RIP Mikhail Kalashnikov

A matter much more important than the Christmas season has just came up, Mikhail Kalashnikov has died at the age of 94.
Mikhail Kalashnikov developed the modern 'Assault' rifle' for the 20th century.
The Ak47, firing its 7.62x39 cartridge, is still debated to be the best rifle even to today. 60 years since the dawn of its existence.

His only american counterpart is John Moses browning, and in my humble opinion.
John M. Browning < Mikhail Kalashnikov
People still have the 'Ak vs Ar' debate, and the AK was developed almost 40 years before the AR. Engineering at its best, when your product is still relevant 70 years after its birth, you have created a masterpiece.
If you want to read more about the Kalashnikov, scroll down to "The AK74".

Mikhail's first try at firearms design. A Sub Machine gun, (1941) was not adopted.