Posted on 06/26/2013 8:03:13 AM PDT by archy
No."Old age" is no longer an acceptable cause of death permitted to be listed on a death certificate.
Maybe he got “The Kremlin Flu,”
Even Putin bows his head in respect when listening to Kalashnikov!
Each holding the other’s design and smiling. Class.
Interesting body language from Putin and Gray Suit Guy. The Master is speaking; he has their undivided attention.
Props to a 20th-century legend. If somebody had taken him aside in Bryansk in 1941 and said, “oh, not only will you survive the Great Patriotic War, but you’ll live to 93 and be celebrated as a genius by your allies who will become your foes and then your friends later,” he’d have wondered where you got the vodka. Quite a life story.
Who knows what direction things would have taken had that happened.
Well, I'll second most of what you say, though I'd be interested in trying real traditional Russian vodka distilled from fermented potato mash. Why?
I finally, after over a decade finished off the bottle of Kosher Polish potato vodka some Polish mathematical physicists gave me as a gift when I hosted a conference in the early 90's just after the fall of the Soviet Union. Served ice cold, it was genuinely good to drink: it had a very subtle flavor that somehow managed to override the basic taste of ethanol. I served some at a party at which some Russian emigre mathematicians were present. One, taking a shot got wide-eyed and exclaimed "This is good!" I presume with the return of capitalism to Russia, there are now small Russian distillers making comparable high-end traditional vodka, and that -- unlike mass produced Russian vodka -- I'd like to try.
First time I heard that sound in the field (not training) was in 1970. Still flinch sometimes when I hear one.
“...I’ve always been a big Stoner/Armalite fan...”
Do you like the cleaner, cooler piston drive uppers that are out there now? I’ve used both - gas impingement (standard) and the newer pistons. I prefer the pistons.
It’s ALMOST like somebody took a look at the AK, then looked at the AR, and said “Hmmmm.....”
IMHO, it's a grass is greener type of proposition. Both systems have their merits, and adherents. In very general terms, and all other things being equal, a direct impingement system will have an edge in accuracy and shot to shot consistency, and the piston will have an edge in reliability under extreme conditions. That said a well-tuned piston rifle might outshoot a DI, and a well-maintained DI might be more reliable than a flawed, or neglected piston.
I own both and can't say I really have an "all or nothing" opinion about one over the other.
They both incorporated certain aspects of one another's weapon system. That was before they became acquainted on a personal level. Kalashnikov liked to kid Stoner about all the money he made with his invention, while he lived in a small apartment on a modest pension. In fact as time went on Stoner would send Kalashnikov money for travel expenses to some of the European gun shows that Stoner planned to attend. They had a great deal of respect for one another.
I know i have a pet rock! Have it for 30 yrs and has not aged a day.
Yer counting days, the rock has no concept of time
Still, liked your post
Excellent assessment Joe.
I prefer the piston type because it’s less of a pain in the arse to clean. That being said, I also have a DI type, and yes it IS a “tack driver” for sure, especially with heavier bullets (62gr, 77gr).
FPK / SVD is my favorite ..... But ya already knew that !
Been hosed down with a PKM a few times and luckily was missed.... A DSHK 12.7 was noisy yet inaccurate and lots of AK series heard but never felt over my career.....gratefully.
Stay safe !
A milled receiver Second Model, and with what appears to be solid birch [maybe walnut] furniture rather than the usual laminated wood/plywood butt,gripand foreend. Not, however, the very early *slabside* magazine without the stiffening grooves. Pretty, but about a kilo heavier than the later circa-1959 AKMs.
Beats the hell out of the battalion surgery at an airfield called Khankala.
What I said to Mikhail Timofeyevich was that *You have written the name Калашников on steel, with fire, and so it will endure long beyond your time on this Earth, or mine.*
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.