Help me ID this AK. Is it pre-ban?

[Wayne G.]

I purchased this rifle several years ago at a gun shop. Gun shop owner said he took it in on a trade and figured it had been sitting in someone's safe for years. I don't know about all that. But I immediately noticed its superb finish and apparent excellent condition. It was a jewel. I've never seen an AK in this shape. It looked brand new. What you see is exactly what I purchased. I have made no mods to this rifle at all.

It was later suggested that I may have happened upon a pre-ban. I've included pics with explanations in hopes that those who know better than I can inform me as to exactly what this rifle is and its value.

First pic. A profile of the entire rifle.

The next pic is the Egyptian writing on the part of the rifle directly under the sights. On the opposite side of the rifle there is some hyroglyphic looking symbol.

Next pic is of the writing on the left side of rifle above the handle where the buttstock slides in. It says
ARM SEMI AUTOMATIC RIFLE
CALIBER 7.62 x 39
MAADI COMPANY
MADE IN EGYPT

Next pic is the slanted muzzle brake. It is threaded on the barrel and is removed by pushing in a button and turning clockwise.

Next pic is of the right side of the rifle below the bolt. It says
STEYR, SECAUCUS, NJ

Last image is of the bolt and carrier.

Other info. The serial number is S0000XX. The XX represents 2 numbers that I probably shouldn't list here. The idea is that the serial number is under 100.

Also, in the buttplate is a trap door that holds a metal case with brush in it. The cleaning rod is removable from under the barrel. It came with one 30 round magazine that says "MADE IN EGYPT" on the left side of the mag near the top. Also, the bolt, carrier (if proper terminology) and the top plate (for lack of better terminology) are all stamped with the last 4 numbers of serial number 00XX.

So, is this a pre-ban?
Is it anything special?
What's it worth?
When was it made/imported?

Thanks!

 

[Dr.Rob]

That does appear to be a MAADI pre-ban, made in Egypt... these weren't highly regarded but they work. I don't think the value is up there with other pre-ban makes (Norinco, FEG), but it's one of the closest to the a Russian available before real Russians (Saiga, etc) came on the market.

 

[Prince Yamato]

I'm going to disagree with the moderator. It's a Steyr Maadi, which makes it worth more than the Century Imports. I think they go for ~$1000 on gunbroker. They're worth less than a Polytech Legend, but they have high collector value. They'd be worth even more to someone from a state like NY or MA that still has an AWB. It's a good find. I'd still keep it. I have a Century Maadi and it's great. I'd assume the Steyr would be better.

 

[Dave Markowitz]

Very nice find. The Steyr-imported MAADIs are not all that common, and they are better finished than most MAADIs as imported by Century or other companies.

 

[Lone_Gunman]

Why is a pre-ban AK worth any more than an AK variant currently available from retailers today?

 

[1 old 0311]

MADDI'S are/were made in Egypt on machinery purchased from Russia. It is pre-ban, and they work. Worth $400.00-$450.00. Fit, and finish, ain't the best, but it is a solid rifle.
Though they are about the same as Chinese, the Chinese have a better reputation.

 

[Prince Yamato]

Worth $400.00-$450.00.

For a Century Maadi. This one is a Steyr. It's worth much more. The Steyr were made early 80s.

 

[Car Knocker]

This one is a Steyr.

What characteristics identify this rifle as a Steyr?

 

[otcconan]

What characteristics identify this rifle as a Steyr?

Next pic is of the right side of the rifle below the bolt. It says
STEYR, SECAUCUS, NJ

 

[Spieler]

Since this is a Steyr import from the early '80s it is easily worth ~$1,000 or more. These are the same guns used in Red Dawn and the only real AKs in the US until the Chinese models started flooding the market in the mid '80s.

 

[JA]

The Maadi rifles are a semi auto version of the Soivet AKM rifle made in a factory shipped lock stock and barrel from Russian. The factory was set up by the Soivet's and the rifles made by Egyptians trained by Soivet technitions.
So the Maadi rifles are as close to a exact copy of a Russian AKM rifle as you can get.