AK Sponsor
Posted: 8/23/2026 4:08:27 PM EDT
|
Looking for an AK model for my son He likes the straight forward original AK 7.62 x 39mm models. I would like to find something that best represents and is faithful to the original ak47 models. Slant hider, red wood furniture, stamped receiver, two vent holes on the front stocks, etc. I have a Romanian SAR-1 that I love, but it is missing the slant hider and the barrel is not threaded to accept one. Otherwise, id give him mine. Any help or advice is appreciated Cheers |
| Maadi if you can find one Either a Steyr, PARS or AAC/Intrac. Link |
yin shui si yuan
Your life is an occasion, rise to it
In time we will be dancing in the streets all night.
Your life is an occasion, rise to it
In time we will be dancing in the streets all night.
|
To take you really literally, you could just get a Russian Izhevsk or Tula AKM kit and send it out to be built with an American receiever & bbl or buy one already put together you find for sale. An Izhevsk kit would cost you 1100 before getting a bbl or receiver or having the work done, but it would be as close as you could get in my estimation. Is it worth it? It's up to you. Certainly not functionally superior to something like a Polish or Romy rifle, but the Russian guns will always hold their value better. |
|
If he wants something like the SAR-1 which is a vanilla AKM, the closest things to that on the new market: WASR WBP Jack PSA GF5 In my opinion the WBP Jack is probably the best all around vanilla AKM you could buy right now. It's very similar to a late model (early 1970s) AKM as this is what a lot of the Polish tooling was based off of. If your son wants an older milled style rifle IMO if you can find a Polish Milled M1960 on the used market they are the best bang for your buck for a milled rifle in the style of the Type 3 AK-47. The milled Polytech and Norinco rifles sell for higher prices than the Polish builds and they are often still in a ban/sporterized configuration and lack military features |
Joined:
Nov 2024
Posts:
488
EE: 100% (5)
KY, USA
|
Originally Posted By cayman_shen: WBP is probably your best bet these days, assuming you mean AKM stylr when you say "original Soviet." The actual original AK47 pattern isn't really available. Yea a Jack rifle with no rail would make a decent late model Izzy clone. You’d just need to change out the furniture, top cover, and paint the bolt carrier. |
Member
Joined:
May 2022
Posts:
4540
EE: 0% (0)
ND, USA
|
Originally Posted By JohnGA: Maadi if you can find one Either a Steyr, PARS or AAC/Intrac. Link This |
We are the Knights who say Fuuuuu!
Joined:
Sep 2004
Posts:
58833
EE: 100% (665)
TX, USA
|
Originally Posted By Deerhurst: Original is milled. Later revision is stamped. Technically you are seeking a AKM (Sheetmetal receiver). Bigger_Hammer 
|
LIFE'S JOURNEY IS NOT TO ARRIVE AT THE GRAVE SAFELY IN A WELL PRESERVED BODY,
BUT RATHER TO SKID IN SIDEWAYS, TOTALLY WORN OUT SHOUTING "HOLY $H!T...WHAT A RIDE"!!
BUT RATHER TO SKID IN SIDEWAYS, TOTALLY WORN OUT SHOUTING "HOLY $H!T...WHAT A RIDE"!!
|
Originally Posted By vellnueve: Russian parts kit build. +1. Find a Tula kit and use a specially marked Childers receiver, whatever trigger, etc. That would be the best option for a Russian AKM build. Your next best bet would be to find a Warsaw Pact era Polish AKM kit (original, 60-80s era) and have that built by a good smith. Childers receiver is still the way to go. They can etch Russian markings and make it authentic in appearance. |
Elite Soviet Democrat
|
Originally Posted By Deerhurst: Original is milled. Later revision is stamped. The original was actually stamped, but the Russians had problems with receivers warping from the heat treatment and welding, so they went to milled until they figured out the heating process, then went back to stamped. 1st generation stamped AK. The OG.  Here's one in use in Afghanistan. That gun is worth A LOT of money to an AK collector. 
|
USAF-retired. GOA, FPC, CCRKBA member
|
Originally Posted By 234747: I would like to but everyone shys away from it saying there isn’t enough barrel there to thread it, like its not solid enough, but I bet it is. There would not be enough meat to thread at the original 14x1L, but there might be enough to thread at 1/2x28R. Atlantic sells a 1/2x28 slant brake too, BTW. |
USAF-retired. GOA, FPC, CCRKBA member
OP, the push you see here for the Maadi is because the Maadi was actually made on original Russian tooling. The Russians tore down an entire factory and relocated it to Egypt while Nasr was in power, so the resulting rifle is quite close and technically a Russian Ak, just made in Egypt. Since there aren't too many forests in Egypt, Maadis used wood sourced from Europe - Finland, I believe. If you can find a Maadi, for a reasonable price, it's always an option although you might have some trouble locating an original Egyptian non-thumbhole stock and pistol grip. If you can find one with the original certificate of authenticity, that would be a great bonus.  |
USAF-retired. GOA, FPC, CCRKBA member
|
Originally Posted By Bigger_Hammer: Technically you are seeking a AKM (Sheetmetal receiver). Bigger_Hammer 100% correct. Technically, what we refer to as the AK47 was simply "AK" to the Russians, and they made no distinction among the three versions of the AK/AK47 other than to describe the receiver type. AK and AKS with the Type 1 receiver was the original stamped version; AK and AKS with the Type 2 receiver was the first version of the milled receiver; and the AK and AKS with the Type 3 receiver is the more common milled version we see with the stock tang being part of the rear trunion, relocated sling attachments, diferent milling, thinner top cover, etc. After the AK, the Russians went to full stamped receivers (AKM - Avtomat Kalashnikova Modernizirovanniy) and eventually the 5.45 versions (AK74). |
USAF-retired. GOA, FPC, CCRKBA member
|
Originally Posted By 234747: Looking for an AK model for my son He likes the straight forward original AK 7.62 x 39mm models. I would like to find something that best represents and is faithful to the original ak47 models. Slant hider, red wood furniture, stamped receiver, two vent holes on the front stocks, etc. I have a Romanian SAR-1 that I love, but it is missing the slant hider and the barrel is not threaded to accept one. Otherwise, id give him mine. Any help or advice is appreciated Cheers If the muzzle has had the threads turned off, there is always the option to sleeve and rethread. I've seen several rifles restored that way, and as long as your AK smith knows his way around a lathe, it's a good option for rifles that are otherwise good to go. |
"Make mistakes of ambition, not mistakes of sloth." - Macchiavelli
|
Originally Posted By 234747: I would like to but everyone shys away from it saying there isn’t enough barrel there to thread it, like its not solid enough, but I bet it is. I threaded my SAR-1 with not that long ago and it was fairly easy. Removing the FSB was the difficult part. Before starting, measure the barrel to make its thick enough for 14x1 LH, the numbers are out there. |
|
Originally Posted By Shadyman: Atlantic has something, pick one This is their least expensive, but no bayonet lug, and no cleaning kit compartment. Good other than that? https://atlanticfirearms.com/pioneer-arms-ak47-forged-rifle This Romanian build is OOS, but seems one could simply swap that lower handguard (if the rifle was available): https://atlanticfirearms.com/aam-romy-fixed-bfpu This one for $1,289 seems like a good candidate. Bayonet lug, chrome lined barrel, and according to other websites it has the cleaning kit trap door. Wood finish is too light, but that's easy to fix at home. https://atlanticfirearms.com/wbp-ak47-762sc-jack-classic-rifle Ok the "Tula Brown" or "Red Classic" wood finishes are only $10 more: https://atlanticfirearms.com/wbp-jack-ak47-rifle-tula-brown https://atlanticfirearms.com/wbp-jack-ak47-rifle-red-classic Are there better options out there for an AKM clone? |
|
Originally Posted By KitBuilder: So I'm on there looking for AKM clones, and I have questions... This is their least expensive, but no bayonet lug, and no cleaning kit compartment. Good other than that? https://atlanticfirearms.com/pioneer-arms-ak47-forged-rifle This Romanian build is OOS, but seems one could simply swap that lower handguard (if the rifle was available): https://atlanticfirearms.com/aam-romy-fixed-bfpu This one for $1,289 seems like a good candidate. Bayonet lug, chrome lined barrel, and according to other websites it has the cleaning kit trap door. Wood finish is too light, but that's easy to fix at home. https://atlanticfirearms.com/wbp-ak47-762sc-jack-classic-rifle Ok the "Tula Brown" or "Red Classic" wood finishes are only $10 more: https://atlanticfirearms.com/wbp-jack-ak47-rifle-tula-brown https://atlanticfirearms.com/wbp-jack-ak47-rifle-red-classic Are there better options out there for an AKM clone? What is your budget and are you willing to do any work? I ask because if it were me, I’d take the first option, then replace the gas block (not hard to do) for a genuine Polish one with the bayonet lug ($35 on AKStuff.com) then drill the stock for the accessory door, put in the spring, trapdoor, and plate ($30 on ArmsofAmerica.com). The buttstock parts. From AoA are from a complete Polish AKM stock too. All relatively easy to do. Those Polish rifles are very nice, quality AKs. As for pulling the FSB, use a pulley remover.  If the gas block is difficult to remove, use a Dremel to cut a lateral slit, then hit it with a chisel to split it since you’re replacing it anyway. When you replace the FSB, put the rifle in the freezer for a few hours (contracts the barrel) and heat the FSB with a propane torch (expands the FSB). Slides right on. |
USAF-retired. GOA, FPC, CCRKBA member
|
Originally Posted By KitBuilder: So I'm on there looking for AKM clones, and I have questions... This is their least expensive, but no bayonet lug, and no cleaning kit compartment. Good other than that? https://atlanticfirearms.com/pioneer-arms-ak47-forged-rifle This Romanian build is OOS, but seems one could simply swap that lower handguard (if the rifle was available): https://atlanticfirearms.com/aam-romy-fixed-bfpu This one for $1,289 seems like a good candidate. Bayonet lug, chrome lined barrel, and according to other websites it has the cleaning kit trap door. Wood finish is too light, but that's easy to fix at home. https://atlanticfirearms.com/wbp-ak47-762sc-jack-classic-rifle Ok the "Tula Brown" or "Red Classic" wood finishes are only $10 more: https://atlanticfirearms.com/wbp-jack-ak47-rifle-tula-brown https://atlanticfirearms.com/wbp-jack-ak47-rifle-red-classic Are there better options out there for an AKM clone? Pioneer is the BCA of AKs. Better off with a WASR or WBP. |
AK Sponsor