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Posted: 12/5/2006 10:37:25 PM EST
OK I'll admit it. I can't really leave something alone. When something irritates me I have to pick at it. Now everyone here mostly said that the condition of my WASR-10 from Century International Arms was pretty much par for the course with it's sub standard cosmetics and questionable mechanical features. It was said I should look at it as just my first "project gun". I saw the wisdom there, I really did but I was compelled to ask questions. If its a fault, I'll admit it.
I called up my dealer and he was very cool, said he would try and replace anything he could but that most of it was sealed up in bags when I even got it (like the cleaning kit with missing/ruined parts). He said he sent me the best he had and that I should have seen the wood before he applied a couple of coats of oil. I said can anyone do anything about the quality to which he said , "No, they don't care. I spend thousands of dollars a year with those people and they treat me like shit." Hmm, even the dealers getting the shaft? He encouraged me to call Century and see for myself. Since my original post I have found two new interesting things about my WASR-10. One, while the mags they sent fit fine it put deep gouges in one of a brand new Chinese 5 round mag I put into it. So the mag well has to be worked on. Secondly, I was under the impression that no AK or its variants have a bolt hold open function. You can have a mag that causes it and modify or purchase a selector to do this but it is not a feature. Except on mine. Put the selector in the fire position and pull the charging handle 3/4ths of the way back and it will stay there. While a handy little function I couldn't figure out WHY it was happening and thought it was yet another reason to question the overall integrity of the firearm. I know this could have been a mystery I solved making me know more about AK's but I paid for a NEW gun! Yeah I sound like a broken record but for what I paid I could have gotten something built on a brand name receiver in another month. So then I called Century's customer service on a Friday afternoon. I spoke with Michelle. I swear and affirm that what I am going to tell you is the truth. I explained my various issues with my NEW firearm that they had imported. Michelle obviously assumed that my parents were brother and sister and I was watching them drive away in the turnip truck they had just pushed me from. Canted FSB? Its specifically designed that way she said but I'd have to have the "tech boys" explain it to me. Gee, why are there those tutorials on how to fix it? Sort of reminds me of a lifetime ago when a mechanic tried to tell my father that his new 1972 Vega was DESIGNED with an oil leak. I complained about the cosmetic issues on a new gun. She said I couldn't expect "new" to mean the same thing as it did with a Mossberg or a Winchester or Remington. I persisted, "Why not? You are getting them from Cugir Armory.". Well I was quickly disabused of that silly notion. She said, "Our guys go over there and get them out of caves.". My jaw literally dropped and I was, for once, speechless. She said this a number of times and also mentioned a few came from "underground bunkers". CAVES!!! Can we get together through maybe the EE, a group trip to the Romanian AK Caves? Do other variants of AK's or other firearms occur in caves as well? She sort of made it sound as if they had a bunch of Indiana Jones types finding hidden caches of weapons for Century. I guess the Cugir Armory is a myth or defunct or hell, maybe made out of cardboard. Its the caves that produce them there AK's. I strongly suspect that Osama bin Laden is hiding, posing as an assistant manager in one of the famous Romanian AK caves. When I said they pretty much had a monopoly on the importation of Romanian AKs she told me that was not true, other companies imported them as well but she could not tell me who as the information was proprietary. She also said she could tell me how many they had imported (again proprietary) but that it was in excess of 100,000 firearms (big caves I guess) and they had about a 1% return rate on a par with the American commercial gun manufacturers. No complaints, everyone happy. My bolt hold open feature was of some concern to her and she said I should calll the "tech boys" but it was 4:10 on a Friday and if I wanted any sort of time to explain things maybe I should call another day as the "boys" had a lot to do and like to get out of work on time. I couldn't call for a few days but finally called the new number and got Jennifer (odd name for a "boy") She listened, seemed sympathetic and concerned that the gun might not be safe and said it was the worst she had heard described in the year she had worked there. She seemed genuinely embarrassed by Michelle telling me a canted FSB was a "design" and the tales of the Romanian AK caves. Maybe she was just shining me on and Michelle will be beaten for revealing the secret. But Jennifer strongly suggested that I return the weapon along with anything else I thought was substandard and they would replace it with something NEW. Said she would send UPS out to my house with an RA label and even a box as I had thrown the original one away. She said she would make me happy. I said I had gone to one of the main online AK forums and Century didn't have a great reputation and that seemed to concern her too. So either she is a good actress, or out of the loop. So I am rolling the dice that a disgruntled customer can get satisfaction. I'll either get something I think is fair or something that will be designed to blow up in my hands. I dunno. But if I never post again PLEASE someone avenge my death as you can assume that a Romanian AK cave troll has been smuggled into the USA and has killed me. I'll let you all know how things turn out. Cheers, RWB64 |
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Your "bolt hold open feature" is most likely the point where the bolt carrier depresses the hammer, this is normal.
From the description of your issues, perhaps the WASR-10 just isn't your type of firearm. |
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If you want quality, finish, and workmanship step up and get a Arsenal. You spent $200.00. You got $200.00.
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the bolt is riding on the hammer and getting stuck. lots of ak's do this. you probaly have a G2 trigger group installed and this is a common problem when using new american triggers.
its not a bolt hold open and the slighest tap could release it. |
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Yeah its just the trigger and then bolt getting stuck together but dont stick your finger in there by accident because it will slam shut .... My Finger Still Hurts.
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Caves here may be storage facilities that are under mountains. Just like how the US gov has facilities in the Appalachian (sp?). Not all caves are like Bin Laden's hideout.
That does not really matter though. It has been much discussed that WASR-10 has these issues, and Century is a turd with customer service. You are lucky to find people to answer you and sounds like they care. |
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There's a reason why WASR's are so cheap. You just found out why.
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I'd be very nice to that "boy" Jennifer. He/she is being awfully nice to YOU.
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What you got is typical for a WASR. And all stamped AKs get the bolt stuck at the rear of the stroke. And no, you can't expect the same fit and finish as a sporting arm. Not going to happen.
That said, I've always felt that WASRs were garbage and even though they typically work, I still feel that way. When I was first getting into guns, I wanted an AK and WASRs were all that was available. I just couldn't bring myself to spend my hard earned money on something of such poor quality. I ended up waiting until a nice used Armory USA rifle came in. I'm still glad I waited. The Armory is ten times the rifle the WASR is. |
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I will avenge your death if you never post again. The good thing about all this is that you are about to see the best that Century has to offer. I am interested in hearing about your new rifle and you now have a very good story to go along with your WASR-10. |
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You didn't know that AK's grow from the cave floors like stalagmites, and bayonets like stalactites from the ceiling?
Duh... |
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To legonas-Excellent call and diagnoses. The rifle does indeed have Tapco's G2 trigger (and I assume the rest of the FCG)
To KandL4ever-I'm damned lucky then. I used the BHO "feature" to clean the schmutz and other dirt (actually what looked like a serious amount of lead fouling) from the muzzel end, catching the debris inside with another patch. I would have had several fingers pinched if it had let go. To dixiedawg- Yeah I am being exceedingly nice to "boy" Jennifer. I plan to mention her in the letter she asked that I include with rifle detailing its problems. IF they come through for me I'll call back, ask to speak to her supervisor and let them know just how helpful and what a fine representative she is for the company. I complain when I am not satisfied but I also make it a point to take the extra time either verbally or in writing to make sure superiors know when one of their employees are doing their job well. I know a few "atta boy's" can make a big difference come review time. To stilldizzy-Where do you get your rifles? $200? This cost more than that. The rifle, case, model 59 bayonet, leather bayonet frog, double magazine canvas pouch, 2 30 round mags, leather sling, cleaning kit, metal oil bottle, manual, trigger lock and 7.62x39 snap cap, after actual shipping charges and FFL transfer fees came to $501.00. Maybe I signifigantly overpaid but others that have contacted me privately have quoted what they paid and it was in the ballpark. I wouldn't be happy because I think new should be new but at $200 my dander would not be up nearly as much. I KNOW I could have gotten a nice rifle from a respected company for maybe $100 more. The point of my posting I guess was not to complain AGAIN about the WASR-10. I did that once and was told here its normal. Rather I was trying to relate the BS that one customer service rep was giving me (canted FSB a "design", not arsenal produced but found in caves, etc.) with what another person, apparently a "tech boy" named Jennifer said. I know weapons are sometimes stored in caves. If its a "dry" cave and the arms are properly protected it makes a good climate controlled storage facility. But Michelle wasn't presenting it like that. She was speaking to me as if I were a gullible, blithering idiot. I still have no idea if I will be better off after exchanging the rifle. If it's received by "boy" Jennifer I think I will be. If its Michelle's crew it will probably blow up in my hands. Companies will sell you garbage and treat you like garbage if enough people allow it. If Michelle is correct and they have only a 1% return rate well then they probably think they are doing OK. If they had more complaints about things not being correct and a 10 or 20% return rate they would either no longer import the firearms or they would step up quality control because taking a gun back on their dime and then sending it back repaired or sending a new one eats into their bottom line. That's just my opinion I may well be wrong. Michelle should be reprimanded if not fired for the BS she was peddling IMO. We, as a society, seem to "settle" and accept mediocraty so often in so many things. I try and hold people and corporations accountable for their actions. I don't ask anything more than what I was willing to do when I could still work. Maybe I didn't express things correctly in my initial post or maybe you guys just don't see it the same way. Sorry if it sounds like crybaby time again. I really was shooting for relating a report on Century's customer service not a rehash of the WASR-10s shortcomings. Cheers, RWB64 |
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What's the color of the sky in your world? |
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RWB64, your post has inspired me to do something about the problems on my WASR (mainly a canted rear sight block). I called Century customer service today and they gave me an RA # and everything. I never had to talk to one of the "tech boys."
She never said if they were going to fix it or send me a new rifle. She also said that I would have to pay for shipping to them and then they would pay for shipping back to me. RWB64, did you have to pay for shipping out to them? EDIT: I also said that I didn't have the box anymore. She told me I would probably have to find one at the store that fit the gun. Seems like you got the royal treatment when you talked to a "tech boy." |
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She's telling the truth, and the evidence is right in front of you - your WASR was assembled by little trolls, working by torchlight!
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After I installed a G2 in mine i found out about that neat little feature.....wasnt so neat when I had my finger in there I fought with century to get a no ban rifle like I asked and they refused. I ended up stripping the barrel, cutting off the muzzle nut, and adding all the evil features I wanted. So yeah I basically polished a turd.....but for the money it wasnt a bad turd at all. |
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I can affirm that this is absolutely true. Not true that they came from caves, but true that Michelle said that. I called CAI last week to ask about the import date & configuration on a Mosin Nagant I'd just bought. I believe it was a Michelle that I talked to - she didn't have much info other than the import date, but when I asked if they were headspace checked or had other quality checks before selling them to the public, she said the same thing to me. "Definately get it checked yourself, we get these things in all kinds of conditions from all kinds of places. Some of these are found in caves and brought straight over to us and sold directly with no work done on them and no quality check." |
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I got the GP-WASR-10 from Aim, with 2- 30 rnd. mags, canvas mag pouch, bayonet, scabard for bayonet, leather sling, little metal oil bottles, and butt stock kit for $319 plus $14 shipping plus $15 FFL transfer fee, for a grand total of $348. No complaints. I pretty much knew what I was getting into. a-bare edit: why would you need a case for the ugly little sucker. Just shove it under the seat of the truck and go.... |
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I checked out someone's new WASR yesterday and it seemed like a nice little rifle. Straight gas block and FSB, TAPCO FCG. But don't some of you guys do the littlest bit of research when you buy one of these. How about checking out linx310's site to get some insight into what you are purchasing before buying. It gets me that some people like this OP get all surprised when their WASRs aren't the best rifle ever made.
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'Bout like the genius on Yugoslavian who's all pissed his M70AB2 didn't come with the tritium sights it's supposed to have. No offense to RWB64 though ... at least he's got a civil attitude about the whole thing. |
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A little cosmetic finish problems with the wasr would be ok with me, however a canted fsb can be a problem. I had one a few years ago, sent it back twice, they didnt even budge it. Second time I put a little idiot mark on the fsb and barrel to just see if they moved it at all, nothing.
As easy as it is to build your own, of at least equal quality of a century ak from a parts kit that may be the way to go. |
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i ordered a sar-1 from sog probly 4-5 yrs ago i waited and waited and got a wasr-10 hi cap. i didn't really know the difference, it was like 245+ship+ffl if i remember correctly. when i took it out with my mak-90 i quickly learned it was not in the same league. it didn't have trigger slap, it had trigger bite.the magwell had shards of steel that bit too.
i sold it, but i kept the slingromania makes a nice sling. 2D2c |
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". She said I couldn't expect "new" to mean the same thing as it did with a Mossberg or a Winchester or Remington. I persisted, "Why not? You are getting them from Cugir Armory.". Well I was quickly disabused of that silly notion. She said, "Our guys go over there and get them out of caves.". My jaw literally dropped and I was, for once, speechless. She said this a number of times and also mentioned a few came from "underground bunkers". CAVES!!!" And you didn't understand she was flirtin with ya? Umm , caves , .. its a metaphor |
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Romania, being a former Soviet occupied country, is riddled with bunkers and old leftover cold-war facility's.
I wouldn't be surprised if Cugir had a big bunker as a war time store house, now being utilized as a commercial warehouse. There might be a tiny kernel of truth to the caves thing, though she described something that sounds like a gateway to Middle Earth, trolls and all. |
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Don't let Century fool you into believing they are digging these rifles up from cold war storage. WASR's (at least the WASR receivers) were never cold war issue guns. They are newly manufactured receivers for export to the US; there's no other reason for a low-cap single stack mag receiver to be made or exist in storage. The WASR was invented solely to get through US import restrictions.
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Gentlemen,
Thought I would bring things up to date and answer anything that has been raised. To Hoppy-The sky in my world is usually an Apocalyptic pewter and occasionally blue. And your point was? To Centuryhouse-Jeez they have her telling the cave tale to everyone about every weapon? I'm really sure management would LOVE to know that. To a-bare- You got a better deal than I did. Was it a recent purchase? And I get cases for all my firearms for security, travel and legal purposes. To AKsRule-LOL. OK NOW I get it, it was just a big come on. To NH_AR_Shooter- Yeah I know caves can be used for storage and there might be a kernal of truth to it but not the stuff "Michelle" is shoveling. Oh and my research indicates that Cugir is in the Transylvanian portion of Romania. Trolls, Vampyres and Werewolves! Eagerly awaiting the movie depicting the adventures of a buyer agent from Century. Should be something like Van Helsing meets Indiana Jones. To Karl_Withakay- Excellent point! If these are produced specifically for importation to America why would they be finding them in caves and bunkers? To update. I got a little notice on my door that I missed UPS trying to pick up a package. Called them and asked if there was any way they could tell me if a box came with it. They said no. Called "tech boy" "Jennifer" who remembered me and apologized for not sending a box and said she could cancel the pickup until she had time to ground ship a box to me. I declined saying I could use the box my Mossberg 590A1 came in. I asked for the name of who ran the company and there was some confusion. It is apparently a family owned business and has different offices in different parts of the country. Finally got an address for the Operations Manager. I asked for her supervisor's name and she readily gave it and I told her I wanted to speak to him to report that she had really been doing her job well. She replied, sounding VERY downtrodden, "I can hear the sarcasm in your voice.". I had to assure her that NO, I really meant I was going to praise her. Once she believed me she got a bit happier and said he wouldn't be in until Monday and I promised to speak with him then. Packed up the rifle along with other things that I thought were sub par. Typed out a packing list along with the problems. UPS came and took the rifle on Century's dime. Called Jennifer AGAIN as I hadn't had time to type what I wanted to send to the Operations Manager and I needed his address. Again she was helpful. So I wrote a short note to the Operations Manager and included printouts of the two threads from here so he could see what the general consensus was from AK enthusiasts. "Jennifer" claims he is the sort of guy that would actually read the stuff if it was sent to him. Mailed that off certified receipt. The ball is now firmly in Century's court. They know what I found questionable, they know what you all have thought of their WASR-10 imports and your experiences (those of you that shared). Points to them IMO for picking up the tab on shipping. Now I can only wait and see if I get a response and what sort of solution they come up with for my rifle and accessories. Keeping my fingers crossed. If anyone is interested I will update when anything happens. Cheers, RWB64 |
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Caves huh. I can drop dead now cause I have heard everything there will ever be to hear
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caves, no but demilled AKs that have been in storage for years built on semi auto WASR recievers, yes. last WASR GP i saw had a trunion date on it from 81'
all your "issues" are normal for a WASR. 10 minutes with a file on the rough edges of the magwell and a coat of polyurethane or shellac on the wood, you would have been fine. (if the cant was not too bad, probably could have just adjusted windage) hopefully they will fix yours, because if they sell you a new gun with a different serial #, you have to go thru your FFL again, which sounds expensive if it cost you $500 for a $329 gun |
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$501.00 with transfer fees are way high. Here in AZ you can pick one up by selecting them yourself for $357.00 out the door. For the price you paid you could have had an Arsenal or a number of higher quality rifles. Research pays when done before the purchase. A better purchase for quality would have been a Russian SAIGA but you would probably not have wanted to tackle the conversion yourself.
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well, even though it seems you over-paid, I applaud your efforts to bird-dog these problems and hold Century accountable--it's probably the only way to get your money's worth, and this thread has been very amusing!
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Now if we can just get those trolls to dig up some cheap surplus ammo from those caves we will be all set.
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400? When did they get that expensive?
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My first AK was a WASR. I wasn't impressed and sold it off. I gave AK's another try and got a Arsenal SLR-105. Big Difference! If you're looking for AR fit and finish get a Arsenal, Vector, Global Trades, or Chinese.
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I'm waiting for someone to come on here complaining about their Yugo barrel being bent on the end. I sent mine back, waited 3 and a half weeks to find out they did nothing to it. My dealer replaced mine with one of theirs and sent the bent one back.
I bet someone else gets it! Now I have a rare AK, a perfect Century M70AB2 |
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Does anyone really believe that the person who answers the phone at any business really knows what they're talking about?
You always have to speak to that persons supervisor (at least) to get a correct answer. |
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Unfortunately, if they dig up that ammunition it will be steel core, and therefore banned from importation. |
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I dealt with Michelle. A quick call to the main office straightened her smart ass right out. I was sent a new rifle with a G-2. It was a Yugo underfolder. She argued with everything I told her until the last conversation after my call to the home office. The new rifle they sent me had the same issue, the gap between the reciever and rear sight block which throws everthing forward of it off. Not a big deal as far as function but it could have been done right. Century doesn't give a shit. And we keep buying the crap they put out, making excuses for their bullshit. I'll never buy another Century product. I've got a WASR that is one of my favorites but only after having it bead blasted, Guncoated, FSB straightened, and Red Star trigger group put in. For what it ended up costing I could have bought a quality AK from a quality vendor with quality customer service.
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Like I have always said, BUILD your own from kits and leave the WASR's in the caves for century to deal with...
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