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B-West Imports
1/13/2011 2:31:32 PM
What can you tell me about the old B-West guns, And their USA made receivers? TNX. in advance mike
1/13/2011 6:59:04 PM
Stay away from them. At best they make nice parts kits. There's tons of info on them all over the net, just do a search.
1/13/2011 7:34:44 PM
B West imported complete Chinese AK's & they were fine. However you want to avoid the guns they built here on their own US receivers. GARY N4KVE
1/13/2011 10:56:43 PM
Originally Posted By 1000M:
What can you tell me about the old B-West guns, And their USA made receivers?
What can you tell me about the old B-West guns, And their USA made receivers?
The B West US made receivers were not heat treated (at least the early ones). The ejectors peened badly and the hammer and trigger pins egged.
The story that's told is that B West hired a sheet metal shop to bend them up and BATF shut them down for arranging to have a non-licensee manufacture the receivers.
1/14/2011 10:47:09 AM
THANKS TO ALL. that is what I remembered, Good Imported guns, BAD US. made guns, Couldn't remember which way it went! THANKS ALL
1/15/2011 12:07:35 AM
Avoid the ones they made. They are a lot cheaper than similar looking Chinese AK's for a reason.
1/15/2011 1:40:29 AM
There is a US made one on Gun Broker right now.
1/15/2011 2:35:36 AM
IMHO from having inventoried a Clayco or BWest a time or two in the 80's, they were basically Norincos without the Norinco branding. Sorta the generic equivalents assembled for independent importers.
That whole side of CHICOM AKs convinced me that Keng's "PolyTech" connections made them the ones to snag back then as they just seemed waaaaaaaaay nicer guns.
But yeah, I know - MAKs are out there and affordable, but if you want CHICOM and can't find a milled MAK, look for any PolyTech; it'll take days for the grin to wear off.
That whole side of CHICOM AKs convinced me that Keng's "PolyTech" connections made them the ones to snag back then as they just seemed waaaaaaaaay nicer guns.
But yeah, I know - MAKs are out there and affordable, but if you want CHICOM and can't find a milled MAK, look for any PolyTech; it'll take days for the grin to wear off.
1/16/2011 2:46:21 AM
Originally Posted By 74AKZ:
Avoid the ones they made. They are a lot cheaper than similar looking Chinese AK's for a reason.
Avoid the ones they made. They are a lot cheaper than similar looking Chinese AK's for a reason.
The ones that B-west built were built using chinese parts. I had one re-built onto an Arsenal USA reciever, and there were several chinese marks on the parts. Polytech maybe??
1/16/2011 11:05:03 AM
tstorm, did your chinese have the 2 rivit trigger or the standard 4 rivit attachment , behind the mag well? I have been looking for a receiver to build on, that has only the 2 front rivits. Trying to keep it as authentic as possible. mike
1/18/2011 3:39:31 AM
Originally Posted By 1000M:
tstorm, did your chinese have the 2 rivit trigger or the standard 4 rivit attachment , behind the mag well? I have been looking for a receiver to build on, that has only the 2 front rivits. Trying to keep it as authentic as possible. mike
tstorm, did your chinese have the 2 rivit trigger or the standard 4 rivit attachment , behind the mag well? I have been looking for a receiver to build on, that has only the 2 front rivits. Trying to keep it as authentic as possible. mike
Mine had the 4 rivit trigger guard. The reciever is an Armory USA 1.6mm, which would be the same as a factory Polytech reciever. I had the reciever blasted and cold blued to match the other parts. One thing I forgot to mention, on the down side, since you are building on a post-ban reciever, 922r applies. My compliance parts are: reciever (1), Tapco double-hook FCG (3), gas piston (1), and US-made muzzle nut (1). That way, I was still able to use the origional furniture, and the gun looks like a factory Polytech until you pick it up and read the reciever. I have put about 800 rounds through it since it was rebuilt, and it performs flawless.
