In the assault rifle name AK 47, the letter "K" stands for which word?

Introduction / Context:
AK 47 is one of the most widely recognised assault rifles in the world. The name is an abbreviation that includes letters and numbers with specific meanings. General knowledge exams often ask what AK stands for and what the numbers indicate. This question focuses on the letter K and checks whether you know that it stands for Kalashnikov, the surname of the weapon designer Mikhail Kalashnikov.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The weapon discussed is the AK 47 assault rifle.
• We are asked specifically what the letter K represents.
• Four options are given, each starting with the letter K.
• We assume the standard military and historical interpretation of the name.

Concept / Approach:
AK in AK 47 stands for Avtomat Kalashnikova in Russian, which translates to Kalashnikov automatic rifle. Here, A stands for Avtomat and K stands for Kalashnikov, the designer. The number 47 refers to the year 1947 when the design was finalised. Therefore, when the question asks specifically about K, the correct answer is the surname Kalashnikov. The other options are surnames of unrelated individuals, such as politicians or chess players, and are included only to confuse those who guess by familiarity.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that AK 47 is of Russian origin and that the name is an abbreviation. Step 2: Break down AK 47 as Avtomat Kalashnikova 1947. Step 3: Note that the letter K corresponds to the surname Kalashnikov, the designer. Step 4: Scan the options and locate the word Kalashnikov. Step 5: Choose Kalashnikov as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
A quick check in any defence studies book, military history reference, or reliable online article about AK 47 will explain that the rifle was designed by Mikhail Kalashnikov and that AK stands for Avtomat Kalashnikova. This is a well known fact that appears consistently across sources. Many documentaries and news reports about small arms also mention Kalashnikov by name, reinforcing the connection between the letter K and his surname. This uniform usage across many independent references confirms that Kalashnikov is the correct expansion of K in AK 47.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Krushchev: Refers to Nikita Khrushchev, a Soviet leader, but he did not design the rifle and his name is not part of the abbreviation.
Karpov: The surname of a famous chess grandmaster, Anatoly Karpov, unrelated to the weapon.
Kasparov: The surname of another famous chess grandmaster, Garry Kasparov, also unrelated to the rifle design or naming.

Common Pitfalls:
One mistake is to overthink the question and look for political or strategic significance instead of recognising a straightforward naming convention. Another error is mixing up K with the country or ideology. Remember that in many weapons, letters are initials of designers or descriptive Russian terms. Linking AK 47 directly with the name Mikhail Kalashnikov and his surname helps fix this fact in memory. Practice by expanding similar abbreviations so that you are comfortable with such questions.

Final Answer:
In AK 47, the letter K stands for Kalashnikov.