Editing AK-47 (section)

== Variants ==
[[File:AK-47 bullets from China, Pakistan and Russia.jpg|thumb|7.62×39mm cartridges from Russia, China and Pakistan]]

; Early variants (7.62×39mm)
* Issue of 1948/49: Type 1: The very earliest models, stamped sheet metal receivers, are now very rare.
* Issue of 1951: Type 2: Has a milled receiver. The barrel and chamber are chrome-plated to resist corrosion.
* Issue of 1954/55: Type 3: Lightened, milled receiver variant. Rifle weight is {{convert|3.47|kg|lb|abbr=on}}.{{sfn|НСД. 7,62-мм автомат АК|1967|pp=161–162}}
* AKS (AKS-47): Type 1, 2, or 3 receivers: Featured a downward under folding metal stock similar to that of the [[MP 40]], for use in the restricted space of the [[BMP-1|BMP]] infantry combat vehicle, as well as for [[airborne forces|airborne]] troops.
* AKN (AKSN): Night sight rail.{{sfn|Monetchikov|2005|p=76}}

; Modernized (7.62×39mm)
* [[AKM]]: A simplified, lighter version of the AK-47; the Type 4 receiver is made from stamped and riveted sheet metal. A slanted muzzle device was added to reduce muzzle rise in automatic fire. The rifle weight is {{convert|3.1|kg|lb|abbr=on}}<ref name="izhmash" /> due to the lighter receiver. This is the most ubiquitous variant of the AK-47.
** AKMS: Under-folding stock version of the AKM intended for [[airborne forces|airborne]] troops.
** AKMN (AKMSN): Night scope rail.
** AKML (AKMSL): Slotted flash suppressor and night scope rail.<ref name="AKML" />
* [[RPK]]: Hand-held machine gun version with longer barrel and [[bipod]]. The variants—RPKS, RPKN (RPKSN), RPKL (RPKSL)—mirror AKM variants. The "S" variants have a side-folding wooden stock.

;Foreign Variants (7.62×39mm)
* [[Type 56 assault rifle|Type 56]]: [[China|Chinese]] assault rifle based on the {{nowrap|AK-47 Type 3}}.<ref name="miller2001">{{cite book |last=Miller |first=David |date=2001 |title=The Illustrated Directory of 20th Century Guns |publisher=Salamander Books Ltd |isbn=1-84065-245-4}}</ref> Still in production primarily for export markets.

For the further developed AK models, see [[Kalashnikov rifle]]s.