Digging up and firing an old rusty AK-47

You often hear stories about ancient AK-47 rifles being dug up and fired. In this video the Special Task Force, an elite paramilitary South African police unit, assist Mozambique authorities in locating and destroying an 18 year old weapons cache left over from the Mozambican Civil War.

One of the policemen takes a rusty AK-47, pours motor oil all over it, then proceeds to empty a magazine.

Skip to 1:50 to see the AK being fired.

UPDATE: It is an AK-47, with bakelite magazines, not a AK-74 as I originally reported. Thanks to those who corrected me. It also makes more sense, as the 74 was not introduced only a few years earlier than the start of the civil war.

Hat Tip: SaysUncle

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15 Responses to “Digging up and firing an old rusty AK-47”

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  1. Mashwrote on October 24th, 2009 at 6:49 pm Link To Comment | Reply To Comment

    I think risk is relative. The STF handle multiple firearm related calls every single day. Keep in mind the local cops have basically been defeated and just try to stay alive in a country with 18000 murders a year, and one firearm related crime every 4 seconds. The STF guys tend to feed off adrenaline, a firm belief in what they are doing, a firm belief in God and each other. Firing an old AK47 is about as concerning to them as tossing a football around is to most people.

    Now if you want to see just downright cowboy crazy, check this out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6kRa3K3ZqAw

    For those that are interested, the entire STF series is on youtube and makes for some very interesting watching.

    Please rate this comment: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  2. viper5552wrote on September 25th, 2009 at 9:41 am Link To Comment | Reply To Comment

    i hate to break it to ya but that was a 47 not a 74

    Please rate this comment: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  3. Heathwrote on September 25th, 2009 at 8:50 am Link To Comment | Reply To Comment

    So would you say that guy falls on the side of brave or just plain stupid for firing that old rifle? I suppose he could have given it a proper inspection off camera before pouring oil on it and firing. I don’t think I would have done it!

    Please rate this comment: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
    • Steveresponded to Heath on September 25th, 2009 at 10:49 am Link To Comment | Reply To Comment

      Heath, I agree with you. I would not have attempted it.

      Please rate this comment: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
    • Steveresponded to Heath on September 25th, 2009 at 10:50 am Link To Comment | Reply To Comment

      guys, thanks for the correction. I have updated the post.

      Please rate this comment: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  4. Matt Groomwrote on September 25th, 2009 at 8:09 am Link To Comment | Reply To Comment

    :(

    Please rate this comment: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  5. SpudGunwrote on September 25th, 2009 at 7:21 am Link To Comment | Reply To Comment

    Never mind the AK, what kind of gruelling ass job is that? I’m super paranoid around any type of explosive including fireworks, I can’t imagine humping that kind of stuff through the African bush in the heat and moisture.

    Then having to dig up old mortars and RPGs with nothing but a t-shirt to protect me? They’re certainly madder and braver then me.

    Please rate this comment: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  6. tenchimyowrote on September 25th, 2009 at 5:09 am Link To Comment | Reply To Comment

    Wow

    AK resilience

    Looks more like an AK-47 and not an AK-74 tho

    Please rate this comment: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  7. Rodolfowrote on September 25th, 2009 at 4:14 am Link To Comment | Reply To Comment

    Heh!
    Is there any way to KEEP an AK from being fired?
    Damn. How badly rusted up does it need to be?

    Please rate this comment: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  8. higswrote on September 25th, 2009 at 4:12 am Link To Comment | Reply To Comment

    thats no AK74, thats a AKMS with a bakelite mag.

    Please rate this comment: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  9. bullwrote on September 25th, 2009 at 3:55 am Link To Comment | Reply To Comment

    thats an AKMS :-) pretty cool though.

    Please rate this comment: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  10. Andywrote on September 25th, 2009 at 2:39 am Link To Comment | Reply To Comment

    You know, I’ve always wondered why these sorts of operations destroy the ammunition as opposed to salvaging it for other purposes. Of course, in this particular instance, humping it all out would be a bear.

    Please rate this comment: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  11. Calebwrote on September 25th, 2009 at 12:34 am Link To Comment | Reply To Comment

    Kind of makes you want to go buy an AK, doesn’t it?

    Please rate this comment: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  12. Jameswrote on September 25th, 2009 at 12:25 am Link To Comment | Reply To Comment

    They just blow it up?! :-( Put it on Gunbroker!!

    Please rate this comment: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  13. REMOVwrote on September 25th, 2009 at 12:17 am Link To Comment | Reply To Comment

    It is normal 7,62-mm AKMS with plastic red magazine not a 5,45 mm AKS-74.

    R.

    Please rate this comment: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  1. Jameswrote on September 25th, 2009 at 12:25 am Link To Comment | Reply To Comment

    They just blow it up?! :-( Put it on Gunbroker!!

    Please rate this comment: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  2. Heathwrote on September 25th, 2009 at 8:50 am Link To Comment | Reply To Comment

    So would you say that guy falls on the side of brave or just plain stupid for firing that old rifle? I suppose he could have given it a proper inspection off camera before pouring oil on it and firing. I don’t think I would have done it!

    Please rate this comment: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
    • Steveresponded to Heath on September 25th, 2009 at 10:50 am Link To Comment | Reply To Comment

      guys, thanks for the correction. I have updated the post.

      Please rate this comment: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
    • Steveresponded to Heath on September 25th, 2009 at 10:49 am Link To Comment | Reply To Comment

      Heath, I agree with you. I would not have attempted it.

      Please rate this comment: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  3. Matt Groomwrote on September 25th, 2009 at 8:09 am Link To Comment | Reply To Comment

    :(

    Please rate this comment: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  4. viper5552wrote on September 25th, 2009 at 9:41 am Link To Comment | Reply To Comment

    i hate to break it to ya but that was a 47 not a 74

    Please rate this comment: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  5. Mashwrote on October 24th, 2009 at 6:49 pm Link To Comment | Reply To Comment

    I think risk is relative. The STF handle multiple firearm related calls every single day. Keep in mind the local cops have basically been defeated and just try to stay alive in a country with 18000 murders a year, and one firearm related crime every 4 seconds. The STF guys tend to feed off adrenaline, a firm belief in what they are doing, a firm belief in God and each other. Firing an old AK47 is about as concerning to them as tossing a football around is to most people.

    Now if you want to see just downright cowboy crazy, check this out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6kRa3K3ZqAw

    For those that are interested, the entire STF series is on youtube and makes for some very interesting watching.

    Please rate this comment: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  6. SpudGunwrote on September 25th, 2009 at 7:21 am Link To Comment | Reply To Comment

    Never mind the AK, what kind of gruelling ass job is that? I’m super paranoid around any type of explosive including fireworks, I can’t imagine humping that kind of stuff through the African bush in the heat and moisture.

    Then having to dig up old mortars and RPGs with nothing but a t-shirt to protect me? They’re certainly madder and braver then me.

    Please rate this comment: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  7. tenchimyowrote on September 25th, 2009 at 5:09 am Link To Comment | Reply To Comment

    Wow

    AK resilience

    Looks more like an AK-47 and not an AK-74 tho

    Please rate this comment: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  8. Andywrote on September 25th, 2009 at 2:39 am Link To Comment | Reply To Comment

    You know, I’ve always wondered why these sorts of operations destroy the ammunition as opposed to salvaging it for other purposes. Of course, in this particular instance, humping it all out would be a bear.

    Please rate this comment: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  9. Calebwrote on September 25th, 2009 at 12:34 am Link To Comment | Reply To Comment

    Kind of makes you want to go buy an AK, doesn’t it?

    Please rate this comment: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  10. bullwrote on September 25th, 2009 at 3:55 am Link To Comment | Reply To Comment

    thats an AKMS :-) pretty cool though.

    Please rate this comment: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  11. higswrote on September 25th, 2009 at 4:12 am Link To Comment | Reply To Comment

    thats no AK74, thats a AKMS with a bakelite mag.

    Please rate this comment: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  12. Rodolfowrote on September 25th, 2009 at 4:14 am Link To Comment | Reply To Comment

    Heh!
    Is there any way to KEEP an AK from being fired?
    Damn. How badly rusted up does it need to be?

    Please rate this comment: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  13. REMOVwrote on September 25th, 2009 at 12:17 am Link To Comment | Reply To Comment

    It is normal 7,62-mm AKMS with plastic red magazine not a 5,45 mm AKS-74.

    R.

    Please rate this comment: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

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