Kalashnikov:
Machine Pistols, Assault Rifles and Machine Guns, 1945 to the Present
John Walter
Hardcover: 144 pages
Greenhill Military Manuals / Greenhill Books, (September 4, 1999)
ISBN-10: 1853673641
ISBN-13: 978-1853673641
Multiple alternative covers
The New World of Russian Small Arms and Ammo
Charlie Cutshaw
Hardcover: 160 pages
Publisher: Paladin Press (September 1998)
ISBN-10: 0873649931
ISBN-13: 978-0873649933
Under Soviet rule, Russian small arms designers developed some of the most innovative small arms and ammo in history: underwater weapons; weapons that used silent ammo; whole families of rifles, pistols, shotguns and grenade launchers of truly advanced design favored by SPETsNAZ and the revolutionary new AN-94 assault rifle that is destined to replace the AK-74. This book contains detailed descriptions, specs and illustrations of the AN-94, PSS silent pistol, Bizon SMG, Saiga-12 tactical shotgun, GP-25 grenade launcher and more.
The Official Soviet AKM Manual
James F. Gebhardt,
Paperback: 106 pages
Paladin Press (January 1, 1998)
ISBN-10: 1581600100
ISBN-13: 978-1581600100
This official military manual, available in English for the first time, was originally published by the Soviet Ministry of Defence. The 7.62mm AKM assault rifle and its folding-stock twin, the AKMS, were based on the popular AK-47 design. This illustrated manual covers the history, function, maintenance, assembly and disassembly, confirmation of zero, penetration characteristics of various cartridges, trajectory and dispersion patterns, accessories and more.
Mikhail Kalashnikov: From a Strangers Doorstep to the Kremlin Gates
Hardcover
Publisher: Military Parade Publ House (1997)
ISBN-10: 577340009X
ISBN-13: 978-5773400097
456 pages
with 20 pages of photographs
Prices can range from $225 to $289
I bought this one in April 2014
From a guy who purchased this copy in 1999 from a seller in Ukraine
Written By Mikhail Kalashnikov.
Hardcover, 456 pages with 24 photos and illustrations. The original First Edition published in 1997 by Military Parade Publishing House in Moscow.
a story posted online following Kalashnikov ‘s death in December, 2013, where an author who personally knew him commented that:
“Yet Mikhail Kalashnikov had obviously thought much about his role in the world – and about death – and he wanted, I thought, some kind of absolution. “It is not my fault that the Kalashnikov became very well known in the world,” he said, “that it was used in many troubled places. I think the policies of these countries are to blame, not the weapons designers. Man is born to protect his family, his children, his wife. But I want you to know that apart from armaments, I have written three books in which I try to educate our youth to show respect for their families, for old people, for history…”`
The old boy produced an English-language edition of his book – ‘From a Stranger’s Doorstep to the Kremlin Gates’, quite a good read, with plenty of self-deprecating patriotism… “I lived at a time when we all wanted to be of benefit to our (Soviet) state,” he said. “To some extent, the state took care of its heroes and designers….In the village where I was born, according to a special decree, a monument was erected to me, twice my height.. In the city of Izhevsk where I live, there is now a Kalashnikov museum with a section dedicated to my life – and this was erected in my lifetime!“
Kalashnikov Arms
Alexei Nedelin
Hardcover: 241 pages
MILITARY PARADE LTD (1997)
ASIN: B002ADEPLA
Hard to find, but they are still available
Filled with great color photographs
pictures are from the Arms Museum in St. Petersburg and the Izhmash Factory Museum, where Mikhail Kalishnikov worked
The 1999 edition is
Half Russian and half English
Soviet Small Arms and Ammunition
By David Naumovich Bolotin
Hardcover; 304 pages
First printing in Russian
1995 English translation
Out of print
Publisher: Finish Arms Museum Foundation, Finland
ISBN-10: 9519718419
ISBN-13: 978-9519718415
Table of contents translated into English:
Foreword, Author’s Preface, Introduction, I. Fedorov’s Automatic Weaponry and the Unification of Small Arms, II. Bolt-Action Rifles and Carbines. III. Automatic Rifles and Carbines. IV. Automatic Pistols. V. Sub-Machine Guns and Assault Rifles. VI. Light Machine Guns. VII. Medium Machine Guns. VIII. Heavy Machine Guns. IX. Aerial Machine Guns. X. Tank Machine Guns. XI. Anti-Tank Weapons. XII. Anti-Aircraft Machine Gun Mounts. Conclusion, Bibliography, Index.
Alt Fiction about time travelers from 2014 who go back in time and supply Robert E Lee and the South with AK 47’s.
Printed: 1992
Written by: Harry Turtledove
Harry Turtledove has authored a whole series of books based on the “what would have happened if the Confederacy had won independence”?
AK-47 & Kalashnikov Variation
Masami Tokoi,
Dai-Nippon Co, 1991
ISBN: 4-499-20582-4
168 pages
Japanese
Packed full of great color photographs.
Most (but not all) variants .. this is where you can really see the differences in the AK variants
Written in Japanese, so you’ll also want a copy of the english translation
Been out of print for a long time, but there are still copies available from time to time.
A must have for the true AK collector
AK-47 and Kalashnikov Variation
by Masami Tokoi, 1993
ISBN 4-499-20582-4
Softcover
$54.50
Published by:
Dai-Nippon Kaiga Co., Ltd.,
Tokyo, Japan
Japan is the source of some of the most remarkable AK47 books published. These books, rarely seen outside of Japan, are virtual firearms museums, lavishly illustrated with full color photos taken with a level of care usually reserved for antiques and artworks.
Avtomat Kalashnikov
AK47 and Kalashnikov Variation. This book is a photo encyclopedia of the world’s Kalashnikov models, listed alphabetically by nation of origin. Each Kalashnikov model is shown in large full color photos with close ups
Many unique model features and markings. Being built by more nations and in greater numbers than any other military rifle in history, AK-47 and Kalashnikov Variation truly exposes us to this fascinating subject in greater detail than any previous work.
section of book is devoted to accessories, bayonets, grenade launchers, night vision sights, and silencers.
A Soviet AK-47 manual is reprinted in its entirety,still in Russian.
Text and photo captions are in Japanese,
All model names and nations of origin are listed in English, which will sufficiently guide one through the pictures.
An English language translation supplement published by an importer can be occasionally found