matsaleh
Member
Ok, so I'm not a gunsmith, as will be immediately evident if you keep reading. However, I am given to flights of fancy, and this came to mind...
I remember reading recently that the Saiga line of rifles are built on the AK platform, but with the trigger installed further towards the rear of the receiver than on a normal AK. I believe there is some kind of extension or linkage between the trigger and the rest of the firing mechanism, which is in the normal position for an AK. I also read various discussions about how this setup can be converted to a normal AK configuration with just a few simple modifications.
Then I mused that a bullpup design differs from a traditional rifle design primarily in that the trigger assembly is to the front of the chamber and magazine, rather than to the rear. I believe that this is the key difference that enables the weapon to integrate the receiver deeply into what is normally considered the "stock" of the rifle, with the magazine and chamber well to the rear, and the trigger in front, allowing a significant shortening of the overall weapon. I know I have to be oversimplifying here - please correct me as needed.
So, my flight of fancy is this:
What if someone took a proven, reliable rifle platform such as an SKS, AK or similar variant, modified the existing trigger to accept some kind of linkage that extends several inches to the front of the chamber and mag assembly, to a new trigger and trigger guard, installed in front of the reciever? Then, designed a molded one-piece stock and forearm to envelop much of the sides and bottom of the receiver, encapsulating the old trigger and linkage assembly, but of course leaving clearance for the magazine, bolt, extractor, etc. to operate?
Could this be done by a tinkerer? Would it be a viable and effective modification for an AK? Would it be cost effective? Would it be legal?
I know that flights of fancy lose their romance when they encounter reality, but if nothing else, I thought this would be an interesting thought experiment.
I'm interested in what those who know much more than I think about this. Cheers.
I remember reading recently that the Saiga line of rifles are built on the AK platform, but with the trigger installed further towards the rear of the receiver than on a normal AK. I believe there is some kind of extension or linkage between the trigger and the rest of the firing mechanism, which is in the normal position for an AK. I also read various discussions about how this setup can be converted to a normal AK configuration with just a few simple modifications.
Then I mused that a bullpup design differs from a traditional rifle design primarily in that the trigger assembly is to the front of the chamber and magazine, rather than to the rear. I believe that this is the key difference that enables the weapon to integrate the receiver deeply into what is normally considered the "stock" of the rifle, with the magazine and chamber well to the rear, and the trigger in front, allowing a significant shortening of the overall weapon. I know I have to be oversimplifying here - please correct me as needed.
So, my flight of fancy is this:
What if someone took a proven, reliable rifle platform such as an SKS, AK or similar variant, modified the existing trigger to accept some kind of linkage that extends several inches to the front of the chamber and mag assembly, to a new trigger and trigger guard, installed in front of the reciever? Then, designed a molded one-piece stock and forearm to envelop much of the sides and bottom of the receiver, encapsulating the old trigger and linkage assembly, but of course leaving clearance for the magazine, bolt, extractor, etc. to operate?
Could this be done by a tinkerer? Would it be a viable and effective modification for an AK? Would it be cost effective? Would it be legal?
I know that flights of fancy lose their romance when they encounter reality, but if nothing else, I thought this would be an interesting thought experiment.
I'm interested in what those who know much more than I think about this. Cheers.
