 BradleyAbrams 
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Joined: Mar 2012  CA, USA
 Posts: 3 Feedback: 0% (0) |
Posted: 3/14/2012 4:16:37 PM
[Last Edit: 3/14/2012 4:29:57 PM by BradleyAbrams]
THE IMAGE ABOVE IS A PAID ADVERTISEMENT I have owned my MAK 90 for 18+ years and all this time I was not happy with the "feel" and to a lesser extent, the Look of the AK47 OEM grips; or for that matter, with that any of the common aftermarket grip-sets offered (Hogue, Mako, Tapco, etc.. ), and through the years, I kept on searching for the "Perfect Grip". Then, some time ago I was watching a TV Special about the Sturmghewer MP44 WWII German Assault Rifle and was inspired to fit a similar grip onto my MAK 90. I knew from past experience with a 1938 PO-8 Luger I had owned that the angled German grip ergonomics work well for me, so I went back to what I knew had worked for me back then. . So I did some extensive searching and found that the MG42 Gripset is fairly close to the Luger grip ergonomically, And that it works best as an easy DIY retrofit for our AKs (as opposed to a MP44, MP40 or MG34 Gripset, which are super expensive or unattainable, or both..) The feel of the MG42 grip on my MAK 90 is a " natural".. and best of all, the MG42 stuff was relatively inexpensive, too ( about $40 - $45 all told, including grip screws ) First, I purchased the gripset and accessories from here : http://www.robertrtg.com/mggripstick.html ( DISCLAIMER: I have NO Connection to this site linked above other than as a customer):  
Then I sawed off and filed down the MG42 Grip-Stick and Bakelite Gripset from this: 
To something approximately like this: 
In order to attach the now modified MG42 Gripset to the receiver, I replaced the OEM grip screw ( 4" X 10mm) with one that was about 35mm long. I kept the OEM angled "anchor" nut that fits inside the receiver. I took some spring steel flatstock, and made a small piece about 1" X 5/8". This item had a 11mm hole located near its far edge. I placed this in the Gripset as a "wedge" and fastened it down with the new Allen Screw, as seen in the pic below. The plate and new 10mm Allen bolt: 
End result 
Thank You for your Time –– |
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Posted: 3/14/2012 4:36:28 PM
neat.
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BushBoar
Hated Divorce Lawyer
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Joined: Mar 2004 NY, USA
Posts: 19758 Feedback: 100% (24) Link To This Post |
Posted: 3/14/2012 4:48:19 PM
That's pretty cool.
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Posted: 3/14/2012 5:45:58 PM
[Last Edit: 3/14/2012 5:47:05 PM by BradleyAbrams]
Thank you, Gents...
For reference purposes, a MG42 machinegun and a Sturmgewehr MP44 Assault Rifle: 
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Posted: 3/14/2012 6:45:15 PM
good looking diy mod - congrats!
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Posted: 3/15/2012 4:28:12 PM
nice use of your imagination. That looks sharp!
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Posted: 3/16/2012 10:32:40 PM
Nice custom! I like it!
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Posted: 3/17/2012 9:45:24 AM
To be honest when I started reading your post, I though it was gonna end up looking like a bubba job....
But man was I wrong. That looks great! Almost factory! Only thing I'm not crazy about is the black plastic (or bakelite?). Would wood panel grips be hard to make? If it wasent for the fact have one ak and like my Chinese original, I would totally do this mod. You need to post this in the main AK section or the build it yourself section too so more people can see it! |
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Posted: 3/17/2012 4:02:05 PM
[Last Edit: 3/18/2012 12:58:28 AM by BradleyAbrams]
Thank you all for your kind words.
Rcbif, The color of the Bakelite Grips is a very dark Brown.. Also, per your suggestion, I re-posted this to the BIY section. Thanx again. |
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Posted: 3/18/2012 3:37:33 PM
I WAS gonna ask you where you live.... pretending that I wanted to come over and see it, but in reality, punch you in the balls for ruining both a Mak90 and preventing the proper restoration of an MG42.....
But THEN I saw the pictures. Now I would like to know where you live..... so that I can come over pretending to admire it.... punch you in the balls and take that beautiful gun with me. |
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Posted: 3/18/2012 3:47:14 PM
WOW!
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Posted: 3/18/2012 7:12:22 PM
I immediately thought of Matt Schusters STG 44 conversion wood set when I saw that...
http://ironwooddesigns.com/STG47.html |
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Posted: 3/18/2012 11:52:54 PM
Not my thing but I gotta say it looks great.
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Posted: 3/19/2012 3:08:31 AM
Gents - I just want to say that I apppreciate your kind words, and thought that you may find the following pic somewhat interesting if not downright bizzarre.
After having fitted the MG42 grip and while still waiting for the OEM Chinese buttstock to arrive on a slow boat from overseas, one lazy Saturday afternoon I got a Tequila Induced wacked-out idea and whittled down the original MAK 90 thumbhole stock into a semi-rendition of a MG42 buttstock: 
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Posted: 3/20/2012 1:43:24 PM
This'd look really slick with East German furniture.
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Farmer-Ted
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Joined: Jan 2008 UT, USA
Posts: 1245 Feedback: 100% (38) Link To This Post |
Posted: 3/20/2012 11:51:41 PM
Pistol grip is cool, butt stock not so much.
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Posted: 3/22/2012 3:14:53 AM
Originally Posted By Farmer-Ted:
Pistol grip is cool, butt stock not so much. Yes, agreed...But in my defense, I did say the stock was a "tequila induced" ...
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35mm_Shooter
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Team Member
Joined: Apr 2011 USA
Posts: 911 Feedback: 100% (3) Link To This Post |
Posted: 3/26/2012 7:08:44 PM
I admit when I first saw what you were doing with the MG42 grip, my reaction was "noooooooooo!!!", but it turned out nice.
CFS has MG 43 parts kits, maybe adapt the stock from that?  |
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Posted: 3/27/2012 5:00:51 PM
[Last Edit: 3/27/2012 5:08:41 PM by BradleyAbrams]
Originally Posted By 35mm_Shooter:
I admit when I first saw what you were doing with the MG42 grip, my reaction was "noooooooooo!!!", but it turned out nice. CFS has MG 43 parts kits, maybe adapt the stock from that? < snip > Thank you for that...it is an option. I also looked at and considered the MG42-themed stock kit from Ironwood: 
http://ironwooddesigns.com/STG47.html But I think that I'm going to keep the OEM Chinese stock as it sits now: 
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