the rifles design and michelle kalashnikov once recalled that when he realized his first model was to be subjected to a severe test he looked away he couldn't bear to see it with his own eyes. testing a new variant of the kalashnikov goes through seven stages first the gun is placed into what's known as the dust chamber where the room is filled with sand. is. sure does chambers filled with fine particles of silica sand the next stage will lead us to the sprinkler room it imitates a subtropical climate when u.s. commandos fought in the hot and humid conditions often prompted them to improvise with captured kalashnikovs rather than their own. sixteen rifle kalashnikovs was in such a climate. self-taught gunsmith mikhail kalashnikov came up with a prototype for his celebrated rifle at least age of twenty two he set about designing it off to he was wounded in action during the second world war recognition of his achievement came five and a half years later in one nine hundred forty seven when his model came first in a defense ministry firearm design contest the new weapon was designated t