The AK 47 Philosophy

The AK 47 is a gas-operated assault rifle developed in the late 1940s.  It was the brain child of
Mikhail Kalashnikov.  He was a self-taught tinkerer, and at 26 he built this masterpiece.

The AK 47 was designed as a weapon of defense, but it has played a major role, on varying sides, in almost every military conflict since its invention.

I know a lot of shooters who turn their nose up at the AK 47.  Usually for the same reasons: it isn’t accurate; it is clunky; it has quality issues.  For AK owners, those are difficult arguments to dispel.  Two things can not be taken from this rifle. It is cheap (in bulk or individually). It is reliable (before and after abuse).  The soldier has to have reliability, and the provider has to be able to afford them.  For these two reasons, the AK 47 works.  Things that work are wonderful, and function can be more important than form. This is the first part of the two-part AK 47 philosophy.

When I look at the gear I have (and keep), it has one thing in common; above all else it is functional. If it does not work, it does not stay. Why would it?

I don’t want to hang out on the beach w/a sexy hot rod short board while some mushy surf is firing off.  I wanna paddle out and ride that slop! I want a board that will work for me, even if it is not as cool to carry around.

It is the same way w/my motorcycle (KLR 650), truck (93 Toyota Landcruiser), snowboard (beautiful 165cm kona wood Element), etc.  Some of my gear looks cool; some of it looks mean; and some of it just looks used, and that is the point.  This is the second piece of the AK 47 philosophy.  Tis better to participate than to contemplate.

This does not advocate hopping in w/out thought. It is very important (and fun) to plan and scheme and consider consequence, but life is dynamic, and waiting on perfection can lead to no execution.  No execution is not consistent w/an adventurer’s heart.

In the age of the consumer, it is easy to loose focus. Ads and articles swirl around telling us what we need to spend our money on, so they can increase their profit margin.  I hate to sound jaded, but some of these manufactures may not care about us as individuals.  So we need to look after ourselves and our own philosophies.

My suggestion, look at your budget, understand your needs, and get products that work.
Keep your end game in mind.  It is very easy to get stalled out on the shopping section, but don’t.

Get your gear, and go do!
See you on the battlefield.

Edgar~