Sturmgewehr 44 interesting "thingy"

[Twicepop]

They operate very differently and the ideas driving both designs overlapped by several years. While I'm sure Kalashnikov had seen one, design was already underway.

I don't believe Kalashnikov designed the AK47. Before the closing days of the Second World War, the Russians captured and imprisoned Hugo Schmeisser, he was a known and accomplished firearms designer. He was also the developer of the StG44 and the ammunition it fired. Kalashnikov, was a barely literate tank mechanic with no other firearms designs to his credit either before or after the release of the AK. It was part of the USSR propaganda machine to give credit to the worker class of people for helping to save the motherland. IMHO, this is exactly what happened in this scenario.

 

[Steve Blair]

I don't believe Kalashnikov designed the AK47. Before the closing days of the Second World War, the Russians captured and imprisoned Hugo Schmeisser, he was a known and accomplished firearms designer. He was also the developer of the StG44 and the ammunition it fired. Kalashnikov, was a barely literate tank mechanic with no other firearms designs to his credit either before or after the release of the AK. It was part of the USSR propaganda machine to give credit to the worker class of people for helping to save the motherland. IMHO, this is exactly what happened in this scenario.

That's a minority opinion to which you are entitled.