Century Polish Tantal AK74

[ba ba booey]

Someone I know has decided to sell a few of their firearms and has recently offered to sell me his Century Polish Tantal AK74.

I have read about keyholeing issues with this build due to Century using 5.56 barrels, but this doesn't seem to be an issue with this rifle, the S/N is in the Y002xxx range which doesn't seem to come up in the recall or possible issues list with this AK variant. The receiver is dated 1993.

The parkarized finish is really nice as is the wire folder, handgrips and muzzle break. The rifle has only had about 30 rounds put through it and looks brand new. The sights and blocks are not canted at all.

The issues that I see here are---Even if this is the correct 5.45 barrel it is a US barrel and I wonder how that compares with a cold hammer forged barrel. Also because this is a Century build and I am wondering about any potential issues with the rifle.

I really wasn't in the market per say, but at 550 with all original paperwork and 2 magazines I'm wondering if I should buy it.

 

[PabloJ]

Ok, it beats buying previously unused one from Century Arms which may not work, but what can one do with semi-auto AKMS other then goofying around. Personally I would spend the money elsewhere.

 

[Averageman]

I own several AK's.
Even if I had to tweek that one a bit; I would buy it and enjoy it.
Thats a good price in my opinion.

 

[itsa pain]

Someone I know has decided to sell a few of their firearms and has recently offered to sell me his Century Polish Tantal AK74.

I have read about keyholeing issues with this build due to Century using 5.56 barrels, but this doesn't seem to be an issue with this rifle, the S/N is in the Y002xxx range which doesn't seem to come up in the recall or possible issues list with this AK variant. The receiver is dated 1993.

The parkarized finish is really nice as is the wire folder, handgrips and muzzle break. The rifle has only had about 30 rounds put through it and looks brand new. The sights and blocks are not canted at all.

The issues that I see here are---Even if this is the correct 5.45 barrel it is a US barrel and I wonder how that compares with a cold hammer forged barrel. Also because this is a Century build and I am wondering about any potential issues with the rifle.

I really wasn't in the market per say, but at 550 with all original paperwork and 2 magazines I'm wondering if I should buy it.

$550 that is horrible. immediately ship it to arsenal or kriebs and get that gun up to $2500 lol

 

[WardenWolf]

It was only the very early Century Tantals that had the incorrect barrel. The vast majority of them out there are just fine. Century rifles are put together solidly; so as long as it has the correct barrel and doesn't have any visible sights or known feeding issues, it will be just fine and will never fail on you. As an added bonus, the Tantal stock uses a normal AK rear trunion, so you can swap it out for a solid stock or any other design should you so choose.

 

[AethelstanAegen]

If you've inspected it for the normal Century mistakes (ie the wrong barrel, canted sights) and found everything good to go, I'd say go for it. I had an Interarms built Tantal and they're nice rifles. I did sell mine but that was because the value had gone way up during the panic and I'm more into antique and milsurp rifles (the old time stuff). If you're in the market for an AK, I don't think you'll be disappointed though with a Tantal. Just really be sure to double check the barrel and sights. If the parkerized finish is like the finish on the Interarms build, it'll last a long, long time.

 

[akv3g4n]

I have a Century built Tantal I bought 2 years ago and have had zero issues with it. It is fairly accurate and eats up the surplus, corrosive ammo without any issues. I've easily put 1000 rounds through mine so far and haven't had one failure with it.

The lack of a chrome lined barrel is a non-issue for me. Even after shooting exclusively corrosive ammo out of it, I clean it well and have had no problems with corrosion or wear. It just takes a few more patches to get it as clean as the chrome lined ones.


I paid $400 for mine at the time. In the current climate, for that price, go for it. You'll have a blast.

 

[nathan]

Non chromelined barrel is a non issue. Warm water with a drop or two of handwashing soap is all you need to flush the corrosive residue after shooting. Let drain and clean it afterwards with your hoppes 9.

 

[HexHead]

Using a flashlight from the breech, mine sure looks to be a chrome lined barrel. I wonder if it has the original Polish barrel?

 

[akv3g4n]

Using a flashlight from the breech, mine sure looks to be a chrome lined barrel. I wonder if it has the original Polish barrel?

AFAIK, none of the Century builds used the original Polish chrome lined barrels.

Interarms did use chrome lined barrels on theirs though (not sure if they were the Polish ones or US made).