AK cleaning rod

snubnose57 said:

My WASR did not come with a cleaning rod. On closer examination, there is no hole on the rifle to install one. Is this common? Do I need to drill out a hole? Just wondering...

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That's interesting.

If there's no hole in the lower hand guard ferrule and possibly hand guard - are the gas block and front sight ready for a cleaning rod?

Todd.

snubnose57 said:

Not sure what to look for as the sight and block. It is an underfolder with plastic furniture.
I am new to the AK, have a lot to learn. Wish I was pc literate to post pictures.

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Here’s a pic. There would be a couple of little ears on the bottom of the front sight, a hole in the protrusion on the bottom of the gas block, and a hole in the bottom of the metal end cap of the handguard.



If your rifle has those holes, you can buy a cleaning kit online. You slide the rod through the holes, and the ears on the bottom of the front sight catch the knob on the end of the rod.

The rest of the kit packs up into a metal capsule that stows inside the buttstock on a wooden stocked AK, and doubles as a handle.

At risk of sounding heavy-handed, if it didn't come with cleaning rod holes then it isn't a WASR! It's much more likely that you probably have holes for one but just don't realize it (as pictued by benEzra).

If not, you don't have a WASR! Fear not because a lot of wonderful AKMs don't actually come with cleaning rods.

I called it!

snubnose57 said:

As we have what we have, what would be the "correct" military cleaning kit for this rifle?

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I don't think you have any need for "correct military" as you don't seem to have a bayonet lug either.

I'd probably get an SKS pull-thru kit for it.

Todd.

Here are the cleaning rod retainer lug below the front sight, the bayonet lug/rod hole below the gas block (knife pointing) and the rod holding hand guard ferrule on my WASR AKMS.


Todd.

SKS buttstock kit for a gun with a mounted rod.

Someone here will know which version has the pull-through set-up.




Todd.

If you don’t have the lugs for a factory cleaning rod, a .30-caliber Bore Snake and some foaming bore cleaner work well enough, IMO, and are quick and easy to use.

You can make your own pull-through kit by taking a piece of string longer than the barrel, tie a nail to one end, and tie a small loop in the other. Put the cleaning patch in the loop, soak it with CLP or whatever, then drop the nail through the barrel from the chamber end and pull it through. That's what I've been doing with a couple of my .22 rifles. Works better than my Bore-Snake did.

I have never used the cleaning rod that came with mine nor the cleaning kit that came with my SKS. There are better cleaning kits on the market.

Yeah, not trying to beat this to death, but I don't know why you'd really want a cleaning rod besides aesthetic reasons. Functionally you can just get a .30 cal bore snake that will be 5 times as effective, lighter, and easier to carry.

Most AKs have a port in the back where you can carry cleaning supplies anyway, or you could buy a specifically fitted pouch that hangs on the stock.

That is, if you ever have to even clean your AK.

I have to wonder if the absence of the bayonet lug isn't some accommodation for legality features (real or over-interpreted) for a period of import or sale in a draconian state.

Detached mag, folding stock and threaded barrel (assumed) not withstanding.

Might even have been an individual did it out of paranoia. Which we all know is the hurtful word for hyper-awareness. The lack of retaining hole in the hand guard/ferrule might simply be a replacement piece.

Back in the 90's when California passed that ridiculous *Dirk&Dagger* law rolling folders with assists into the wording, I did this to my Spyderco and I, am a generally reasonable guy.


Todd.

Looking into this more, it seems a great many WASR10/63s were imported with the bayonet lug specifically removed and a nut welded in place over the muzzle threads.

Apparently for contemporary import requirements.

Seems some did and others did not have military lower hand guards to accept the rod.

Todd.

The East German AK kits have pull thru cords as the EGs didn’t use under barrel cleaning rods on their AKs.

BSW

Some after market so handguard don't come pre drilled for cleaning rod just drill holes.i would never use the steel rod for cleaning but in a pinch or event something was stuck in barrel it would be nice to have and I guess if things ever git really crazy you wou have a way to clean it