Legends And Reality Of The AK: A Behind-The-Scenes Look At The History, Design, And Impact Of The Kalashnikov Family Of Weapons [Paperback]

Charlie Cutshaw (Author), Valery Shilin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2000

There are many excellent books about the AK. What makes Legends and Reality of the AK-47 different from all the other AK books? It is co-written by a very close associate of designer Mikhail Kalshnikov at the Izhmash Arms Factory and one of America's most respected military small-arms experts. Because of Valery Shilin's close ties to both the designer and the factory, the authors were able to gain access to information, photos and weapons never before seen in public, including the AKB and AKB-1 assault rifles, the mysterious A-62 and the very latest prototypes of the AK's replacement, the AN-94. They fill in the gaps in the knowledge about the history and development of not only the Kalashnikov family of weapons but of other Russian small arms as well. Most important, as a friend and colleague, Shilin adds a personal perspective on the man behind the design of some of the most legendary weapons of the 20th century.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Charlie Cutshaw is a well-known U.S. authority on military small arms. He is an editor for Jane's and contributing author for other military and firearms publications.

Val Shilin began work at the Izhmash Arms Factory in 1976 and became chief of the export division in 1989. Shilin lives in Russia, where he writes articles on military weapons for various publications in Russia, Japan, Italy and the U.S.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Paladin Press (March 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1581600690
• ISBN-13: 978-1581600698
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,044,173 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Panegyric for M. T. Kalashnikov, June 17, 2006

By 

Cletus Van Damme (Edmond, OK USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Legends And Reality Of The AK: A Behind-The-Scenes Look At The History, Design, And Impact Of The Kalashnikov Family Of Weapons (Paperback)

Note to readers: Both of the reviews below were obviously planted by the publisher or some other party with an interest in selling this book. The content is identical and they were probably written by the same person (or computer). I'm an impartial reviewer. I'm familiar with Charlie Cutshaw's work and bought this book largely because his name was on the cover. None of his style is evident. He probably did nothing more than edit Val Shilin's punctuation and grammar. The writing style is identical to that found on Shilin's website -- slightly archaic, stilted, but grammatically-correct English. Although Shilin is described as a "close associate" of Kalashnikov, I think his job title is more likely PR flack for Izhmash Arms. If you've seen Shilin on TV, you know he speaks English fluently, makes an excellent presentation, and tries hard to come off like a regular American kind of guy. The content of this book is pretty thin, with lots of unnecessary and redundant references to the brilliance of M. T. Kalashnikov. My softcover edition runs only 186 pages with large type and many photos. My interests run to the history, development, design, and nomenclature of Kalashnikov firearms that can be legally owned in the U.S. Much of this book is devoted to arms unavailable to civilians, e.g., submachineguns, general purpose machineguns, grenade launchers, and so forth. It's interesting, but not very useful. There is no "inside" information here besides what Izhmash wants you to believe about their firearms. If you are an AK owner interested in technical information or the history of your rifle, you can do much better than this book.

11 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THIS book is where it's at!, February 25, 2001

By 

Huntress Reviews (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Legends And Reality Of The AK: A Behind-The-Scenes Look At The History, Design, And Impact Of The Kalashnikov Family Of Weapons (Paperback)

This BIG book is THE most definitive work of EVERY style of AK ever created. Nothing is left out. Val Shilin was a close associate of Mikhail Kalashnikov at the Izhmash Arms Factory, And Charlie Cuttshaw is a noted small arms expert. Together they have brought this fantastic weapon to life in the pages of this excellent book.

The sheer number of AK variants and spin off's will amaze you! "Secret guns", "special project Guns", the evolution of different styles, it's all in here in pictures and easy to understand text. This book has blueprints, specs and even a look at the weapons that will soon supersede the AK on the battlefield.

I you want to know everything about the evolution and the legend that is the AK-47, THIS book is where it's at!

7 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect!, March 14, 2003

By 

Detra Fitch (USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Legends And Reality Of The AK: A Behind-The-Scenes Look At The History, Design, And Impact Of The Kalashnikov Family Of Weapons (Paperback)

This BIG book is THE most definitive work of EVERY style of AK ever created. Nothing is left out. Val Shilin was a close associate of Mikhail Kalashnikov at the Izhmash Arms Factory, And Charlie Cuttshaw is a noted small arms expert. Together they have brought this fantastic weapon to life in the pages of this excellent book.

The sheer number of AK variants and spin off's will amaze you! "Secret guns", "special project Guns", the evolution of different styles, it's all in here in pictures and easy to understand text. This book has blueprints, specs and even a look at the weapons that will soon supersede the AK on the battlefield.

I you want to know everything about the evolution and the legend that is the AK-47, THIS book is where it's at!