | 2001 - 2010 | |
Kiefer Sutherland | Agent Jack Bauer | 24 | 2001 - 2010 | |
Terrorists | 24 | 2001 - 2010 | ||
Henchmen | 24 | 2001 - 2010 | ||
Victor Browne | Tyler Reed | Tremors: The Series / "Shriek & Destroy" | 2003 | |
Scott Foley | Sgt. Bob Brown | The Unit / "Extreme Rendition" | With custom shortened barrel | 2006 - 2009 |
Special Forces soldiers | Brigada | 2002 - ???? |
Anime
Title | Character | Notation | Release Date |
---|---|---|---|
New Dominion Tank Police | 1993 | ||
Flag | Ru-Pou's followers | with shortened barrels | 2009 |
Video Games
Game Title | Appears as | Mods | Notation | Release Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
ArmA II | 2009 |
AKMSU
Chopped and shortened version of the AKM, made to resemble the AKS-74U except that it is still a 7.62x39mm gun. The AKMSU was never manufactured by the Soviet Union; however, many other countries, including Yugoslavia, built their own versions.
Most of the so-called "AKMSU" carbines seen in Hollywood movies, such as Three Kings, Tropic Thunder, Bad Boys II, etc. are actually full-size AK variants that have been converted with Krinkov parts kits; many feature side-folding AKS-74U-style stocks. The picture to the right is an actual movie gun that is almost identical to those that have appeared in many films and TV shows.
Film
Actor | Character | Title | Note | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
Jeremy Renner | James 'Jem' Coughlin | The Town | With RIS handguard | 2010 |
General Zaya's soldiers | The Expendables | 2010 | ||
Human survivor | Terminator Salvation | 2009 | ||
Brandon Soo Hoo | Tran and several Flaming Dragon members | Tropic Thunder | 2008 | |
One of Scarecrow's men | Dark Knight, The | 2008 | ||
Terrorists | The Kingdom | 2007 | ||
Davian's men | Mission: Impossible 3 | 2006 | ||
Haitian gang members and Cuban special forces | Bad Boys II | 2003 | ||
Saki Sakurai | Wild Seven | Battle Royale II: Requiem | 2003 | |
Cartel member | A Man Apart | w/ Bulgarian "waffle"-style plastic magazine | 2003 | |
Nigerian militia fighter | Tears of the Sun | 2003 | ||
Russian mafia hitmen | Training Day | 2001 | ||
Iraqi Republican Guard officer | Three Kings | 1999 | ||
Bodyguards | Ronin | 1998 | ||
Phillip Kwok | Mad Dog | Hard Boiled | 1992 |
Television
Actor | Character | Show Title / Episode | Note | Air Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
Gang Hitman | CSI: Miami | 2002 - ???? | ||
Russian Mobsters | CSI: Miami / "Seeing Red" | 2002 - ???? | ||
Luke Perry | Benjamin Cyrus | Criminal Minds / "Minimal Loss" | 2005 - ???? | |
Polygamist cult members | Criminal Minds / "Minimal Loss" | 2005 - ???? | ||
The Unit | 2006 - 2009 |
Anime
Title | Character | Note | Date |
---|---|---|---|
Full Metal Panic! | 2002 |
Video Games
Game Title | Appears as | Mods | Notation | Release Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare | AK 74u | 2007 |
Norinco Type 56
The Chinese Type 56 rifle (manufactured by China North Industries Corporation, or Norinco) is by far the most commonly-seen AK derivative in Hollywood productions, both film and television. They are frequently seen impersonating Russian weapons in many films, since the Russians never sold a civilian AK model in the U.S. (or Europe) during the latter half of the 20th century. Most of the movie prop rental houses in Hollywood had dozens if not hundreds of Chinese AKs - mostly the Type 56s (7.62x39mm version) or the similar Type 84s (5.56x45mm version). These were usually semi-automatic civilian versions (commonly designated "AK47S" or "AKS47" by the importers), in many cases converted to full-auto by Class III manufacturers.
There are three main variants of the Type 56 - the standard Type 56, which has a fixed stock, the Type 56-1, which has an under-folding stock, and the Type 56-2, which has a side-folding stock. Most fixed-stock Type 56 rifles have an under-folding spike bayonet, known as the "pig sticker"; this rifle is often seen in movies about the Vietnam War, and is correct for NVA throughout most of the conflict. Quite a few of the Type 56s seen in movies also have AKM-style slant compensators fitted; this was a common feature on semi-auto Type 56s exported to the U.S., but NOT the full-auto military model.
The easiest way to tell when an AK-type rifle seen in a movie or TV show is a Chinese Type 56 is by looking at the front sight; Chinese AKs have a distinctive full-circle ("hooded") front sight that no other AKs (including those made in Russia) have.
Film
- Numerous N.V.A., V.C. soldiers and Kurtz's men in Apocalypse Now
- Numerous N.V.A. and V.C. soldiers and fighters in Platoon
- Russian & Janus soldiers, Sean Bean as Alec Trevelyan, Famke Janssen as Xenia Onatopp, and Pierce Brosnan as James Bond in Goldeneye (made to look like AKS-74 and AK-74s)
- Danny Trejo as Trejo in Heat
- North Korean soldiers in Die Another Day
- R.U.F. rebels, government soldiers, and Leonardo DiCaprio as Danny Archer in Blood Diamond
- Somali militiamen in Black Hawk Down
- Numerous characters including Nicolas Cage as Yuri Orlov in Lord of War
- Crackhead in Hot Fuzz
- Russian soldiers in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
- Nomads in Flight of the Phoenix
- One of Tahas' guards in District B13
- Militia fighters, refugees, Cameroon border guards, and Paul Francis as Danny "Doc" Kelley in Tears of the Sun (Type 56 with and without bayonet, Type 56-1 with and without AKM-style muzzle brake)
- Enemy soldiers in Dead Presidents
- Rwandan Army soldiers in Hotel Rwanda
- Jong Soo Park as Tran Chan Dinh in The Park is Mine
- Feng's guards in Balls of Fury
- Brad Pitt as Frankie Maguire in The Devil's Own
- Black September terrorists, PLO gunmen and Israeli commandos in Munich
- A Soviet Naval Infantryman in The Hunt for Red October
- Iraqi soldiers in Courage Under Fire (Type 56 and Type 56-1)
- Libyan Army soldiers and Lori Petty as Pvt. Christine Jones in In the Army Now (Type 56 with AKM-style muzzle brakes, with & without underfolding bayonets, Type 56-1 with AK-74-style muzzle brake)
- Ramon Cota's men in Delta Force 2: The Colombian Connection
- Mujahideen in Rambo 3
- Viet Cong in The Iron Triangle
- Terrorists in 31 North 62 East (Type 56-1)
- Tajikistani terrorists in Stealth
- Wing Kong gang members in Big Trouble in Little China (Type 56 with AKM-style muzzle brakes)
- Ed Adams as Dirt in Beyond the Law (Type 56-1 with AKM-style muzzle brake)
- No Country for Old Men (Type 56 and Type 56-1)
- Matt Damon as Chief Warrant Officer Roy Miller in Green Zone (Type 56-1)
Television
Actor | Character | Show Title / Episode | Note | Air Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
Leo Fitzpatrick | "Mr. Mouse" | The Kill Point | Type 56-1, with AKM slant compensator | 2007 |
Adam Cantor | Rocko | The Kill Point | Type 56-1, with AKM slant compensator | 2007 |
Frank Grillo | Albert "Mr. Pig" Roman | The Kill Point | Type 56-1, with AKM slant compensator | 2007 |
One of Deke Quinlan's men | The Kill Point | Type 56-1, with AKM slant compensator | 2007 | |
Derek Thompson | Billy Downes | Harry's Game | Type 56-1 | 1982 |
NVA soldiers | Tour of Duty | 1987 - 1989 | ||
Việt Cộng | Tour of Duty | 1987 - 1989 | ||
Various | Seven Days | Type 56 and Type 56-1 | 1998 - 2001 | |
Various | The A-Team | 1983 - 1988 |
Video Games
Game Title | Appears as | Mods | Notation | Release Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
Battlefield: Vietnam | AK-47 | w/ underfolding "pig sticker" bayonet | 2004 | |
Conflict: Vietnam | 2004 | |||
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas | AK47 | 2004 | ||
Project IGI 2: Covert Strike | AK-47 | 2003 | ||
Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne | Kalashnikov | 2003 | ||
Project I.G.I | AK-47 | 2000 | ||
Global Operations | AK-47 | 2000 | ||
Syphon Filter: The Omega Strain | China Type 56 | 2004 |
Norinco Type 84S
The Type 84 rifle is nearly identical to the Chinese Type 56 (seen above), but it is chambered in 5.56x45mm /.223 Remington. It is often seen impersonating the AK-74 in movies and TV shows (particularly Stargate: SG1, where it is carried by Russian SG teams).
The Type 84 was imported and sold with an AK birdcage flash hider and had a deep polished factory blue. Several other variants of the 84S Rifle (that are mostly unfamiliar to American Gun Owners) were victims of the 1989 Import Ban that barred most new 'assault rifles' from entering the United States. These rifles were thus mostly exported to Canada and Australia, and as a result, appeared in television shows or movies that were filmed in those countries. Listed here are two of the variants seen in Canadian or Australian television (the Target and the Match versions). If it were not for Canadian or Australian movie armorers, most of us in the U.S. would never have known these variants existed.
Film
Actor | Character | Title | Note | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
Hungarian police officers | Underworld: Evolution | 2006 | ||
Ukrainian soldiers | The Sum of All Fears | Fitted with custom muzzle brakes and folding stocks to pass for AKS-74 | 2003 | |
Reindeer Games | Seen in the weapons storage compartment of Gabriel's (Gary Sinise) truck | 2000 | ||
Iraqi soldiers | Bravo Two Zero | 1999 | ||
Mobsters | Hollow Point | w/ Type 56-style bayonets | 1996 |
Television
- Russian military SG teams in Stargate: SG1
- A bounty hunter and Cherokee nationalists in Harsh Realm
- Max Casella as Benny Fazio and Carl Capotorto as Little Paulie Germani in The Sopranos
- Russian soldiers and other characters in The X-Files
- Russian soldiers in Sliders
- Various military personnel and terrorists in Seven Days
- Found in cult warehouse in Millennium (episode Gehenna)
- Iraqi insurgents in Chris Ryan's Strike Back
Norinco MAK-90
Civilian "post-ban" version of Norinco Type 56, with 'thumbhole' stock and semi-auto only fire mode.
Film
Actor | Character | Title | Note | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
Arcadia 234 inhabitant | Soldier | With 10-round magazine | 1998 | |
Terrorist | Carnosaur 3: Primal Species | 1996 |
Zastava M70
The Zastava M70 was the Yugoslavian variant of the Russian AK-47 (later AKM), however, it utilized a strengthened lower receiver, more akin to the RPK than the AK-47/AKM. It also has other design variations which make it immediately recognizable from it's Russian cousin. Some of the variants also have finned barrels to aid in heat dispersion. It was made by Zavodi Crvena Zastava (Red Banner Plant), now Zastava Oružje / Zastava Arms in a Yugoslavian (now Serbian) city of Kragujevac. It was most widely used and seen in the Wars in the 1990s of the former Yugoslavian republics - Bosnia, Croatia, Serbia and Montenegro (Slovenia and Macedonia were not a major combatants in the fighting). Yugoslavia also sold them to many countries such as Iraq (which produced a licensed copy known as the Tabuk, which lacked the grenade-launching sight) and Kuwait.
The Zastava M70 was produced in the following variants:
- M70 - milled receiver, fixed stock
- M70A – milled receiver, underfolding stock
- M70A1 – milled receiver, underfolding stock, mount for night or optical sights
- M70B1 – stamped receiver, fixed stock
- M70AB2 – stamped receiver, underfolding stock
- M70B1N – stamped receiver, fixed stock, mount for night or optical sights
- M70AB2N – stamped receiver, underfolding stock, mount for night or optical sights
- Variants M70B, M70AB and M70AB1 also exist, but they are rare and their specifications are unclear.
The Zastava M70 was seen in the following:
Film
Actor | Character | Title | Note | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
Viet Cong fighter | Watchmen | 2009 | ||
Czech soldiers | The Brothers Bloom | 2009 | ||
Russian mobsters | Punisher: War Zone | M70B1 and M70AB2 versions | 2009 | |
North Korean soldiers | Stealth | M70AB2 version, with taped on flashlight | 2005 | |
Serbian soldiers | Behind Enemy Lines | 2001 | ||
Serbian and Bosnian forces | No Man's Land | 2001 | ||
Serbian and Bosnian forces | Savior | 1998 | ||
Terrorists, Russian soldiers and UN peacekeepers | The Peacemaker | 1997 |
Television
Actor | Character | Show Title / Episode | Note | Air Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
Ross Kemp | Sgt. Henno Garvie | Ultimate Force / "Something to Do with Justice" | 2002 - 2006 | |
IRA terrorist | Ultimate Force / "The Killing of a One-Eyed Bookie" | 2002 - 2006 | ||
Russian Army soldier | Ultimate Force / "Weapon of Choice" | M70AB2 | 2002 - 2006 | |
Bugs / "Schrodingers Bomb" | 1995 - 1999 | |||
Russian SG team | Stargate SG-1 / "Icon" | 1997 - 2007 | ||
Victor Favrin | Chalo | Stargate SG-1 / "Evolution" | 1997 - 2007 | |
Frank Roman | Rafael | Stargate SG-1 / "Evolution" | M70AB2 | 1997 - 2007 |
Honduran rebels | Stargate SG-1 / "Evolution" | 1997 - 2007 | ||
Child soldier | 24: Redemption | M70AB2 | 2008 |
Video Games
Game Title | Appears as | Mods | Notation | Release Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
24: The Game | Z85 | 2006 | ||
Syphon Filter: The Omega Strain | Stava M70 B1 | 2004 |
Zastava M85
The Zastava M85 is a compact carbine manufactured by the Yugoslavian Zastava company, similar to the AKMSU mentioned above, although with an underfolding stock instead of a side-folder, a three-holed handguard and is chambered for 5.56x45mm.
Video Games
Game Title | Appears as | Mods | Notation | Release Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days | 2010 |
Zastava M92
Very similar to the Zastava M85 but chambers 7.62x39mm instead of 5.56x45mm. Note the curved magazine.
Video Games
Game Title | Appears as | Mods | Notation | Release Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
America's Army | Seen in crates with other AK-series weapons, non-playable | 2002 |
AIM/AIMS
The Romanian clones of the AKM and AKMS, identifiable by the vertical foregrip integrated into the handguard. The folding-stock version of the AIM, known as the AIMS, originally had a conventional under-folding stock and the grip curving inwards at a convex angle. This was eventually replaced by a version which had a side-folding stock (copied from the East German MPi-KMS), as shown here.
Film
Actor | Character | Title | Note | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
The Game | Grill | Street Kings | 2008 | |
Andrew Bryniarski | Larry Eugene Phillips Jr. | 44 Minutes: The North Hollywood Shootout | w/ 75-round drum magazine | 2003 |
Oleg Taktarov | Emil Matasareanu | 44 Minutes: The North Hollywood Shootout | w/ 75-round drum magazine | 2003 |
Uri Gavriel | Georgi Koshkin | Iron Eagle II | w/ bakelite magazines and Israeli blank-firing adaptor | 1988 |
Enemy soldier | Iron Eagle | With Israeli blank-firing adaptor | 1986 |
Television
MPi-KM/MPi-KMS-72
The MPi-KM/MPi-KMS-72 are East German license-manufactured versions of the AKM/AKMS. Early versions of the rifles had wooden furniture, but later models have distinctive stippled brown buttstocks and pistol grips. The MPi-KMS also has a side folding single strut "coat hanger" stock, a feature which is shared with the Romanian AIMS rifle. After the German reunification, all variants of the MPi were removed from service, with most rifles being sold as surplus to the militaries of such countries as Finland and Turkey.
Note: The chance of seeing a 100% original East German MPi-K series of rifle in a movie or television show is extremely unlikely. Most of the "East German" AKs that are seen in visual media are regular AKMs using East German Parts kits.
Movies
Actor | Character | Title | Note | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
Iraqi police officer | The Hurt Locker | 2008 | ||
Afghan mujaheddin | Lord of War | 2005 | ||
Rwandan soldiers | Hotel Rwanda | 2004 | ||
Thug | Extreme Ops | 2002 | ||
Corrupt Chinese General's men | Lethal Weapon 4 | 1998 | ||
Mel Gibson | Detective Martin Riggs | Lethal Weapon 4 | 1998 |
Television
- Terrorist\Rebels in Situation Critical
Video Games
AMD-65
Film
Actor | Character | Title | Note | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
Underworld | Mounted on armory rack | 2003 | ||
Gunder's (Malcolm McDowell) men | I Spy | 2002 | ||
Dolph Lundgren | Nikolai Rachenko | Red Scorpion | 1989 | |
Richard Crenna | Colonel Trautman | Rambo III | 1988 | |
Sylvester Stallone | John Rambo | Rambo III | 1988 | |
Soviet tank crew | Rambo III | 1988 |
Television
Actor | Character | Show Title / Episode | Note | Air Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
Quinn | The Professionals / "A Man Called Quinn" | With PSO-1 scope | 1977 - 1983 |
AK-101
Modern Russian AK rifle full size. 5.56x45mm
Video Games
Game Title | Appears as | Mods | Notation | Release Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
Battlefield 2 | w/ two magazines taped together "jungle style", with and without GP-30 grenade launcher | 2005 | ||
Cold Zero |
AK-102
Modern Russian AK rifle carbine. 5.56x45mm
Video Games
Game Title | Appears as | Mods | Notation | Release Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots | Can be fitted with a GP-30 Grenade Launcher | 2008 |
AK-103
Modern Russian AK rifle full size. 7.62x39mm.
Movies
Actor | Character | Title | Note | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
MVD spetznaz sniper | Newsmakers (Goryachie Novosti) | 2009 | ||
Tamerlane personnel | War, Inc. | 2008 | ||
John Cusack | Hauser | War, Inc. | 2008 | |
Fhloston Paradise crewmen | The Fifth Element | Disguised as futuristic weapons | 1997 | |
Chinese Soldiers | Red Dawn | 2010 |
Video Games
Game Title | Appears as | Mods | Notation | Release Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
The Punisher | 7.62mm Assault Rifle | Available w/ red dot sight, upgradeable to 75-round drum magazine | 2005 | |
Mercenaries 2: World in Flames | Black electrical tape on the stock. | 2008 | ||
Hitman: Codename 47 | 2000 | |||
Urban Terror | 2000 | |||
America's Army | w/ GP-30 grenade launcher | 2002 | ||
Combat Arms | with milled reciever and incorrect muzzle brake | 2008 | ||
MAG | 2010 |
AK-104
Modern Russian AK rifle carbine. 7.62x39mm.
Film
Actor | Character | Title | Note | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
Henchman | District B13 | With muzzle brake removed and fitted with Romanian side-folding stock | 2004 | |
Men of War | 1994 |
AK-108
Modern full-size AK rifle borrowing operating mechanics from the AEK-971.
WASR
A Romanian AK clone modified to accept single stack magazines for Amercan import. Chambered in 7.62x39mm (WASR-10), 5.45x39mm (WASR-2), and 5.56x45mm (WASR-3)
Film
Actor | Character | Title | Note | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
Nambutu Embassy Guards | Casino Royale | 2006 | ||
Steve Zahn | Al Giordino | Sahara | 2005 | |
Matthew McConaughey | Dirk Pitt | Sahara | 2005 | |
Rwandan Army soldiers | Hotel Rwanda | 2004 | ||
Rwandan Army soldier | Hotel Rwanda | fitted with Krinkov conversion | 2004 | |
Nomads | Flight of the Phoenix | With fixed and folding stocks | 2004 | |
Kevork Malikyan | Rady | Flight of the Phoenix | With folding stock | 2004 |
Sangalan Rebels | 24: Redemption | 2008 |
Bulgarian Arsenal AR
The Arsenal AR is the name given to the Bulgarian manufactured AK clone (Built by the Bulgaria gunmaker ARSENAL JSCo.). These modern day copies of the AK-47 have milled receivers and are chambered in 7.62x39mm with a carbine variant, the AR-SF, chambered in 5.56x45mm.
Film
Actor | Character | Title | Note | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
Russian Alfa Commandos | Hitman | 2007 | ||
Ukranian Special Security Forces | Transporter 3 | 2008 | ||
Nick Cannon | Salazar | Day of the Dead | With custom muzzle brake and thumbhole stock | 2008 |
AnnaLynne McCord | Nina | Day of the Dead | With custom muzzle brake and thumbhole stock | 2008 |
US Army soldiers | Day of the Dead | mocked up as M16A2 | 2008 | |
Navy SEALs and North Korean Soldiers | Behind Enemy Lines II: Axis of Evil | Mocked-up to resemble Type 56 | 2006 |
Romanian AK Draco Carbine
Film
Actor | Character | Title | Note | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
Extras | Bodyguard | Ronin | 1998 | |
Extras | Insurgents | Home of the Brave | With AIMS-style wire-frame folding stock | 2006 |
Video Games
Game Title | Appears as | Mods | Notation | Release Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
Killing Floor | As the "AK47" | With AIMS-style side-folding stock | 2009 |
Anime
Title | Character | Note | Date |
---|---|---|---|
Flag | Ru-Pou's followers | 2006 |
AKU-94
The AKU-94 is a bullpup conversion kit (built and originally sold as a kit by K-VAR) for the AK type rifle, Both the European style AKs (like the Romanian AKs or Egyptian Maadis) and the Chinese style of AK rifle (Type 56) can fit into the kit. In the Mid-2000s, KVAR stopped making and selling the AKU-94 conversion kit. All remaining kits were purchased by Century Arms International, and subsequently used to 'spruce up' AK rifles with a futuristic bullpup look. Currently the rifle with kit installed, is sold by Century Arms International. This bullpup configuration retains the standard barrel length but the design makes the AK rifle more compact making it more suitable for close quarters battle. Criticism of the Kit itself, however, has long been that it renders the gun too butt heavy, is somewhat cheaply made and the trigger pull is long and clunky.
Film
Actor | Character | Title | Note | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
Slaine | Albert 'Gloansy' MacGloan | The Town | With red dot sight | 2010 |
Kurt Russell | Sgt. Todd | Soldier | Dressed up as futuristic weapon, with Surefire universal weaponlight and C-More red dot sight | 1998 |
Soldiers | Soldier | Dressed up as futuristic weapons with Surefire Universal weaponlight and C-More red dot sight | 1998 |
Television
Actor | Character | Show Title / Episode | Note | Air Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
Kradin soldiers | Star Trek: Voyager / "Nemesis" | Dressed up as alien weapons | 1995 - 2001 | |
The X Files / "First Person Shooter" | With ACOG scope | 1993 - 2002 |
See Also
- RPK - light machine gun variant of the AKM.
- AK-74 - modified AKM chambered in 5.45x39mm.
- Saiga - shotgun series based on the AK-74.
- Norinco Type 81 - modified Chinese version of the AK-47.
- Norinco Type 86 - modified Chinese bullpup version of the AK-47.
- Galil - Israeli rifle based on the AK-47 chambered in 5.56x45mm
- AN-94
- AEK rifle series