The person being interviewed is C.J. Chivers, a former US Marine and currently a journalist with the NY Times.

He's written a book on the development and impact on the world of the Kalashnikov rifle.

http://www.popularmechanics.com/tech...-ever?click=pp

In that interview with Popular Mechanics, he makes reference to a German weapons designer that might have had a lot to do with the weapon that ultimately became the AK-47. That would be Hugo Schmeisser, the father of the Sturmgewehr. I personally think he's probably right.

He's also got a blog where he's posted pics and commentary of his travels researching the weapon.

http://cjchivers.com/

I listened to an interview he gave, he's pretty switched on and I'm going to pick up the book and take a look.