AK pics -- before and after rebuild.

[rsilvers]

This started as a crappy full auto Chinese underfolder which I sent to Marshall Arms.

This is what it looked like before I sent it:



This is after (Click for larger images):








Note that he had to weld over the under-folder holes in the receiver, then repattern the receiver, and caliber convert it from 7.62 to 5.45. Lots of other details that make the transformation very detailed, such as proper Cyrillic markings and date codes.

 

[The Grand Inquisitor]

That's really great work. although I know some people really love the underfolders, I really like that you turned this into a beautiful 5.45x39.5 rifle (my favorite cartridge).

 

[smince]

This started as a crappy full auto Chinese underfolder

I'll bet that conversion cost a small fortune, not to mention in the BATFE eyes, once a full auto, always a full auto.

 

[ID_shooting]

No doubt. I see the receiver is still marked for full-auto. Is this an NFA legal rifle? If so, looks good, if not, um, we won't talk about it.

 

[Frog48]

I'll bet that conversion cost a small fortune, not to mention in the BATFE eyes, once a full auto, always a full auto.

I was wondering about that too.

Is it still full auto? If it was originally NFA legal, why get it converted semi-auto?

If it was originally full auto but not registered, I'd think that even after conversion the BATFE would be interested. If thats the case, especially since you posted this on the internet, I'd expect a no-knock visit from some friendly federal agents at 3AM.

 

[DMK]

Wow, that's unusual. So many people try to convert their AKs into underfolders.

So basically, you wanted a registered AK74?

I could see that being a lot more fun to shoot with the full stock and lighter round, if more expensive.

 

[jon1996]

I liked it before better, but I am a under folder guy, they just look more battle ready than the purty wood, and If you converted a full auto into a semi, well I just dont know, It went from a rare underfolder worth thousands to a common one worth hundreds WHY?

 

[ac1d0v3r1d3]

hmmm

maybe rsilvers isnt in the US? His profile dosent say anything really.

 

[Master Blaster]

If the serial numbered reciever is the registered full auto machinegun on the NFA registry, why would changing the barrel to 5.45x39 and the stock from folding to fixed have any effect on the legality of the firearm???

After all it is the serial numbered reciever that is the machine gun in the NFA registry right????

If I have a registered m16 lower, I can change the upper and even replace the full auto trigger group.

 

[RockyMtnTactical]

Looks good.

 

[Okami]

Very,Very nice!

~Okami

 

[AK-74me]

maybe rsilvers isnt in the US? His profile dosent say anything really.

yup, it is the WWW

 

[MechAg94]

The "after" pick still has that second notch on the safety so I assume it is still full auto and the legality is the same as it was before.

A full auto 5.45 would be fun.


As far as price, 5.45 ammo is the same price as 7.62 ammo these days. AIM Surplus has cases for under $150 for corrosive surplus. I just bought a case of Wolf for about $160 at the last gun show. 7.62 was the same.

 

[Airburst]

jon1996 I liked it before better, but I am a under folder guy, they just look more battle ready than the purty wood, and If you converted a full auto into a semi, well I just dont know, It went from a rare underfolder worth thousands to a common one worth hundreds WHY?

I agree. It came out very nice, but you could have done that to any crappy looking semi auto AK.

 

[lamazza]

beautiful stock

 

[smince]

It went from a rare underfolder worth thousands to a common one worth hundreds WHY?

Evidently, based on another forum, it was and still is a legal NFA gun, so it is still worth thousands.

 

[soul_rapier]

why not just buy a semi ak in that caliber ? i would not have done that but it did turn out nice .

 

[1 old 0311]

Is that a Ironwood stock?

 

[jeepmor]

If that's your personal work, you should restore classic cars. Nice job. If not, well, that wasn't cheap was it?

jeepmor

 

[rsilvers]

It was a full auto before, and it is a full auto now. You can see that on the selector lever. For some reason there is/was a lot more underfolder AKs for sale as full auto so that is most of what I own. I started with those and had them redone into other configurations such as the AK-105, AKS-74U, AK74, and AK-105. You would have a REAL hard time finding an AK-74 for sale as a transferable full auto because back in 1986 there was no 5.45mm ammo for sale in the US. And of course you will never find a transferable AK-105 since none were made or imported before 1968 so once again, I would have to have one made -- and all I have to start with in my collection are (crappy) underfolders (underfolders are crappy simply because they are underfodlers).

Ted Marshall did the work.

 

[MechAg94]

I was just shooting my AK74 clone yesterday. Full auto would be very cool.

 

[Prince Yamato]

Curiosity is killing me, roughly how many transferable (to civilians) full-auto AKs are there in the US? I thought the number was small (like 10), but more of them seem to be popping up. Is it just that collectors keep quiet, or are some of them dying off and having estate sales?

 

[Nightcrawler]

At what point did he say he converted it to semi-auto?

He didn't. People took the phrase "started out as a crappy full-auto Chinese..." to mean that after the conversion, it was no longer full auto. I think what the author meant is that after the conversion, it was no longer crappy.

As for legality, I think we should give the guy the benefit of the doubt. No reputable gunsmith would do work on an illegal gun, muchless have his client talk about it on the internet. Come on, guys.

I spent several hours yesterday hanging out in a machine gun store, though. I'm more used to this stuff than most, I guess.

Anyway, given the difficulty and expense in owning a machine gun as per the National Firearms Act, I can see why one would want it to be as nice as possible!

 

[MisterPX]

Nice. A 74 MG must be a blast to shoot compared to a 47!
If you don't mind me asking, what kind of pricing ballpark was the Marshall conversion? Also, did you do it to a trans. or sample gun?

 

[FALna45]

[rsilvers]underfolder AKs for sale as full auto so that is most of what I own. I started with those and had them redone into other configurations such as the AK-105, AKS-74U, AK74, and AK-105. [/rsilvers]

NICE. if all were executed as the above example, that's a swell sounding collection!
but uh, the links to their pics are missing.......

what lower HG is that in the pics please?