Variants

Kalashnikov variants include:

1955 AK-47 Type 3

• AK-47 1948–51, 7.62x39mm — The very earliest models, with the Type 1 stamped sheet metal receiver, are now very rare.
• AK-47 1952, 7.62x39mm — Has a milled receiver and wooden buttstock and handguard. Barrel and chamber are chrome plated to resist corrosion. Rifle weight is 4.2 kg (9.3 lb).
• AKS-47 — Featured a downward-folding metal stock similar to that of the German MP40, for use in the restricted space in the BMP infantry combat vehicle, as well as by paratroops.
• RPK, 7.62x39mm — Squad automatic rifle version with longer barrel and bipod.
• AKM, 7.62x39mm — A simplified, lighter version of the AK-47; Type 4 receiver is made from stamped and riveted sheet metal (see schematic above). A slanted muzzle device was added to counter climb in automatic fire. Rifle weight is 3.1 kg (6.8 lb) due to the lighter receiver.
• AKMS, 7.62x39mm — Folding-stock version of the AKM intended for airborne troops. Stock may be either side- or under-folding
• AK-74 series, 5.45x39mm
• AK-101 series
• AK-103/AK-104 series
• AK-107/AK-108 series

Production outside of the Soviet Union/Russia

Military variants only.

Country	Variant(s)
Albania	Unknown. Others
	Automatiku Shqiptar tipi 1982 (ASH-82) Albanian Automatik Rifle type 1982 (Straight forward copy of Type 56, which in turn is a clone of the Soviet AKM rifle)[22]
	Tip C (Type C) Sniper Rifle
Bulgaria	AKK (Type 3 AK-47), AKKS (Type 3 with side-folding buttstock)
	AKKMS (AKMS) AKKN-47 (fittings for NPSU night sights)
	AK-47M1 (Type 3 with black polymer furniture)
	AK-47MA1/AR-M1 (same as -M1, but in 5.56 mm NATO)
	AKS-47M1 (AKMS in 5.56x45mm NATO), AKS-47MA1 (same as AKS-47M1, but semi-automatic only)
	AKS-47S (AK-47M1, short version, with East German folding stock, laser aiming device)
	AKS-47UF (short version of -M1, Russian folding stock), AR-SF (same as -47UF, but 5.56 mm NATO)
	AKS-93SM6 (similar to -47M1, cannot use grenade launcher)
	RKKS, AKT-47 (.22 rimfire training rifle)
China	Type 56
German Democratic Republic	MPi-K (AK-47), MPi-KS (AKS), MPi-KM (AKM), MPi-KMS-72 (AKMS), KK-MPi Mod.69 (.22-Lr select-fire trainer);
Egypt	AK-47, Misr assault rifle (AKM), Maadi
Hungary	AK-63D/E (AMM/AMMSz), AKM-63, AMD-65, AMD-65M, AMP, NGM 5.56
Iraq	Tabuk Sniper Rifle, Tabuk Assault Rifle (AKM/AKMS), Tabuk Short Assault Rifle
India	AK-47
Iran	KLS (AK-47), KLF (AKS), KLT (AKMS)
Finland	RK 62, RK 95 TP
Nigeria	OBJ-006[23]
North Korea	Type 58A (Type 3 AK-47), Type 58B (stamped steel folding stock), Type 68A (AKM-47) Type 68B (AKMS)
Pakistan	Reverse engineered by hand and machine in Pakistan's semi-autonomous tribal areas
Poland	pmK/kbk AK (name has changed from pmK - "pistolet maszynowy Kałasznikowa", Kalashnikov SMG to the kbk AK - "karabinek AK", Kalashnikov Carbine in mid 1960s) (AK-47), kbkg wz. 1960, kbk AKM (AKM), kbk AKMS (AKMS), kbk wz. 1988 Tantal based on the 7.62 mm kbk AKMS wz. 81), kbs wz. 1996 Beryl
Romania	PM md. 63 (AKM), PM md. 65 (AKMS), PM md. 90 (AKMS), collectively exported under the umbrella name AIM or AIMS
	PA md. 86 (AK-74), exported as the AIMS-74
	PM md. 90 short barrel (AK-104), PA md. 86 short barrel (AK-105) exported as the AIMR
Serbia Former Yugoslavia	M64 (AK-47 with longer barrel), M64A (grenade launcher) M64B (M64 w/ folding stock), M66, M70, M70A, M70B1, M70AB2, Zastava M76,M77, M92, M21
Sudan	MAZ,[24] based on the Type 56
Vietnam	Chinese Type 56
Venezuela	License granted, factory under construction[25]

Certainly more have been produced elsewhere; but the above list represents known producers and is limited to only military variants. An updated AKM design is still produced in Russia.

Derivatives

Type 56 and AKS-47

The basic design of the AK-47 has been used as the basis for other successful rifle designs such as the Finnish Valmet 62/76 and RK 95 TP, the Israeli Galil, the Indian INSAS and the Yugoslav Zastava M76 and M77/82 rifles. Several bullpup designs have surfaced such as the Chinese Norinco Type 86S, although none have been produced in quantity. Bullpup conversions are also available commercially.

Further information: list of weapons influenced by the Kalashnikov design

Licensing

Russia has repeatedly claimed that the majority of manufacturers produce AK-47s without a proper license from IZH.^[26][27] The Izhevsk Machine Tool Factory acquired a patent in 1999,^{[clarification needed]} making manufacture of the Kalashnikov rifle system by anyone other than themselves illegal.^{[17][dubious – discuss]} However, nearly one million AK-47 assault rifles are manufactured without a license each year.^[4]