Truemors
On a day of anniversaries, one of the world's most-used firearms has turned 60. Makers of the Russian Kalashnikov rifle celebrated in the weapon's home town of Izhevsk. But the company producing the famous gun claims it's losing out on millions of dollars because of counterfeits being made in eastern Europe.
It was party time for Mikhail Kalashinkov, the man who invented the world's most famous firearm. The 87-year-old Russian came up with the idea of an easy to use, all weather rifle while recovering in hospital from battle wounds during the Second World War. His AK-47 has gone on to become the weapon of choice for armies, militants, freedom fighters, and even gangsters.
MIKHAIL KALASHINIKOV, AK-47 CREATOR: (TRANSLATION) I'm pleased to hear my name when my gun is used for noble purposes. In Mozambique freedom fighters called their sons Kalash after they liberated their country with my gun. Knowing that every village there has a dozen boys named after me it's nice to hear.
In fact, the Kalashnikov is so popular in Mozambique that it features on the country's flag and coat of arms. The simplicity of the weapon means that little training is needed to use it. It's also fireable in the toughest terrains, making it ideal for jungle and desert warfare.
NEIL JAMES, AUSTRALIA DEFENCE ASSOCIATON: It's quite a reliable weapon and that's its attraction, particularly when it's being used in reasonably untrained hands.
But the operators of the Kalashnikov's manufacturing plant in Russia claim they are missing out on millions of dollars. The director of the plant says 1 million rifles are made every year, but only 100,000 come from the plant in Izhevsk. The others are coming from manufacturers in Bulgaria and Poland who were licensed by the then Soviet Union. The Russians say these licences were cancelled when the Soviet Union collapsed. The million weapons made every year ensure the Kalashnikov is one of the world's most used weapons. And with battles still being fought all over the world, there's no sign of its popularity flagging.
Vitor Sobral
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