These photos were taken in Pakistan. The rifle appears to be a custom job that probably came from the gun markets of Durra. It looks like a AKS-74U thats been modified.
AKS-74U
It lacks the distinctive AKS-74U cone shaped flash hider. Instead it has a standard/”basket” style flash hider, yet the flash hider does not extend past the muzzle, so it must be there for decoration. The magazine looks like it is the standard 5.45×39mm magazine.
5.45×39mm magazine on AK-74M
Interesting what some people cook up!
Hat Tip: MP.net
The BAM XS-B3 is a really cheap air rifle loosely patterned after the AK.
Click to zoom in on the images
For shooting birds in tight spaces
More info on the rifle here.
UPDATE: It is Chinese Artillery, not North Korean. Sorry, my mistake. Apparently those are Chinese characters in the background. Thanks Danger Zone for the correction.
A photo in the NK AAA article I recently blogged about show AKs mounted on artillery barrels. The theories on MilitaryPhotos.net are that they could be:
- Crude Sights
- Used to fire tracers
- Used to fire bullets during training instead of artillery rounds to save cost.
The only other explanation I can think of is that they are just stowed away up there. Although I don’t see how the operators could climb up a hot barrel to fetch it during combat.
Anyone know what they are really there for?
Welcome to the first TFB (The Firearm Blog) poll. Hopefully this will be the first of many!
In this poll you get to sound off as to which AK variant you would prefer if you were a fresh recruit in the Iraqi Army.
The options:
1) AKG (AK-Gangsta) with extra bling
Found on display in gun shops all over the world. Never been fired. Significantly less chance of friendly fire as you can be seen half a mile away when the hot Iraqi sun reflects off the mirror like finish. Significantly more enemy fire is its only downside.
2) Custom AK-47
This AK has personality. This paint job is a custom. Other custom work includes the added foregrip.
3) AK-SS (AK Shovel Stock) aka The Garden Gun
Not commonly seen in the west, and otherwise know as the ‘Garden Gun’, the Shovel Stock AK allows easy transition from spade to assault rifle. Bayonet included to trim hedges and trees.
UPDATE:
The poll is now closed. The clear winner is the Custom AK. Some of your obviously prefer paint jobs than the multi tool functionality of the Garden Gun which I voted for 
Like existingthing I am a sucker for multi tools and never leave home without one.
[poll=2]
Samson are now making a rail system for the AK-47 and clones called the K-Rail Model 1.
Fits most AK-47’s. Two piece design clamps to the barrel trunion area. Low upper rail with clearance slot for use of iron sight. Four 1913 mil spec rails for mounting all popular lights and accessories. Lower rail cut out for underfolder stock. Side clearance for side folding stock.
CZ USA are now selling the VZ 58. The VZ 58 is chambered in 7.62×39mm and although it looks like the AK-47 the similarities end there. Internally it is completely different.
VZ 58 Tactical Sporter
VZ 58 Military Sporter
The Czech SA Vz. 58 service rifle is now available from CZ-USA in 2 semi-automatic only versions, the VZ 58 Tactical Sporter, and the VZ 58 Military Sporter.
The Sa vz. 58 was developed by Ing. Jiri Cermak in 1956 and 1957, adopted by the Czechoslovakian army in 1958. and was produced by Ceska Zbrojovka in Uhersky Brod, Czechoslovakia until 1983. Approximately one million Sa vz. 58 rifles were produced during it’s 20 year production run. As of 2007, it is still the standard issue service rifle in both the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
The new Tactical and Military Sporter models are manufactured by combining original Sa vz. 58 components with a new semi-auto only milled receiver, a new trigger mechanism and new fire control parts.
While the appearance of the VZ 58 looks similar to the AK-47, it was inspired by the German StG 44 and initial development was actually based on the 7.92 x 33. Mechanically, the VZ 58 is completely different from the AK-47, and no parts including magazines are interchangeable.
Differences between the VZ 58 Sporter and the AK-47
* The VZ 58 has a milled receiver, the AK-47 is stamped.
* Even with the milled receiver it is almost one pound lighter than a stamped AK-47.
* The bolt of the VZ 58 stays open after the last round in the magazine has been fired.
* The VZ 58 has a more natural point of aim and is faster handling.
* The safety is more ergonomic making a faster first shot possible with the VZ 58.
* The ejection port is HUGE. There is no chance of an empty case getting stuck in the action of the VZ 58.
* The VZ 58 gas piston can be removed or exchanged without tools.
* The alloy magazine of the VZ 58 is half the weight of the steel AK-47 magazine. (.42 lb. vs. .84 lb.)
* VZ 58 is easier to field strip.
* The VZ 58 is striker fired unlike the hammer fired AK-47. This reduces the number of parts and possible points of failure.
More here.
MilitaryPhotos.net has some interesting photos of the Chinese International Criminal Police Organization.
Some interesting suppressed AKs, they look like AK-103’s but could be something else, and what is probably a Norinco CQ (M16A1 clone) or CQ-M4 (you guessed it, an M4 clone).
Although, I wouldn’t be surprised if these were airsofters (btw, I have nothing against airsoft).
Answer…
1) AK pattern rifles and shotguns made at Izhevsk
2) The ugliest antelope alive
The Russians are not know for producing beautiful firearms, but you would have thought they would have chosen a nicer looking animal than the Saiga for which to brand sporting firearms!
From Wikipedia
The Saiga (Saiga tatarica) is an antelope which originally inhabited a vast area of the Eurasian steppe zone from the foothils of the Carpathians and Caucasus into Dzungaria and Mongolia. Today they are found only in a few areas in Kalmykia (Russia), Kazakhstan, and western Mongolia.
The Saiga typically stands 0.6-0.8 meters at the shoulder and weighs between 36 and 63 kg. Their lifespan ranges from 6 to 10 years. Males are bigger than females and are the only sex to carry horns. The horns have some value as Chinese traditional medicine and for that reason Saiga are now endangered by poaching. The Saiga is recognizable by an extremely unusual, over-sized, and flexible, nose structure. The nose is supposed to warm up the air in winter and filters out the dust in summer.
mike123456 posted high-res photos of his beautiful custom Tromix Saiga-12 shotguns. I love the drum magazine!
(Click to enlarge)
More photos here.
After posting this and doing more image analysis I realized that I was doing the analysis completely wrong. Researcher’s Analysis of al Qaeda Images Reveals Surprises describes what I attempted to do.
Sorry to have wasted anyones time!
… and their use, or lack of use, of iron sights amazes me.
From MilitaryPhotos.com
Palestinian police officers loyal to President Mahmoud Abbas violently dispersed a demonstration against the Annapolis peace conference, and medical workers said one protester was killed in Hebron, a West Bank city, according to The Associated Press. A Palestinian police officer pointed his weapon at protesters during clashes in Hebron.
In case you did not notice, the above ‘police’ officer is holding the rifle sidewards ‘gangster’ style. Why these soldiers/’police’ officers cannot be taught to aim their full auto AKs is beyond me. I know some people think iron sights are hard but I started shooting with them and to this day still do most of my shooting with iron sights. I think they are easier to use than scopes once you know what to do (obviously depending on the application).
Here are some of those classic Liberian rebel photos
More of the above photos here.
A classic post by ‘dstorm1911′ over at Surplus Rifle Forum
Folks due to members on another forum going on bout how the AK is a spray and pray rifle at best etc… or theirs won’t hit accurately because its got a wore out bore or the trigger is crap or….. a plethora of other excuses I decided to run a little test.
I took a 1964 Rommy “GP” (regular army full auto) parts set that’s been sitting on my desk for months (I use it for demo pics etc..) and put it together this morning on a NODAKSPUDS NDS-3 receiver, it is by far the most worn out AK I have either assembled or still in kit form, Below are a few pics to show just how worn out it is.
I used ALL the original components for this test; other than the Full auto disconnector and the rest of the full auto parts and receiver of course otherwise it was tested EXACTLY as it was last used by a Romanian soldier who ran easily a couple hundred thousand rounds through this thing in full auto ….
More here.
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