Meaning of gun names?

what are the meaning in gun names. for example what does the "ak" and "47" mean in ak-47? also, what about m1?

Meaning of gun names?
Avtomat Kalashnikova model 1947





Names are often the creator or designer and the year of the specific model. Some do not have year or dates.





E.I. Thompson Sub machine gun
Reply:theyve already enriched you on the ak 47..."M" is simply the US Govt designation for a weapon series,infantry weapons. then you get A1, 2 etc for variations of the particular weapon.
Reply:I am not 100% on the AK, but the numbers usually refer to model number, at least for us (eg. M-14 rifle= model 14 rifle). I know that the AK is also called Kalishnikov, so I assume that would be the K in AK, leaving 47 as the model number. Wikipedia gives it as Automova Kalishnokova 1947, which would be the model year.





Wow. 60 years and still effective.
Reply:A little further info on the AK-47, though 007 and Hormoth did a good job on associating it with the maker. Kalashnikov was a tank mechanic towards the end of World War II. During his time in the field, he became acquainted with the German assault rifle, known as the Sturmgewehr. The AK-47, is the Russian adaptation of that German weapon, employing a rugged design and ease of manufacture, making it the most widely distributed small arm in the entire world. Estimates are that over 49 million of these rifles have been produced and sent round the world.
Reply:Avtomat Kalashnikova, the name of the designer.