Mikhail Timofeyevich Kalashnikov was born in the village of Kurya, Altai Governorate, in the Russian SFSR. He was the eighth of nineteen children (only eight survived to adulthood) of Timofey Aleksandrovich Kalashnikov and Aleksandra Frolovna Kalashnikova, peasant farmers.

During Stalin's collectivization campaign, Kalashnikov's family was labeled 'kulaks' (wealthy peasants) and deported to the Tomsk Oblast in Siberia. This traumatic experience profoundly impacted his worldview and instilled a deep understanding of hardship and injustice.

Even during the harsh conditions of deportation, Kalashnikov demonstrated a keen interest in mechanics and machinery. He showed an aptitude for understanding how things worked, often repairing farm implements and tools.

Having secured permission to leave the deportation settlement, Kalashnikov returned to his native village of Kurya and completed seventh grade. He also developed an interest in literature and poetry during this period.

Driven by a desire to pursue his interests in mechanics and to escape the limitations of rural life, Kalashnikov left Kurya for Kazakhstan, where he found work as a tractor mechanic at a machine tractor station.

Kalashnikov was drafted into the Red Army. His small size and technical skills led him to be assigned to a tank unit. This marked the beginning of his direct involvement with military hardware.