The original AK is known as AK-47 and was introduced officially in 1948 after trials. It is a gas-operated, selective-fire weapon firing the Soviet 7.62 x 39-mm M1943 round and uses a standard 30-round curved steel magazine. The AK comes in two versions: one with a fixed wooden stock, and another, the AKS, with a folding metal stock . The early AKs had no bayonet, but the version with the fixed wooden stock later mounted a detachable knife bayonet. The improved model the AKM, was introduced after trials and was easier to produce and operate. It weighs about one kilogram less than the AK. The reduced weight results from using thinner, stamped sheet metal parts rather than machined, forged steel; laminated wood rather than solid wood in the handguard, forearm, pistol grip, and buttstock; and new lightweight aluminum and plastic magazines. Other improvements include a straighter stock for better control; an improved gas cylinder; a rate-of-fire control alongside the trigger; a rear sight graduated to 1,000 meters rather than 800 meters; and a greatly improved, detachable bayonet. The AKM also has a folding-stock version, designated AKMS, intended for use by riflemen in armored infantry combat vehicles such as the BMP. Except for its T-shaped, stamped-metal, folding buttstock, the AKMS is identical to the AKM. All
It is worth noting that China has since the 1950‘s been producing various copies of the AK47, these weapons are designated the type 56 (fixed stock) and the type 56-1 (folding stock). Variations on these have been made over the years with fixed bayonets and different types of stock configurations including the upgrades found on the Russian AKM. Shown left is a Type 56-1 fitted with a copy of the Russian 6GN15 under barrel
