Hello. I certainly cannot comment to the information concerning the AKs nor the broomhandle, but will state that I've had very satisfactory results with the Norinco 1911 I bought. It had been previously owned and fired a bit, but not much, and the price was right.
I did change out some parts, using what I had in my parts bin with the exception of some King's Hardballer rear sights I had added by a gunsmith. Also had him silversolder a Bomar front sight of the correct height for where my pistol's POI was relative to POA. Parts like the thumb safety, magazine release, grip screws and slide release were changed for "looks." The flat mainspring housing and long trigger were done as I just like 1911s that way in most cases. The hammer and sear were changed out as I was able to get a really clean trigger pull and prefer the ring hammer with the drop-in Pachmayr beavertail grip safety now on the pistol.
Here's the old thing:
The beavertail shown is the Wilson drop-in part, but I changed it out and prefer the one in it now. Both work fine.
Forgot I had a picture of it with the Pachmayr.
This 1911's been fired around 2K times now with exactly zero malfunctions EXCEPT for one light target handload that didn't have enough "oomph" to operate the slide properly. With standard pressure ball or any JHP or CSWC loads I've tried, reliability's been 100%.
It won't group with an STI or a fine custom gun, but it shoots just fine for 99% of the uses that most shooters might have for it and 100% of my personal needs.
It does sufficently, accuracy-wise, for me....
This 25 yard target was fired using handloads and was fired from a rest.
Some 10-shot groups @ 15 yards...
I like the thing. I did change out some parts, but do appreciate no forward slide serrations and kind of like the "old fashioned" vertical rear slide serrations. I did make some parts changes with many being for "looks" rather than "needs," but as a 1911 shooter, I couldn't help it. Many of us wind up changing some things out or having custom work done on 1911s, be they Norinco or Colt, Kimber, STI, or Springfield, etc.
Best and good shooting.