Detail of centrefire automatic rifle, Kalashnikov AK, 1953. PR.5428. Royal Armouries, CC BY 4.0

 

The Avtomat Kalashnikova or AK assault rifle is the most common firearm in the world. This is one of many that was supplied to the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) and the Viet Cong. It was captured in the Battle of Bong Son Plain by Captain Gregory P. Dillon of the US army in 1966. During the battle, Dillon's unit – 7th Cavalry Air Regiment – wiped out an entire NVA brigade. While clearing enemy bunkers, Dillon found and disarmed the NVA brigade’s executive officer who had been carrying this rifle and a pistol. Dillon gave the pistol to his battalion commander and kept the rifle as a trophy. He engraved his name and unit into the butt to secure his ownership. The Royal Armouries acquired the rifle in 2005 and in 2012 the weapon’s significance was rediscovered. Contact was made with Dillon, then a long-retired Colonel, who was amazed: he had not seen the rifle in more than 40 years.

 

This image is part of our Up Close online exhibition, which was made possible with funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players, we have been able to use digital to enable our audiences to explore our collection in new and exciting ways.