Did the Russians paint their AK's or just park? Or did they park and paint?

its a high gloss laquer paint

it's a park base with a enamel baked finish applied over it........it's a pretty tough finish.

thanks

Depends on which era.

Some were blued, some were parkerized, some were painted and blued, some were painted and parkerized. What I've seen most were blued I am not sure how the Russians made up their minds. I know one thing though the blueing wears off pretty quick and so I wonder if they stared painting to cover up worn blueing. In the AKs that I have seen made in the 70s it seems they came out of the factory painted over parkerizing and still some were blued and painted. In the ones from the 50' and 60s that I have seen painting was intermittant more like done afterwards perhaps as an armorer fix?

If you want a similar look using a very high quality product, you can add extra hardener to Duracoat and it will increase the shine all the way up to the sheen you'd like to see on a Porsche.  I did it by accident on an AR upper receiver and instead of using a jackhammer once it cured, i roughed it up and recoated it