weird picture on CNN of AK-47

I say photoshoped, now I don't know a whole ot about AKs, I'll be the first to admit that, but I've never seen one with a rail on the top cover. That scope is obviously being held in a pair of normal rings, which happens to look alot it Badger Ordnance rings, which only mount to rails. Its just that non of the AKs that I've handled and seen have had rails on them.

I don't think any of those pics are faked; I saw all that and more over there. Most of the Iraqis I met, I liked - very friendly, hospitable, humble people.

Battlechimp, you probably need to relax on this racist talk. I, for one, would be surprised at a very clean shirt if only because I would expect somebody to have climbed through something, or over something, to get to a certain spot, and would expect dust and the like to accumulate. I know every time I have to climb to the top of my own church's bell tower, I come down pretty dirty.

The scope looks photoshopped to me, which has happened often over there. Reuters got slammed for showing a city scape with too much smoke rising that turned out to have been shopped. The scope looks, to me, like it is bolted directly to the dust cover without a rail and, in this configuration, the bolt could not move freely in the action. Also, it looks like an NC-Star illuminated reticle scope, to me at least. While they can certainly be there, it just looks hokey to me. But, then, you may choose to assume that, because I am from Mississippi, my assumptions are based on race. That would be a mistake, of course.

Ash

The scope looks, to me, like it is bolted directly to the dust cover without a rail and, in this configuration, the bolt could not move freely in the action

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It is a crappy place to mount a scope, but it shouldn't affect the movement of the bolt. No idea whether it is photoshopped or not. Could also be a miliitiaman posing for the cameraman

the receiver mounted scope rails are out there, they replace the top cover, and are generally regarded as terrible because they don't hold zero.

I see, well I learn something new every day. I must say though that its good to hear that they are terrible, makes me and all my fellow soldiers a little bit safer.

As for the face the guy is clean, guys, come on. Iraq is a "place." The have books, TV sets, and barber shops and everything.

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Iraq is a fake. It's Photoshopped. There's no such place. The media made it up. So they can't have books, TV sets, or barbershops. What would they watch on a TV set anyway: "Iranian Idol"? Who can live on sand with camels? Camels are fakes too. They are Photoshopped. Anyway they were replaced by Lucky Strikes, which everyone knows is Photoshopped.

Nobody landed on the moon either. It's Photoshopped. Hold your head just right and you can see the copyright notice.

Photoshop doesn't exist either. It's Photoshopped. It's all a hoax. And don't get me started about hoaxes. A friend owned one and its wheels fell off as he was making a sharp turn.

bolted directly to the dust cover, without rails, is certainly possible. But the clearances under the cover won't allow very much room for a bolt/screw/rivet head. Every dust-cover rails I have ever seen were welded on. And I have never seen rings that could be directly attached to a dust cover without the pass-through bolts - and that WOULD be completely in the way of the bolt carrier. I say this is faked.

Ash

Quote:
Originally Posted by JohnnyBfromAZ
1 HK MP5
HK? You mean its not a knockoff?

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What do you think Todd Bailey meant when he said that his company was going "Law Enforcement and Military Only"?

If he's done his job right, maybe the guns will explode for the terrorists too...

You guys need to take off the tin foil hat. Scope looks weird, agreed. could be some home made gun-smithing for all I know. The details of the picture aren't clear enough for that. As far as cinder block man: stupid but probably not staged. Most of these guys aren't trained soldiers but civilians picking up arms.

Here's a picture of my friend (on the left) with two Iraqi special forces guys. Notice the weapons they're carrying. Look at those uniforms, are they too clean for you? Or wait, maybe it's staged. Those guys don't look like Iraqis...where's the beards?


Here's a picture my same friend (above left) took of an Iraqi kid. Maybe his clothes are too dirty for you?

Looks like a cheap IR scope - probably a Leapers.

Scope mount looks like one from http://www.gunaccessories.com/militaryscopemounts/AK47/index.asp .

The wart on the rear bell is the battery compartment.

Shirt looks like Wal*Mart.

Thing is though, I feel if we can get a pic of the guy, we should be getting him dead.

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Agreed. I have no issue with media taking pics of the enemy.It's thier job. However, I would be MUCH happier if when they did it, they took 30-40 pics, all using a REALLY bright flash to help us spot their position better.

Or at least then founs U.S troops and told us the location of the guy they were just taking a pic of. Who knows though, maybe they DO often tip us off afterwards, no idea.Not a "grunt" or a photographer, so....

As for the pic,

The scope looks, to me, like it is bolted directly to the dust cover without a rail and, in this configuration, the bolt could not move freely in the action

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I'm sure as long as it works, no matter if its duct taped on, it can and will be used.Who else has seen the pic of the AK with a shovel handle for a replacement buttstock on an AK in Africa, I think it was. These guys arent gun nuts, collectors, or benchrest shooters. If it works, not matter how hokey, the point is it still works. Heck, they could have just welded the scope rings onto the receiver cover. Would take no skill, and about 10 seconds, and it would work. I'm sure they have acces to welding equipment.
JMHO

"You guys need to take off the tin foil hat."

That might be of some value were the evidence not already exist otherwise. Reuters has been stung several times in the last few years accepting photo-shopped photos from the middle east. And that isn't internet rumor but a matter of fact and a source of embarrassment to Reuters.

Ash

but accusing that picture of being photoshopped is ridiculous in and of itself. How would photoshopping a scope or cleaning the guys shirt do to change the political impact of the photo?

Its a dude with a scoped AK. BFD.

and why, Mr. Henry, is scoping an AK ridiculous?

owen...

Well, never mind. This horse ain't worth riding.

Ash

but accusing that picture of being photoshopped is ridiculous in and of itself. How would photoshopping a scope ... to change the political impact of the photo?

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scope = sniper. Sniper = scary to the general public

no scope = conscript level grunt. the very racism that so many in here seem to be pissing themselves over with shirts and what not. gives little faith to the fighting power of both the insurgents and iraqi army.

a sniper is seen as a trained skilled worker

imagine Blue collar VS white collar in the world of war

There are plenty of people running around with weapons that aren't in the military. I see people taking pictures of one another all the time at various ranges. Right now the entire country of Iraq is pretty much one big firing range (just the lanes are sometimes pointing right at one another). How hard do u think it is, if you have a digital camera, to get someone to stop and "pose" so you can take their picture ? (As we see in some of what is posted, they will then likely take the time to cover their faces.)

And since photos from that area are a $$$ maker right now...why not turn around and peddle them to the news organizations ? That is all a "freelance photographer" is doing.....and by the way, not all of them are westerners....or at all supportive of what the US is doing there. And that sentiment gets them the trust to allow the insurgents to let them take their picture. Think of them as embedded photographers....just on the insurgent side.

And remember, media outlets are like junkies.....they don't care who sets them up with their "fix" (in this case useable digital imagery), as long as they get it.

haha the scope is the same in all three pictures...