Add to what you read at Classic that it DOES NOT INCLUDE THE SCOPE MOUNT if that is important to you. I haven't decided yet.

From the site:

This is a little bit of an unusual Rifle of the Day being that this is a standard stock item. We typically post odds and ends or something different here. But in this case, I wanted to use this forum to highlight this new AK and answer some questions we have been getting concerning what I personally think is a very high quality rifle. I also wanted to offer you all a special one time bonus with this purchase.

We received these rifles in from the importer and posted them to the site around one week ago. Since then we have received many questions and even concerns regarding them. People have asked, Are they parts rifles ? Do they all look alike ? Why should I buy this rifle as opposed to any other rifle on the site ? How can they legally import this rifle? Why are they more expensive ? Etc... We even had an e-mail with a very angry tone that said we were trying to pass off parts rifles as new and we should basically be ashamed of ourselves. Well that is not the case, and honestly, that is just not how we roll. Even so it has become clear that a really good discription of these rifles and their history is needed.

So, as they say down at the horse barn, Here is the Scoop.

These rifles were made from the gound up in Poland at the Radom factory to fill an order for a small Polish Exporter called Pioneer Arms. The initial batch of rifles built was very small and I can only assume that the exporter wants to test the U.S. market on these at this price point to see how they would go. Labor and Materials are a little more expensive in Poland but the quality is usually worth it. Based on the quality I see in these rifles I don't think the price will be an issue. They are very nice... But more on that later.

Under current U.S. importation laws regarding firearms only rifles that qualify as " Sporting Arms " are allowed to be imported. The primary criteria in that is the rifle cannot be imported if it has a mag capacity of more than 10 rounds. As such, these rifles, much like the Romanian WASR-10's and the Bulgarian SLR's are imported as an intact ready to fire rifle but with a narrow magazine well and a 5 or 10 round magazine. Once the rifles are stateside, the importers store them in a bonded warehouse where they are brought into compliance with what is commonly referred to as Section 922r. Basically sec 922r states that for a rifle to be considered U.S. Made it must contain a certain number of U.S. Parts. Once that part count is met, then the rifle can legally accept high cap ( Above 10 Round ) mags and drums as well as having military characteristics like muzzle breaks etc.

In the case of this Pioneer Arms Polish AK Rifle the U.S. Parts added and or replaced are as follows, the polish trigger group is replaced with a U.S. made G-2 3 piece trigger set by Tapco, the muzzle nut is removed and a U.S. made 45 degree compensator is added , the original grip is replaced by a U.S. made Molot style pistol grip, and the rifle is fitted with a U.S. made 30 round mag. Once the internal parts are added and the rifle has been brought into compliance, the magazine well is opened up ( typically on a C & C machine ) and the rifle will now legally accept high capacity AK mags. The remainder of the rifle in it's entirety including the receiver, barrel, furniture, and all other parts of the base rifle with the exception of the U.S. parts listed above were manufactured and assembled in Radom Poland.

Now to the quality. Polish made firearms have long had a reputation for extremely high quality workmanship and attention to detail. This rifle is no exception. The fit and finish are very nice. The wooden furniture has an expensive heavy look with a deep gloss finish. The blue is really consistant and highly polished. The rivets are all nicely seated and smooth with none of the gouges or hammer marks some times found on others. The action is smooth and the trigger is crisp. Bores and chambers are chrome lined. To sum it up, just a really nice AK. I would compare this rifle quality wise to the Bulgarian Stamped AK rifle but at a much lower price point.

So does it justify the extra money. Well, It depends. I have always contended that an AK, is an AK, is an AK. By that I mean that from the lowest priced one to the highest priced one virtually all AK rifles will throw a bullet down range reliably, at a high rate of fire, with a fair degree of accuracy. After that the difference are simply in fit, finish and general cosmetics. I like to call it the difference between a Chevrolet and Cadillac. Both will get you to the same place at the same time, but one will be a little more enjoyable to drive and have a little more style. Our baseline Romanian rifles are Chevrolets. They are rugged, reliable, highly affordable, and they function and shoot great....Still, there is a step up, and that would be to the Polish AK. These polish rifles are Cadillacs and for a little difference in cost some some folks would rather ride in style. If you are a Cadillac Man, then this is your rifle.

Rifle is Semi-Auto, 7.62x39 caliber and comes with one 30 round Mag

Item # POL-AK-S...............$579.99

You are right. However parts that were used to make them, were originally made by "Łucznik" ('11') and were not assembled into complete rifle. It is probable that guys at Pioneer who assemble those rifles, worked in "Łucznik", same as most staff of FB is from former "Łucznik". So it is not very far from original form. Also those days they pay little more attention to quality, than during commie era (and early '90s) in state owned factory.

I'm taking a chance on one as well. $80 more than a wasr and if they are anything like the new polish parts I've gotten from Apex they should be great.

Fingers crossed!

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Is the magwell opened up to specifically accommodate the Tapco magazine, as being over sized because they are to fucking lazy to install US made pistons while it's being assembled over seas?

The AMD's that were brought in were all but ruined because of this as it takes removal of the factory selector stop plate and replacement to get a better fit for steel mags.

If these are actual Polish AK, meaning with Polish barrel and receiver. I be interesting.

Looking forward to a first hand report....

Looking at the different pics from the Atlantic, Centerfire and Classic Arms websites, the butttstock appears different (wider at the rear). Does it appear that way to anyone else? Can't tell if it or the handguards in any of the sites are laminated or not.

I ordered this rifle and the parts do not look anything like the parts that came in a Polish underfolder parts kit. Different style parts and seriel numbers that begin with two letters. They appear more like Romanian parts. See my reveiw here:

http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_4_64/143929_What_is_this_new_AK_.html&page=3

Update: Just got off the phone with IO Inc. they said that the rifles come into the US as a barreled receiver, and they add all the rest, and they are Romanian parts. So, the only Polish parts are, the barrel and receiver. This directly from a sales associate at IO Inc.

We had a chance to take a few of the rifles to the range today and both rifles ran 100% & no issues. The temperture was a but warm @ the range so we only ran 400 rounds through the guns. We did sample 5 rifles with various poly & metal mag and all locked up and were tight no wobble or problems insterting . Function and accuracy of the rifles was on par with any of the other WASR or M10 series rifles. As some other members have posted the rifles appear to be Imported Polish barreled reciever that has be built up by adding a mixture of other parts to complete the rifle. We inspected several rifles and none had mathcing parts basically it is a Polish Mix Master. Finish was OK for a truck gun but if you are picky about your finish you may not be happy these they are basic park / paint rifles. The did have a removable slant brake and no bayonet lug. The guns were a bit dirty on the inside comparable to the WASR series . Overall we think they are a good other option for the base Econo AK rifle series but were hoping for more all matching Polish parts etc. The importer would have done better preparing a introduction for the rifle outlining what is is & is not this would cut down on the skepticism & help there sales. We will be posting a You Tube video in the next 24 -48 hours