Went to the Harrisburg Pa. gunshow today,
came home with a SAM 7 carbine. SWEET!

However....... I bought the sam 7 after
turning down another rifle at a different
dealer.

This "other" rifle was in a box marked slr101,
with a picture of a thumbhole stocked rifle
on it - the factory manual showed pictures
of a thumbhole rifle , yet the rifle in
question had a US stock and pistol grip,MUZZLE
BRAKE ,and the receiver was marked MADE IN BULGARIA !
It appeared to accept hicap mags.

Is this a legal variant I was unaware of? ,
or was the dealer pulling a fast one?

I agree with Campy, you did fine. SA M7s are the highest quality AKs around IMHO and they are NEW, not surplus parts put together.

I just ordered one from FAC....the lady on the phone says 4 to 6 weeks. ARGGHH!!!

Post pics of yours :-)

In trying to further my "AK education, I've been out checking various gunboards and see that there appears to be an SA-M7 and an SA-M7S.

If true what is the difference between the SA-M7 and the SA-M7S ??

Quoted: the "s" model incorporates the standard com-bloc optic mounting rail into its' build specifications. arsenal kazanlak usa was also building a "c" model...more of a traditional, wooden furniture version referred to as the sa-m7 "classic". all of the kazanlak rifles are worthy of owning as shooters and collectors. their only drawback is the extra weight of their fine milled receiver.

Printed and filed and thanks !

Those SLR-101's re actually being converted to high caps by Arsenal Inc. in Vegas.  We've gotten some in and they look OK.

The SA-M7 and M7S are higher quality rifles though, but not by much.  I definitely like the aesthetics of the cleaning rod set up on the SA-M7 better than not having one on the SLR.  AK's without a cleaning rod under the barrel just look goofy.