Vertical Foregrip on an AKM

[Dionysusigma]

I was flipping through an FAC catalog earlier today, and on their AK accessories page, a vertical "Tommy-Gun" style foregrip was advertised for an AK or MAK-90. However, below the pic and description, the usual paragraph on "All NFA rules apply..."

What's the reasoning behind this? All new-production Thompson 1927A1s have such a grip installed, yet nothing is warned about them. Is it because such a grip could be put on a MAK-90, or is it another part of the silly AWB making exceptions? I do remember something in the Ban that talked about forward pistol grips being illegal, but...

Any input?

 

[c_yeager]

THe only thing i can imagine it being illegal on is a pistol. I think FAC just is keen on CYA.

 

[femoralis]

Could be you need enough US parts to put on a thumbhole stock ak, ('cause it's a pistol grip). I don't know about the NFA issues, except it would be illegal to put one on a pistol without going through the NFA system.

 

[Chipperman]

If you were to take the stock off and put on a vertical forward grip, it would become an "AOW" NFA weapon.

 

[benEzra]

It may be that a vertical foregrip would violate section 922(r) for guns that don't have enough U.S. parts to modify, and therefore would constitute assembling an unimportable firearm. A vertical foregrip does NOT appear in the list of "evil features" in the current AWB, but I believe some AWB II proposals may include it.

I'm not sure I see the point in one, since if you want a CQB vertical grip you can grab the front of the mag well, and this has the advantage of giving you a lower moment of rotational inertia. On the other hand, it would be a help if someone were trying to take the rifle away from you, I suppose. I've shot a friend's AR with a vertical foregrip and it felt really awkward.