Would anyone buy an American AK-47?

Status
Not open for further replies.
B

bigalexe

Member
Joined
Mar 14, 2009
Messages
931
Location
SE Michigan
I started a thread some time ago considering building AK Receivers and was informed that the parts kits are hard to come buy to build them into complete rifles. Also I believe I have found somewhere that the AK-47 is not under patent restriction in the United States and is in fact in public domain.

So I got to thinking, and wondering. What would the level of interest be in NEW Semi-auto AK-47 rifles that are completely American manufactured? I realize the biggest obstacle is that the price of an American made firearm would be more than a surplus Eastern Bloc gun, however I think it's still a valid prospect worth consideration.

I am thinking the advantage of an American made firearm is in the QC department, what I am aiming for is a high-quality (build consistency) firearm built on the AK-47 platform to maintain the level of nigh-indestructibility they are famous for.
 
Century has recently come out with an AK-47 that they claim is 100% US parts. It appears that some of the small parts may be castings, but who knows. The price is around $800 and it would have to be three tiers above typical Century product to be worth that.

Arsenal of Las Vegas "sort of" makes US-made AK-47s. And from a 922(r) legal standpoint, ALL double-stack AKs sold here now are legally US made, though usually with a substantial number of foreign parts. I realize that isn't what you're asking about.

If someone made a truly high quality AK-47 entirely in the US, with a really good barrel (preferably hammer forged and either chrome lined or nitrided) I might be interested. But it would be a tough sell, currently, against a converted Saiga (including Arsenal's Saigas) or the much lower price of a serviceable ordinary AK.

I would be very eager to see a US-made AK that took AR15 mags in .223 or took a common .308 mag in .308 (like M14 or G3 mags). The biggest handicap to .308 AKs currently available are their magazines. Even then, though, keep in mind the current prices of ARs, piston ARs, and mil-surp .308s like the PTR-91 and various FALs.
 
Excelent response Z!
As to the 308 AK the M1A would beat it hands down, at a lower cost, with better sight/optic mounting points due to it's under barrel gas system. To 'modernize' an AK requires a massive redesign of the AK into a new system, so why bother?
An AK in 223, 5.45, 7.62 (AK) seems a far more pragmatic undertaking though it would still be a 65-75YO design not intended for use with optics and stuck with a short sight radius. Up grading the charging handle, barrel and sights was done in the Valmet M-62S and Galil and that would be a good starting point.
 
the whole point of getting an AK is to get an ugly but functional and reliable gun for a great price. Paying more than $500 for a good one (or maybe $700 if you want a tricked out 103 clone) is pretty self-defeating, IMO. There are still a lot of people who complain about how much WASR-10s cost now. A lot of people (myself included) don't see them worth more than $350 after shipping like they were four to five years ago.
 
I don't think it would fly. When I bought an AK, I wanted it from a communist block country, that's just what an AK is. When I bought an AR, I wanted it to be of US manufacture, again that's just what it is.

I don't think enough people would be interested in paying 2-3 times as much for an AK of 100% US parts and assembled here. There also would be the question of reliability with all that work going into a new gun.
 
As to the 308 AK the M1A would beat it hands down, at a lower cost, with better sight/optic mounting points due to it's under barrel gas system.
Click to expand...

Owning an M1A and an x39 AK, I'm not quite in agreement. For starters, Springfield Armory, Inc.'s M1A is made with nearly all the money saving techniques possible - cast receivers, molded stocks, button rifled barrels, CNC machined shapes and, I believe, some MIM small parts. Yet they still cost $1300 and up. You could make a fairly standard AK for $800 or less as shown by Century, and the caliber isn't going to affect that price much. The AKM was designed from the start for ease of manufacture, while the M14 was designed at a time when the US had millions of skilled machinists who were happy to work for fairly ordinary (decent) wages, as well as all the machine shops to keep them busy. The M14 is an extremely complicated gun to machine (though ironically the AR-15 is as well, as we've seen their prices drop).
 
RP88:

I have to agree on that. Every time I see a "nice" AK in the $700+ range I just think to myself "I could get an AR-15 for that..."

$300-$500 though, definitely.
 
I really don't think it would be much more expensive to build a true made in the U.S. AK-47. Most of the imports come with some combination of U.S. made receiver, barrel, stock, or trigger group. It wouldn't be as low priced as a WASR but I doubt it would cost more than the Lancasters or the converted Saigas. I think the real reason we aren't seeing a moderately priced U.S. AK is because people don't want it. People view AKs as communist guns so an U.S. made version is not really important to most buyers.
 
As an AK owner, I would have certainly paid a small premium for a 100% US gun. But by US I dont mean just the reciever and I would expect a better product. Otherwise, I'll take a WASR for 400 and get 95% of the function for 50% the cost. I'm thinking the US AK would have to be 450-550 Max.
 
The price is around $800 and it would have to be three tiers above typical Century product to be worth that.
Click to expand...

Are the WASR's that bad? I've been looking at the standard version ($330 around here) as a range/ fun gun. I'm looking for an AK platform that's reliable and decently accurate.
 
Nice idea, but you're aiming a little short . . . .

Would anyone buy an American Rk95?

This rifle is considered the ultimate of the Kalashnikov derivations.
 
Simply put, no. It would be like buying a Russian or Chinese AR15. It just ain't right. Not to mention, most of the problems you hear about seem to stem from American made/assembled AKs.
 
CA2005 said:
Not to mention, most of the problems you hear about seem to stem from American made/assembled AKs.
Click to expand...
Most of the problems you hear about stem from AKs built with poor or no quality control (regardless of origin).

bigalexe said:
I am thinking the advantage of an American made firearm is in the QC department, what I am aiming for is a high-quality (build consistency) firearm built on the AK-47 platform to maintain the level of nigh-indestructibility they are famous for.
Click to expand...

Something bigalexe seems intent to keep at the forefront of any production.
 
If it was something cool, along the lines of a Valmet (or RK95) or Galil and used top quality parts, I'd definitely consider it.

A US made AKM, made as cheaply as possible, with MIM parts, no chrome lined barrel, and cheap TAPCO furniture? No interest.
 
"Would anyone buy an American AK-47?"

*Raises hand

I would. But they'd have to make it in 6.8 SPC and accept AR-spec magazines. That way it'd be a "true American" AK.
 
nalioth said:
Most of the problems you hear about stem from AKs built with poor or no quality control (regardless of origin).



Something bigalexe seems intent to keep at the forefront of any production.
Click to expand...
True, but you must admit these are made in the states and not just homebuilds. Companies like Lancaster have been turning out trash lately and they're a bonified AK manufacter.
 
I will be getting a IO-Royal Tiger AK, in about a week or so, to go along with my Norinco NHM91, will let you all know when I take her to the range and check out the build, the Norinco just keeps a chuggin along, just like my AR, go to range and run about 100 or so rds thru each with no hiccups on either rifle-weapon.

Ron
 
If I was in the market again and Arsenal didn't price themselves out of the market like they kept trying to do a couple of years ago, I'd consider one of their milled guns. Probably as close as you'd get to a US made gun. Otherwise, no.

jm
 
Just took a look at the Century Arms catalog. Seems that they have tricked out their "Centurion" USA made AK. Machined receiver, rear sight adjustable for windage and elevation, redesigned muzzle brake. I'd have to see a range report and handle one myself.

With a machined receiver, how much would accuracy improve?
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

nwilliams
  • Locked
AK-47 Question....
2
Replies
37
Views
3K
nwilliams
nwilliams
J
  • Locked
Pitbull AK-47 - American made - anyone have any experience with them?
2 3
Replies
50
Views
4K
JustinJ
J
M
  • Locked
American-made AK?
Replies
9
Views
611
DoubleTapDrew
D
W
  • Locked
Ak-47 FAQs
2
Replies
25
Views
2K
Carne Frio
C
K
  • Locked
AK-47 Compatability?
Replies
11
Views
6K
Moose458
M
Back
Top