AK-47: The Grim Reaper

Excellent reference for the AK-47 & variants. I own the 1st edition of the book and decided to get the 2nd Edition as well. There are many updates in the 2nd Edition. Nice photos & excellent descriptions of the rifles, accessories, magazines, bayonets, etc. This is my go to reference book for AK47 rifles & accessories.

Expensive volume but well worth it. History, nomenclature and all aspects of the Kalashnikov design are thoroughly covered. As far as some reviews noting the paper is "thin" this book is 1100 pages and weighs 6 pounds... Pictures are black and white but good quality. Last chapter does have 100 pages of color plates. If anything the binding might be a little weak, time will tell. Overall a must for any military arms library.

Wow, what have I done. $400 for a book because it's out of print!? Am I stupid? Am I high? No, I just really need this book for a personal project I'm working on, and I have to say, this work is more than worth it. The level of detail on the history of each and every variant of the AK-47 rifle is essential to anybody that wants a true understanding of the platform and its uses. Some rifles with completely different designs (such as the VZ-58) even get a section just to disspell the myth that it is a variant of the AK, an appreciated motion in an already ginormous book. The level of detail, the pictures, the quality of research which has gone into the work, and the breadth of the book combine to make this book more than worth the price I paid. That being said, I really do wish there were just another printing of the book so I could have paid the MSRP, but oh well.

Most thorough book I have ever encountered on any weapon. As a Kalashnikov owner, collector or fan of them. You want this book. Great photos color and b&w, in depth descriptions of all the variants, the bayonets, timeline productions, etc. Everything, you might imagine or want to know.

This book Rocks ! It's more than a tech manual it's a work of art, the comprehensive detail, depth of history, fantastic photos make this a keeper for sure The only thing is it is a bit on the cheaply made side as far as books to be handed down through the generations go... i.e. it's flimsy Books of old were made much better in how they are bound. So it only gets 4 Stars because it the book is flimsy, unlike the subject of the book which is truly as time and popularity have shown to be quite reliable and durable.

This is the definitive collector's book on the AK series of firearms. It covers the full series of the AK rifles country by country, and is lavishly illustrated with excellent mostly B&W photos covering the most minute details. It makes identifying the exact model of the rifle by country and by version of the rifle a cinch. By way of an example: I was sold a Chinese type 56 (AKM) with the built in spike bayonet. On close examination I noted absence of Chinese factory marks plus a few other small anomalies, compared with the illustrations in other AK books. Frank's book showed it was an Albanian copy of the type 56, and in seconds I could establish this. It details ALL of the differences, some of which I had missed. The book is fully comprehensive at this level throughout. The only thing that could add to the book is colour illustrations throughout, although there is a pretty comprehensive set of colour illustrations at the end. This would add a lot to the cost though. I rate this book as the 'bible' of the AK series. Don't waste your money on any others, as you will end up having to buy this one anyway.

Probably the best Kalashnikov reference guide available in the West, with hundreds of pictures both black and white and in full color, complete with descriptions of the numerous military variants to have come out of the Com Bloc during the Cold War plus the commercial variants offered on the US market. It also has sections dedicated to weapon accoutrement, bayonets, magazines, &c. and the differences between those offered by the manifold countries to have manufactured the Kalashnikov weapon system and its variants. Unfortunately, it lacks anything on the two most direct Western descendants of the Avtomat Kalashnikova, the Finnish Valmet Rk62, its family and descendants, and the Israeli Galil, although it does cover the Finnish Rk62 magazines in steel and polymer and the purchase by Finland of Chinese and Russian Kalashnikovs.

already had the first edition and this book does cover one of my favorite topics , so naturally I'd want and now finally have after a long period of delayed gratification I might add , now I have the second edition. The book is fantastic.

Definire questo libro una "Bibbia" del AK è semplicemente riduttivo, è molto di piu! Sapevo dell'imponenza dell'opera, ma appena sfogliato il libro mi sono accorto che è realmente "un' opera d'arte" Non vi è altra bibliografia analitica su di un'arma che sia paragonabile al libro di Frank Iannamico. Basta semplicemente aprirlo, leggerlo e guardare le foto ed i disegni per capire l'importanza di questo libro. Sicuramente è il miglior libro, in assoluto, che un'appassionato del settore possa trovare. Complimenti, quindi, a Frank Innamico per quello che io giudico uno dei più bei libri del settore armiero, e non solo.......Ed un grazie particolare a The Book Depository che in Ak-47 - the Grim Reaper solo 7 giorni mi ha spedito il libro. Maurizio.

Un testo completo, accurato, scritto con passione, che tratta tutte le varianti possibili ed immaginabili della piattaforma AK sino alla data di pubblicazione. Purtroppo disponibile solo in lingua inglese, ne consiglio l'acquisto a prescindere data la grande qualità della stampa e della carta utilizzati, nonché per le moltissime foto di cui parte a colori, raccolte nella parte finale del libro.

Volume fondamentale per quanto riguarda la piattaforma Ak-47, non è un libro da leggere pagina dopo pagina (mio parere). Ma da utilizzare come manuale Venditore molto professionale e velocissimo nella consegna