No one know how many AK-47 rifles have been manufactured, although comments by Russian and Chinese officials indicate that it's been over fifty million so far. There are so many AK-47s out there that they are quite cheap. Recently, the U.S. bought 40,000 new (or "like new") AK-47s for the new Iraqi army (most of the army's original AK-47s were stolen right after the war). The weapons cost $59 each. In many countries, especially Arab ones, it's considered part of growing up to learn how to take apart and clean an AK-47. Ammunition is cheap, often about ten cents per round. Best of all, the AK-47 is a rather humane weapon. Compared to the M-16, the low power 7.62mm bullets of the AK-47 do much less damage to a target than the higher velocity 5.56mm bullets from the M-16. The AK-47 is still plenty lethal, killing thousands each year. It's the preferred weapon for criminals in many countries. In addition to it's low price, the weapon looks impressive, so much so that it appears on several national flags.
