Sorry it's not an AR question, but I figure someone will know the answer. I have a MAK-90 that I purchased (new) at a gun show from a dealer on 1/29/95. The serial # is 94XXXXXX. On the left side of the (stamped) receiver it's marked MAK-90 SPORTER CAL. 7.62X39MM and has the Norinco logo. The numbers on the receiver, bolt, and top plate all match. It has a thumbhole stock.

I took it in to a gun shop because the sight is a little out of whack and wanted to know if he could fix it. He said "This gun is illegal. It's got a threaded barrel." This surprised me since I bought it from a dealer.

Question 1: Is it legal or not?

Question 2: The butt is cracked and I want to replace it. I'd like a pistol grip stock and have read that you need to have a US parts kit on it to be able to do this. What do I have to do? I've also read that you can have two "evil" parts on a gun. The detachable mag would be #1, the threaded barrel would be #2, and a pistol grip would be #3. So can I put a pistol grip stock on it or not? If not I'll just go with a Dragonov style.

Question 3: The front site post is a little cock-eyed. If you look down the muzzle it's a few degrees off verticle. I haven't shot it in awhile and don't know if the front sight can be adjusted enough to compensate. How (or can) I fix this?

Thanks for any replies, sorry this is so long.

Your nearest BATF field office may be able to help determine the date of manufacture.  See [url]http://www.atf.treas.gov/field/index.htm[/url]

The '94' in the serial number makes me suspect it was manufactured in 1994 (or not), and the fact that you bought it in January '95 means it could have been made before or after September 13, 1994.  There's a pretty good chance it was manufactured before that date and that it's legal (grandfathered) under federal law.  (It takes time to import a firearm and move it through the supply chain).

Look around and see if you can find a serial number list for Norinco rifles.  I did a quick search and couldn't find one.

To adjust the front sight either:

1) go to Tapco ([url]www.tapco.com[/url]and order an AK front adjustment tool (which I did and am still waiting for)

2) get a c clamp and 1/2" socket and adjust the front sight with that.  It works but is hard to get the right setting for a "perfect" zero (if that's possible on AK's.  I'm still working on it.[:)]
I'm hoping that the tool from Tapco will do a better job (when it comes in)

K-Var ([url]k-varcorp.com[/url]has US made Polymer furniture that should fit.  In the event you find out this is a post ban rifle, they may have a barrel for you also.

I'd go to the AK side and ask Campybob about finding out how to determine whether or not this is post or pre ban.

[url]http://www.globaltrades.com/pdf.htm[/url] Here's another site w/ info on the American parts you'll need for converting to the pistol grip and stock.

Mike

it probably had a nut tack welded onto the muzzle covering the threads at some point... get your self a post ban screw on brake and have it welded on.  That'll take care of the threads.

All Chinese AKs were imported before the Sept 94 ban.  Clinton
made some sort of deal with the Chinese to prevent their import.
So your gun was mfg and imported before the 9/94 ban.

Like Vicg suggested it most likely had a nut spot welded over the
treads when it was imported.

Question 1, Technically illegal.  The threads should be removed or
covered by permanently installing a post ban legal muzzle device.

Question 2, You need 5 U.S. made parts for a stamped receiver
pistol grip on a post 89 gun.  If you add a muzzle brake, that
increase the parts count by one, so buy a U.S. made brake.
The hand-guards count as one part, pistol grip and butstock made
two more parts, so you still need two more parts to make five.

These could be a mag follower and base, or internal parts, such as
trigger parts (hammer, disc, trigger), or a gas piston.

Question 3, It’s a common AK problem and not worth the trouble
fixing unless the sights won’t zero.  

To correct the common misconception on parts count:

You can only have 1 evil part, but a Detachable magazine is not an evil part. It is a precursor to even being considered a possible SAW.

A rifle with a non-detachable magazine according to the law can be built with any features you damn well please. Non-NFA of course. I will add a cite in a little while.

As far as it goes, if the gun was imported before 9/94, you can own it in its current state as far as I know. The MAK-90 wasn't banned until 1998.

If you are still in question, go for less than 10 foreign parts. It is almost certainly pre-94, isn't pre-89.

As far as Norincos go, the 94 probably means nothing. At least with SKSes, Norinco uses millions. 1xxxxxx, 12xxxxxx, etc. Drop the last 6 digits. On yours dropping the last 6 gives 94. The MAK-90 didn't exist before 1990, so this is a non-issue. They are all post-89. In fact MAK-90 is short for Modified AK of 1990.

In short, if it was imported as it is, then you are fine. If not, then buy an American stock set and remove the magazine. You can use American Magazines until you choose to replace the other parts. Usually, you would go with a fire control group.

Personally, the 89 law sucks. Why, becuase otherwise I could build an AK-47 for around $150. But, by using USA Parts it comes to $289. That is why many MAK-90s, etc...run about $289 on the internet.

TITLE XI-FIREARMS

Subtitle A-Assault Weapons

SEC. 110101. SHORT TITLE.

This subtitle may be cited as the "Public Safety and Recreational Firearms Use Protection Act".

SEC. 110102. RESTRICTION ON MANUFACTURE, TRANSFER, AND POSSESSION OF CERTAIN SEMIAUTOMATIC ASSAULT WEAPONS.

 (a) RESTRICTION.-Section 922 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:

 "(v)(1) It shall be unlawful for a person to manufacture, transfer, or possess a semiautomatic assault weapon.

 "(2) Paragraph (1) shall not apply to the possession or transfer of any semiautomatic assault weapon otherwise lawfully possessed under Federal law on the date of the enactment of this subsection.

 "(3) Paragraph (1) shall not apply to-

 "(A) any of the firearms, or replicas or duplicates of the firearms, specified in Appendix A to this section, as such firearms were manufactured on October 1, 1993;

 "(B) any firearm that-

 "(i) is manually operated by bolt, pump, lever, or slide action;

 "(ii) has been rendered permanently inoperable; or

 "(iii) is an antique firearm;

 "(C) any semiautomatic rifle that cannot accept a detachable magazine that holds more than 5 rounds of ammunition; or

 "(D) any semiautomatic shotgun that cannot hold more than 5 rounds of ammunition in a fixed or detachable magazine.

The fact that a firearm is not listed in Appendix A shall not be construed to mean that paragraph (1) applies to such firearm. No firearm exempted by this subsection may be deleted from Appendix A so long as this subsection is in effect.

 "(4) Paragraph (1) shall not apply to-

 "(A) the manufacture for, transfer to, or possession by the United States or a department or agency of the United States or a State or a department, agency, or political subdivision of a State, or a transfer to or possession by a law enforcement officer employed by such an entity for purposes of law enforcement (whether on or off duty);

 "(B) the transfer to a licensee under title I of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 for purposes of establishing and maintaining an on-site physical protection system and security organization required by Federal law, or possession by an employee or contractor of such licensee on-site for such purposes or off-site for purposes of licensee-authorized training or
transportation of nuclear materials;

 "(C) the possession, by an individual who is retired from service with a law enforcement agency and is not otherwise prohibited from receiving a firearm, of a semiautomatic assault weapon transferred to the individual by the agency upon such retirement; or

 "(D) the manufacture, transfer, or possession of a semiautomatic assault weapon by a licensed manufacturer or licensed importer for the purposes of testing or experimentation authorized by the Secretary.".

 (b) DEFINITION OF SEMIAUTOMATIC ASSAULT WEAPON.-Section 921(a) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

 "(30) The term `semiautomatic assault weapon' means-

 "(A) any of the firearms, or copies or duplicates of the firearms in any caliber, known as-

 "(i) Norinco, Mitchell, and Poly Technologies Avtomat Kalashnikovs (all models);

 "(ii) Action Arms Israeli Military Industries UZI and Galil;

 "(iii) Beretta Ar70 (SC-70);

 "(iv) Colt AR-15;

 "(v) Fabrique National FN/FAL, FN/LAR, and FNC;

 "(vi) SWD M-10, M-11, M-11/9, and M-12;

 "(vii) Steyr AUG;

 "(viii) INTRATEC TEC-9, TEC-DC9 and TEC-22; and

 "(ix) revolving cylinder shotguns, such as (or similar to) the Street Sweeper and Striker 12;

 "(B) a semiautomatic rifle that has an ability to accept a detachable magazine and has at least 2 of-

 "(i) a folding or telescoping stock;

 "(ii) a pistol grip that protrudes conspicuously beneath the action of the weapon;

 "(iii) a bayonet mount;

 "(iv) a flash suppressor or threaded barrel designed to accommodate a flash suppressor; and

 "(v) a grenade launcher;

 "(C) a semiautomatic pistol that has an ability to accept a detachable magazine and has at least 2 of-

 "(i) an ammunition magazine that attaches to the pistol outside of the pistol grip;

 "(ii) a threaded barrel capable of accepting a barrel extender, flash suppressor, forward handgrip, or silencer;

 "(iii) a shroud that is attached to, or partially or completely encircles, the barrel and that permits the shooter to hold the firearm with the nontrigger hand without being burned;

 "(iv) a manufactured weight of 50 ounces or more when the pistol is unloaded; and

 "(v) a semiautomatic version of an automatic firearm; and

 "(D) a semiautomatic shotgun that has at least 2 of-

 "(i) a folding or telescoping stock;

 "(ii) a pistol grip that protrudes conspicuously beneath the action of the weapon;

 "(iii) a fixed magazine capacity in excess of 5 rounds; and

 "(iv) an ability to accept a detachable magazine.".

 (c) PENALTIES.-

 (1) VIOLATION OF SECTION 922(v).-Section 924(a)(1)(B) of such title is amended by striking "or (q) of section 922" and inserting "(r), or (v) of section 922".

 (2) USE OR POSSESSION DURING CRIME OF VIOLENCE OR DRUG TRAFFICKING CRIME.-Section 924(c)(1) of such title is amended in the first sentence by inserting ", or semiautomatic assault weapon," after "short-barreled shotgun,".

 (d) IDENTIFICATION MARKINGS FOR SEMIAUTOMATIC ASSAULT WEAPONS.-Section 923(i) of such title is amended by adding at the end the following: "The serial number of any semiautomatic assault weapon manufactured after the date of the enactment of this sentence shall clearly show the date on which the weapon was manufactured.".

 SEC. 110103. BAN OF LARGE CAPACITY AMMUNITION FEEDING DEVICES.

 (a) PROHIBITION.-Section 922 of title 18, United States Code, as amended by section 110102(a), is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:

 "(w)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), it shall be unlawful for a person to transfer or possess a large capacity ammunition feeding device.

 "(2) Paragraph (1) shall not apply to the possession or transfer of any large capacity ammunition feeding device otherwise lawfully possessed on or before the date of the enactment of this subsection.

 "(3) This subsection shall not apply to-

 "(A) the manufacture for, transfer to, or possession by the United States or a department or agency of the United States or a State or a department, agency, or political subdivision of a State, or a transfer to or possession by a law enforcement officer employed by such an entity for purposes of law enforcement (whether on or off duty);

 "(B) the transfer to a licensee under title I of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 for purposes of establishing and maintaining an on-site physical protection system and security organization required by Federal law, or possession by an employee or contractor of such licensee on-site for such purposes or off-site for purposes of licensee-authorized training or
transportation of nuclear materials;

 "(C) the possession, by an individual who is retired from service with a law enforcement agency and is not otherwise prohibited from receiving ammunition, of a large capacity ammunition feeding device transferred to the
individual by the agency upon such retirement; or

 "(D) the manufacture, transfer, or possession of any large capacity ammunition feeding device by a licensed manufacturer or licensed importer for the purposes of testing or experimentation authorized by the Secretary.

 "(4) If a person charged with violating paragraph (1) asserts that paragraph (1) does not apply to such person because of paragraph (2) or (3), the Government shall have the burden of proof to show that such paragraph (1) applies to such person. The lack of a serial number as described in section 923(i) of title 18, United States Code, shall be a presumption that the large capacity ammunition feeding device is not subject to the prohibition of
possession in paragraph (1).".

 (b) DEFINITION OF LARGE CAPACITY AMMUNITION FEEDING DEVICE.-Section 921(a) of title 18, United States Code, as amended by section 110102(b), is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

 "(31) The term `large capacity ammunition feeding device'-

 "(A) means a magazine, belt, drum, feed strip, or similar device manufactured after the date of enactment of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 that has a capacity of, or that can be readily restored or converted to accept, more than 10 rounds of ammunition; but

 "(B) does not include an attached tubular device designed to accept, and capable of operating only with, .22 caliber rimfire ammunition.".

 (c) PENALTY.-Section 924(a)(1)(B) of title 18, United States Code, as amended by section 110102(c)(1), is amended by striking "or (v)" and inserting "(v), or (w)".

 (d) IDENTIFICATION MARKINGS FOR LARGE CAPACITY AMMUNITION FEEDING DEVICES.-Section 923(i) of title 18, United States Code, as amended by section 110102(d) of this Act, is amended by adding at the end the following: "A large capacity ammunition feeding device manufactured after the date of the enactment of this sentence shall be identified by a serial number that clearly shows that the device was manufactured or imported after the effective date of this subsection, and such other identification as the Secretary may by regulation prescribe.".
                                                                  [pH8827]

 SEC. 110104. STUDY BY ATTORNEY GENERAL.

 (a) STUDY.-The Attorney General shall investigate and study the effect of this subtitle and the amendments made by this subtitle, and in particular shall determine their impact, if any, on violent and drug trafficking crime. The study shall be conducted over a period of 18 months, commencing 12 months
after the date of enactment of this Act.

 (b) REPORT.-Not later than 30 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Attorney General shall prepare and submit to the Congress a report setting forth in detail the findings and determinations made in the study
under subsection (a).

 SEC. 110105. EFFECTIVE DATE.

 This subtitle and the amendments made by this subtitle-

 (1) shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act; and

 (2) are repealed effective as of the date that is 10 years after that date.

 SEC. 110106. APPENDIX A TO SECTION 922 OF TITLE 18.

 Section 922 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following appendix: