Two Former Rangers Wanted to Combine the Best Parts of the AK-47 and AR-15. This Is What They Created Jared Potter and Joe Stenzel are the founders of Stenzel Industries, creators or "America's AK" -- the AK-21. (Courtesy of Jared Potter) Two Former Rangers Wanted to Combine the Best Parts of the AK-47 and AR-15. This is What They Created Two Rangers finally may have settled the debate between fans of the AK-47 and adherents of the AR-15. Joe Stenzel and Jared Potter, veterans of the 2nd Ranger Battalion, met while serving in the Army. During their deployments to Afghanistan, they noticed the shortcomings of each platform.