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Posted: 3/7/2010 3:32:07 PM EDT
My friend recently acquired this AK-74 and really doesn't know much about it. I was hoping maybe you guys could tell me. Here is the gun:
Here is a close up of the side marking: 
This is puzzling, it looks hand engraved. This is on the opposite side (blacked out serial number): 
I've read before about the canted front site, and it looks like he has a case of it hardcore. Anything he can do? 
Any information you could provide would be very helpful. Also, he wants to replace the stock and hand grip, possibly with plastic. Any idea where aftermarket parts can be had for this gun? Thanks alot. |
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. The pictured rifle is a WASR-2 5.45 caliber rifle, made in Romania and imported by Century International Arms. I just checked Century's website and they are not currently in the catalog. It looks hand engraved because it probably was.  They all look like that.
Looks like you have the original stock set on the rifle right now. It will already have a US made pistol grip. You can put any of the standard AK furniture on it. K-VAR has some nice sets for about $70 right now - poly Bulgarian forend and handguard with US made pistol grip and buttstock. If your rifle shoots OK to point of aim as it is (or has enough room to adjust to POA) then the front sight isn't much of a problem. If point of aim and impact are not mechanically possible then driving out the pins and twisting the front sight base level and drilling new slightly oversize pin holes (with requisite oversize pins) is the standard method for correcting this problem. I like SAR-2s and have a few of them. The WASR-2 is basically the same rifle, just no receiver dimple above the mag well and imported a little later. Still a good shooter with cheap surplus ammo and it should take standard Bulgy polymer mags (looks like you have one in the box.) |
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The differences between stamped receiver AKM and stamped receiver AK74 furniture are more cosmetic than anything else. And even the cosmetics are not all that obvious to the layman. They are functionally interchangeable... you might have to do some fitting on where the buttstock slides into the receiver or with the lower handguard, but no more than when changing to any other set of furniture that didn't come with the rifle from the factory. |
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You don't have to thread the barrel. Easiest/best way to install original style AK74 muzzle brake is to remove old front sight base and install new threaded FSB (either Bulgarian 24 mm or Romanian 22 mm) then screw on the appropriate sized muzzle brake. You'll have to drive out 2 pins and probably have to drill new holes and go to slightly oversized pins with the new FSB. 
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Threaded FSB - This one is US made, goes on with a set screw so you won't have to worry about pins, and is available only in 24 mm. Here's some US made brakes: Arizona Response US made Bulgarian style 24mm AK74 brake there are 2 Bulgarian made brakes listed right below the US made brake. CNC Warrior US made Bulgarian style 24mm AK74 brake CNC Warrior US made 24mm slotted ak74 brake |
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Another U.S. made compensator...this one is more of a modern-ish Russian style from what i understand...the price is right too, might add one to my sar-2 in the near future on the Bulgarian fsb that kvar sent me when i ordered a romy...
HERE |
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