Kalashnikov, makers of the AK-47 assault rifle, has opened a souvenir shop in the middle of Russia’s largest international airport. You may recognize the AK-47 as the weapon of choice not only for Russian troops, but for insurgents and guerrilla fighters the world over as well.
Located in the Sheremetyevo Airport, the shop sells a variety of ways to proclaim your love for the world’s most recognizable assault rifle. Some of the items for sale include pens, umbrellas, camouflage gear, hats, and even “I Love AK” shirts.
Although the shop will not sell actual AK-47s (that, after all, would be irresponsible in any airport), they will sell plastic models of both pistols and rifles. An airport official told the Guardian that the models would clearly be imitations and would pose no security problems.
In a press release, Kalashnikov’s head of marketing, Vladimir Dmitriev, expressed how proud the company was to open a shop in Russia’s largest airport:
“Kalashnikov is one of the most popular brands that come to mind for most people in the world when they hear about Russia… So, we are pleased to provide the opportunity for everyone to take away from Russia a souvenir with our company brand.”
Somehow, it seems like a very bad idea to sell replica rifles at an international airport. A bunch of people wearing full camouflage and waving around plastic rifles as they board planes to go around the world may cause some issues.
Russian President and James Bond villain Vladimir Putin probably will not mind. After all, he once said this while examining the Olympic torch:
“Everything that is made in Russia looks like a Kalashnikov.”
This is a silly statement; that torch obviously looks like a sword from a Final Fantasy game. Gun nuts, head on over to Sheremetyevo Airport and grab your (plastic) guns today!
Featured Image By Kremlin.ru Via Wikimedia Commons/CC BY 4.0 And CC By 3.0 Licenses.
