1947. After 4 years of development, the AK-47 is adopted by the Soviet Union. This model has earned its widespread popularity through a combination of reliability, ease of use, low cost of production and an excellent intermediate cartridge. It holds the stats for being the most popular of all time with total distribution numbers ranging between 75 to 100 million.

The AK-47, designed by Mikhail Kalashnikov in the Soviet Union in the late 1940s, is an iconic assault rifle. It is chambered for the 7.62x39mm cartridge and known for its reliability and simplicity. Adopted by the Soviet military in 1949, it became widely used globally and influenced firearm designs. The AK-47's enduring legacy includes its extensive use by military forces, insurgent groups, and its impact on firearm development. This rifle variant has the most quantity made out of any rifle in the world.