Kalashnikov Wishes He Had Invented a Lawnmower

July 28, 2002 - 0:0
BERLIN -- Mikhail Kalashnikov, inventor of the assault rifle which bears his name, said on Saturday he was proud of developing the AK-47 but wishes he'd designed something to help people instead -- like a lawnmower.

"I would have preferred to invent something which helps people and makes life easier for farmers. A lawnmower, for example," the 82-year-old general told ***Bild ***newspaper.

The Kalashnikov, which can fire 400 rounds per minute and is light and easy to maintain, has become the weapon of choice for guerrillas and insurgents across the globe but its inventor does not regret his achievement.

"I am proud of it. And sad, too, that the weapon is used by terrorists," said Kalashnikov, who was in Germany to open an exhibition about the weapon.

Kalashnikov is said to have come up with the idea for the submachine gun while he was in hospital recovering from shell-shock in 1941.

The Kalashnikov went into production in 1947 and was adopted by the Russian Army in 1949. Up to 100 million have been built. "Actually, you Germans are to blame," he told ***Bild.*** "Our soldiers often didn't have proper weapons in those days."

Despite the success of the AK-47, Kalashnikov has never earned any money from his invention, Reuters reported.

"All the earnings went to the state," he said.