Soviet AK-74 and AK-47 Handguards

[japyle]

Is there a difference between Soviet AK-74 and AK-47 lower handguards? Also, is there any difference between the upper handguards?

If there is a difference, how can you tell?

Thanks in advance.

 

[nalioth]

Howdy.

First you need to get your mind around the fact that what you (and almost everyone else) call an "AK-47" is more than likely an AKM (AK modernized). The AK-47 has not been produced very much at all since 1959 (the year the AKM was introduced).

The AK-47 is not very compatible at all with the AKM/AK74/AK100 series of rifle (basically, only the magazines and a few internal parts interchange)

The AKM/AK74 and AK100, on the other hand, have about 90% parts commonality (including your hand guards).

 

[wojownik]

Short answer is, yes, there are a number of differences between AKM and AK-74 handguards Longer answer is that there are a number of variances among different series of AK-74 rifles. Starting with the first production series of AK-74, very early rifles had wood furniture consisting of an AKM upper mated to a modified late AKM lower handguard fitted with an AK-74 style rear tensioning spring. There are a series of progressive changes that diverged the AK-74 furniture further away from the AKM pattern over time.

Check out the following website: http://www.avtomats-in-action.com/index.html

In particular for AK-74 variants: http://www.avtomats-in-action.com/proindex.html and http://tantal.kalashnikov.guns.ru/variants.html

 

[Starship1st]

Great link. thanks!