$300 Century AK 74 - yae or nay

[GunTech]

Did some work for a fellow who is now unemployed and can't pay. He's got a few guns and asked me if I'd take a Century AK74 in lieu of $300 owed. He claims to have not fired it and it looks to be superb condition. I can take the rifle or wait for payment. He's been a great customer and I'm sure I'll get the cash eventually if I wait.

Given Century's rep, would you take the gun now or wait a month or two for the cash?

 

[Ohio Gun Guy]

Ultimately it's up to you. Contracting with someone when you know you can't pay isn't the nicest thing to do........ On the otherhand waiting to get paid causes problems.

However, In my humble opinion, century AK's got a bad reputation when they first started importing them. By most accounts the QC has been improved. and they do sell for 400-500 typically. So if the bill was 300 you should be fine, even if you re-sell to convert to cash (Cause the grocery store doesnt buy & Sell in AK currency......yet )

 

[Carl N. Brown]

Doing work for someone who then becomes unemployed and can't pay is one more argument for the policy of getting half up front and half on completion.

No experience with the Century AK74, but my Century built Yugo M70AB2 Kalashnikov has worked fine so far and I have shot it several years now, both plinking on my uncle's land and in modern military one season (seven matches). But people who have been stuck with bad Century builds remember long and complain loudly. And the AK74 is a different platform, same vendor, but different model. When the local wholesaler had Bulgarian AK74s from Century, they appeared to be of good quality (especially considering the price) and I heard good comments. But then I have a Ford Ranger truck that has given me good service and when I say that, my son shakes his head. So my advice is, if you can't have the gun evaluated by a neutral party, wait on the cash. Used guns can be like used cars. It could be a sweet deal or it could be a lemon.

 

[GunTech]

Thanks all. I'm not really an AK guy, but my son is very interested. Looks like 5.45x39 is cheap and plentiful around here.

I've had two century guns - a CETME that wouldn't cock and had to be repaired and a Golani that I regret selling. So I've had mixed results with CAI guns.

Since I'm in the process of changing around my collection - selling a few guns that never get used and looking for new toys, I thought I'd consider and AK after helping a buddy get into a Saiga.

 

[philpost]

You'd certainly be getting a good deal on a caliber that your son is interested in. You'd also be giving the owner the opportunity to "pay" and preserve his dignity at a very stressful time.

 

[unwise11]

get it. 5.45x39 is cheap, so yeah, but remember it's not going to be a tack driver.

 

[cgs500]

I have a friend who just picked one up and it keyholes EVERY round with Silver Bear. From what he found out, some shipped with a 5.56 barrel instead of the 5.45.

I would check and double check the barrel and if you can test fire first, all the better.

 

[GunTech]

Thanks CGS500. I'll mike the bbl and see if I can test fire.

 

[benEzra]

I'd say a definite "yes". I have a Century 7.62x39mm (Romanian) and have had no trouble with it at all. Fit and finish is "industrial" but functionally it is 100%.

 

[dovedescending]

Yah, grab the gun. It's not cash money, but it looks like you just saved a bundle on somebody's Christmas gift

 

[Carl N. Brown]

Buying used guns often requires a double check. Guns commonly found in one standard caliber have also been made in different but similar calibers (and sometimes are not marked). Some imported or USA built AK74s were made in .223 Remington (5.56x45mm NATO) while most AK74s are made in 5.45x39mm. Kinda like used Winchester 94s; most shoot fine, but the ones chambered for .32 Winchester Special do not shoot .30-30 Winchester worth a darn (some folks assume all Winchester 94s are .30-30 and I myself have assumed that AK74s would be 5.45 Russian when some were actually made in 5.56 NATO/.223 REM).

 

[nalioth]

entury AK's got a bad reputation when they first started importing them

. . except Century didn't import this one, they manufactured it here in the USA from cut-up foreign parts and new American ones.


You guys please keep in mind that Century now imports and manufacturers Kalashnikovs, and both have (or had) their own unique "issues" and can't all be painted with the same brush.

 

[highorder]

I would take the AK and see what it will do.

Sidebar: How long will cheap 5.45x39 be around?

 

[wojownik]

Maybe have him pawn/sell the gun for $300+ and give you the proceeds?

Not a big fan of Century, though you could probably clear around $300 to resell it for cash...

 

[Girodin]

I'd take the rifle. If you don't like it you can sell it for more than $300 I would think. I don't worry about buying a century rifle if one can inspect it before buying which it seems you can.

 

[essayons21]

Go for it, CAI can be hit or miss, but its pretty hard to screw up an AK. Plus they really aren't that hard to tune up or fix.

 

[GunTech]

Gun was a Tantal. 223 round went in the bbl so I decided to pass. Thanks all.

 

[wojownik]

Good call, GunTech.... Hope you get your money - still, maybe try to get him to sell it off elsewhere to get you what your owed. At least some.

 

[unwise11]

maybe it was actually one in .223?
as posted above?

 

[Quentin]

Twice over the years I've been offered a gun in lieu of money owed by friends. Both times it turned out a good deal and I kept both friends (and guns) as well. I realize the deal has changed now but then a $300 .223 might be interesting too.

 

[benEzra]

. . except Century didn't import this one, they manufactured it here in the USA from cut-up foreign parts and new American ones.

Well, that's the way they've been done since the SAR's, to various degrees, and overall their quality seems to have gone up rather than down. While there have been lemons, the odds are that any particular Century AK will run great, and the Tapco trigger group is arguably a big improvement over the earlier attempts (I intend to retrofit a G2 to mine at some point, but haven't gotten around to it).

Especially considering the price point, I'd say it is a very good deal. It's hard to even find a Romanian SKS for $300 these days.

 

[nalioth]

. . except Century didn't import this one, they manufactured it here in the USA from cut-up foreign parts and new American ones.

Well, that's the way they've been done since the SAR's, to various degrees, and overall their quality seems to have gone up rather than down. While there have been lemons, the odds are that any particular Century AK will run great, and the Tapco trigger group is arguably a big improvement over the earlier attempts (I intend to retrofit a G2 to mine at some point, but haven't gotten around to it).

There is a big difference in importing rifles manufactured in a military arms factory and adding 922r parts and producing rifles domestically from parts kits using US made (or commercial-grade) parts.

 

[HankC]

Some early Century AK74 have issue with keyholing since some were made with 5.56 barrels instead of 5.45.

 

[nalioth]

Some early Century AK74 have issue with keyholing since some were made with 5.56 barrels instead of 5.45.

Let's stop the FUD.

It was a small run of Tantal rifles, not the more traditional AK74s.