AKs of the world

[nalioth]

I thought I'd share some AK knowledge with you guys. Please share your military style AK pix and tell us a bit about them.

The AK series of rifle were designed in the 40s by Mikhail Kalashnikov (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikhail_Kalashnikov)

They are gas operated, magazine fed rifles that are quite simple and robust in design (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AK-47). They come in 5.45x39 caliber, 5.56 Nato caliber and 7.62x39 caliber. The 5.56 Nato chambered rifles (and kits) are rarer than the other two calibers. Different countries designed their AKs with underfolding stocks, sidefolding stocks and fixed stocks, depending on their intended use (folding stocks to paratroopers/armored crews and fixed stock rifles to infantrymen)

AK type rifles in the United States are not called "AK-47" or "AK-74" due to legal reasons, but as the Bard said "..a rose by any other name would smell as sweet."

The most commonly seen commercially manufactured AK type rifles come from Romania. This fellow here (http://www.gunsnet.net/Linx310/) has amassed a great amount of info on each of the types of Romanian imports to include the currently sold WASR (http://www.gunsnet.net/Linx310/model.htm) type AK style rifles. This page also has MANY explantory 'how to' pages for an AK type rifle.

The fall of the Soviet Union has put great financial hardship on the satellite states of the former USSR. Some of those countries are making some money by selling all their old AK rifles to capitalists in the US. These rifles are demilled (the middle third of the receiver is removed with a cutting torch) before entering the country. Lots of small (and some larger) companies have purchased thousands of these "kits". These companies offer complete AK type rifles from different countries of origin, with US legal parts. The AK is such a simple design, it is possible for anyone with shop tools and mechanical experience to legally build one from a kit.


:ak:

[nalioth]

Here are the Soviet rifle cartridges of the last 100 years(and beyond). Top cartridge is the 5.45x39, which is used in the AK74 (in use since 1975).
Middle cartridge is the 7.62x39, which has been used since the mid 40s. This has been used in the SKS, the AK47/AKM, the Czech Vz-58 (http://world.guns.ru/assault/as33-e.htm) that I know of.
The bottom cartridge is the 7.62x54R cartridge. This cartridge was in use at least since 1891 when the first Mosin-Nagant model 1891 rifle was issued to the Russian troops.

http://www.novarata.net/abrams/mf_forum/mosin_640_00044.jpg (http://www.novarata.net/abrams/mosin_nagant/mosin_1024x768_00044.jpg)

Below from top to bottom are: WASR-2 (http://www.gunsnet.net/Linx310/model.htm#wasr2), a WASR-10 (http://www.gunsnet.net/Linx310/model.htm#wasr10t4), a Yugoslavian M59/66 SKS (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SKS) rifle, and at the bottom is a Russian Mosin-Nagant (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mosin-nagant) M44 rifle

http://www.novarata.net/abrams/mf_forum/mosin_640_00036.jpg (http://www.novarata.net/abrams/mosin_nagant/mosin_1024x768_00036.jpg)

Here is a modern semi-auto rifle in 7.62x54R. It is a Romanian sniper rifle (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romak-3). I'm not sure what the real name is, but they are imported here under the names "PSL", "Romak-3", "FPK" and "Romanian Dragunuv"(they are nothing like real Dragunuvs (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragunov_Sniper_Rifle)). This is a long barrelled semi auto only sniper rifle that is basically an enlarged AK rifle.

Shown here with a WASR-10 (http://www.gunsnet.net/Linx310/model.htm#wasr10t4) for size comparison.

http://www.novarata.net/abrams/mf_forum/psl_640_131.jpg (http://www.novarata.net/abrams/psl/psl_131_1024x768.jpg)



:ak:

[nalioth]

This is a underfolder type AK. Underfolders were issued to armored vehicle crews and paratroopers. They make for a compact and easy to carry package. All underfolders use the same basic mechanism.

Building one? They go together like any other AK. Here is a link (http://home.earthlink.net/~mwsjb/AKbuild3.htm) showing how to assemble the rear folding mechanism.

This particular rifle origins are in Yugoslavia. The unusual gas block is for use when firing rifle grenades. It turns the gas off to the system, so that all the blast from the grenade firing blank can push the grenade.

http://www.novarata.net/abrams/mf_forum/yugo_640_447.JPG (http://www.novarata.net/abrams/yugo/yugo_447.JPG)

http://www.novarata.net/abrams/mf_forum/yugo_640_448.JPG (http://www.novarata.net/abrams/yugo/yugo_448.JPG)

http://www.novarata.net/abrams/mf_forum/yugo_640_449.JPG (http://www.novarata.net/abrams/yugo/yugo_449.JPG)

http://www.novarata.net/abrams/mf_forum/yugo_640_450.JPG (http://www.novarata.net/abrams/yugo/yugo_450.JPG)

The pistol grip is not from Yugoslavia. It is an Ergo Grip (http://www.ergogrips.net/item-detail.cfm?ID=4230&storeid=1&image=ergoakold.gif&CFID=8801573&CFTOKEN=81425939) and made in the USA


:ak:

[nalioth]

Here is an AK with a side folding stock. The side folding stock was designed to streamline the manufacturing process, as most side folders just bolt in in place of the standard fixed stock. The Romanians and East Germans made use of these type stocks.

This is as close as I could get to a Romanian Aims-74 (http://avtomats-in-action.com/pro19.html). This rifle uses the 5.45x39 cartridge.

http://www.novarata.net/abrams/mf_forum/therapy_640_434.JPG (http://www.novarata.net/abrams/therapy/therapy_434.JPG)

http://www.novarata.net/abrams/mf_forum/therapy_640_441.JPG (http://www.novarata.net/abrams/therapy/therapy_441.JPG)

http://www.novarata.net/abrams/mf_forum/therapy_640_442.JPG (http://www.novarata.net/abrams/therapy/therapy_442.JPG)



:ak:

[nalioth]

This is the 2nd to last generation side folding stock from Russia (the Bulgarians use it, too). This one is a skeletonized steel stock with a unique locking mechanism. Once these stocks are locked into the open position, they are indistinguishable from a fully fixed stock (some folding stocks have "wiggle").

This rifle was originally called an AKS-74 (http://world.guns.ru/assault/as02-e.htm)

http://www.novarata.net/abrams/mf_forum/aks-74_640_468.JPG (http://www.novarata.net/abrams/aks74/aks-74_468.JPG)

http://www.novarata.net/abrams/mf_forum/aks-74_640_470.JPG (http://www.novarata.net/abrams/aks74/aks-74_470.JPG)
In the picture above, at the left, you can see the front stock latch and the right side shows the stock release button.

http://www.novarata.net/abrams/mf_forum/aks-74_640_473.JPG (http://www.novarata.net/abrams/aks74/aks-74_473.JPG)


Closeup of the stock in the latched position.
http://www.novarata.net/abrams/mf_forum/aks-74_640_474.JPG (http://www.novarata.net/abrams/aks74/aks-74_474.JPG)


Closeup showing how the stock dovetails into the rear trunnion.
http://www.novarata.net/abrams/mf_forum/aks-74_640_475.JPG (http://www.novarata.net/abrams/aks74/aks-74_475.JPG)

This is what the currently issued rifles look like. They use the same folding mechanism. Picture is clickable.
http://club.guns.ru/images/AK100/AK101.JPG (http://club.guns.ru/eng/ak100.htm)


:ak:

[nalioth]

This is a Romanian (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AIM_(rifle)) AK type rifle with fixed stock and forward grip.

http://www.novarata.net/abrams/workshop/parts_205_1024x.jpg


:ak:

[okie shooter]

There is one other caliber for sure, the 5.8x42 that the chinese have adopted. Not sure if there are other nations that adopted that round though.

[k98k792]

Here are some more.
Yugo M70 Fixed stock 7.62x39
Yugo M76 8mm
Yugo M72 7.62x39
Yugo M90 5.56

[k98k792]

Polish Underfolder 7.62x39
Polish tantal 5.45x39

[k98k792]

Hungarian Amd 65 7.62x39
Hungarian FEG 762x39

[k98k792]

Romanian MD63 Underfolder 762x39
Romanian Sidefolder 7.62x39

[k98k792]

This thread is only for rifles in original military configuration only! Also pics should be of rifles that are not already included. Thanks!

[LostInTexas]

Hungarian AMD 63 7.62x39

[k98k792]

Here are some AKs built and submited by JOHNO.

Top to bottom
Type 56-2
Type56-1
Egyptain Maadi
Hungarian Type III
Russian Tiger

[k98k792]

To submit a pic for this thread.Please post it in a seperate thread on this subforum,and send me a PM. Thanks
__________________

[nalioth]

This is a clone of the East German MPi-KM. This is their variant of the the AKM.

The East Germans saw the AK a little differently than the other nations of the USSR. The MPi in the name of this is short for "machine pistol" in German.

[nalioth]

This variant is called the AK-74m (for modernized). This is what they are currently issuing in Russia (except for the fun switch). It uses the 5.45x39 cartridge. This rifle is the same as the AKS-74 shown above, but for the new style solid polymer stock. This is a definite upgrade to the fixed stock rifles, as it contains the trapdoor for the cleaning kit.

http://www.novarata.net/abrams/ak-74m/640/ak-74m_619.JPG

http://www.novarata.net/abrams/ak-74m/640/ak-74m_620.JPG

http://www.novarata.net/abrams/ak-74m/640/ak-74m_621.JPG

This is the stock in the closed position. You can see the release button for the stock latch.

http://www.novarata.net/abrams/ak-74m/640/ak-74m_622.JPG

Shown slightly open.

http://www.novarata.net/abrams/ak-74m/640/ak-74m_623.JPG

[k98k792]

Here is a pic of my MPi-Kms. Folding stock version.