Wow. I thought he died 10 or so years ago.
I saw him interviewed several years ago on the Military History Channel. I think it was MHC. He sure wasn't liking the publicity his AK carries. Last time I checked there was about 120+ versions made in 80 or so countries.
This guy was incredible. Not many like him now days. Took an idea and produced it as simply and efficiently as possible.
One of the many versions is the WASR-10. I have one of the Romanian ones. It is a fascinating piece of work. Very simple, very basic. Where the part does not have to be smooth, it's rough as a cobb. No time wasted in making any part of it pretty. It's just functional. A real joy to shoot. Great for plinking, but also a dandy deer rifle.
The part that isn't told in the BBC video is that he was a senior sergeant commanding a T-34 tank in late 1941. He was severely wounded when the tank was hit. He was actually a decorated combat veteran before being posted as a semi-invalid to the design bureau.
He was later promoted to the very high rank of lieutenant general, but who knows what his pension was actually worth in his later years.
