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Production of infantry weapons in the second half of the?20th century was largely influenced by the work of German engineers in weaponry during the Second World War. New techniques allowed for the creation of a modern assault weapon that was easy to produce, low in cost, and highly effective, the archetype of which was Sturmgewehr?44. As for the Soviets, they were inspired by the German mat?riel to conceive the Kalachnikov? ak?47, which remains the most manufactured and the most copied assault gun in the world. After the war, several countries, including some in the West, were inspired in their turn by the German and Soviet models to produce their own equipment. In?2009, the total production of Kalachnikovs is estimated at more than 70?million.