Instead, it’s a means by which directors indicate an inhospitable location or menacing character. It’s not a device in the sense that a wrench or a flux capacitor are. Like time, gravity and disbelief, the AK takes on many forms in the minds of Hollywood storytellers. But Mozambique is a long way from Hollywood. In Mozambique, for example, it found its way onto that country’s flag after it gained independence from Portugal.

Ironically, the AK is a symbol of liberation for some. But it will probably function despite its condition and it won’t take long to find ammo. If you encounter an AK outside of a movie, you are likely in a foreign place confronting disagreeable people or loading out to meet those people. As Clint Eastwood says in “Heartbreak Ridge,” “It makes a very distinctive sound when fired at you, so remember it.” To most Westerners, it is the weapon of the enemy. This admission might cause more than a few Americans to grit their teeth the AK may someday outlast the M1911A1 in service longevity. In the real world, the AK is a weapon known for its reliability, simplicity of design and ease of manufacture.