I want an AK47.

[Engineer]

The MISR's I've come across were all in pretty rough shape - mine came with a custom hand-dipped paint job complete with runs and blotches, but they do clean up well and the laminated stocks look great after you work on them with some steel wool and an oil finish. IMHO the two things going against it are that it doesn't have a scope rail and you need to be careful of the U.S. parts count if you intend on keeping the stock furniture.

Here's mine that was refinished with Alumahyde and has a Tapco G2 trigger group and Ironwood pistol grip. The stock and pistol grip were finished using TruOil:

 

[HiWayMan]

Engineer

Where are you at in NE Ohio

HiWayMan

 

[Joe Demko]

Nice job on your Misr, Engineer. I sank a bunch of money and work into mine trying to turn it into something worthwhile. The misaligned front sight assembly, the trigger slap, the crummy finish, etc. could all be corrected with enough effort and money, but when I was done the thing still shot lousy groups. Between the cost of the Misr itself, the money for new parts, and my own time, I'd have been much better off buying one of the higher quality AK's. The best that I can say for the Misr is that it is a project gun.

 

[Engineer]

HiWayMan, I'm in the Cleveland area - usually shoot at at Grand River ODNR range. Whereabouts are you from?

Golgo-13, I agree with you that these things are definitely project guns. For me, this was something a little different that I had the time and effort to mess with it and get things right. I guess I could say that I got lucky in that mine shot straight and functioned fine.

But for a first AK, Arsenal, Inc. still has my vote.

 

[HiWayMan]

Engineer, I'm from around Medina. I usually shoot down around Wooster. That is a nice refinish on the MISR.