#Ak

The Double Four, or “44”, is the name given to the 7.92x33mm Kurz, the round first developed for the famous Sturmgewehr 44,  manufactured by craftsman in the famous gun workshops of Darra Adam Khel, Pakistan and which are popular in Pakistan’s tribal regions.

A Russian gun designer has developed an ingenious conversion kit for the AKS-74U or AK-74M that allows it to be switched from a conventional layout to a bullpup configuration on demand. You could call it a “Semi-Bullpup” configuration. When the stock is unfolded it works just like a regular rifle (see below), but when the stock is folded a trigger forward of the magazine can be used to fire the rifle.

It deeply saddens me to write that Izhmash, which was founded over 200 years ago by Tsar Alexander I, has officially been renamed to Kalashnikov. The (Google Translated) press release is below …

Damage Industries have updated their AK Modular Forearm Assembly design. The new Mark III version features a beveled front gas tube, a new relief cut design and all mounting hardware now use the same diameter hex wrench. The assembly is selling for $159.95.

A reader emailed us a photo taken in an Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit’s building at an Army base in Afghanistan. This rifle was proudly on display next to a selection of disarmed M18 Claymore clones. At the readers request I cropped the rest of the photo out, to avoid identifying the soldiers in the photo.

Arsenal have announced they they will be unveiling a game changing firearm on August 7, 2013. The firearm will be a member of thier SAM series of guns (Bulgarian made, 7.62x39mm, milled receiver, black polymer furniture).

NBC published this photo of Osama Bin Laden’s AK that is housed in the CIA museum. The rifle is completely unremarkable. It is no different to the millions of other AKMS specimens in use all over the world and, at least to my eye, reveals nothing about its owner. It lacks any (visible) inscriptions, engravings or gold/chrome coatings. It is in good condition but the gun was sure to have been cleaned by USSOCOM armorers.

The ever-ingenious Destin at SmarterEveryDay built a underwater periscope so he could film an AK being fired underwater with a super-ultra-high-end high speed camera that is not waterproof (and probably costs a little less than $1,000,000 to buy outright).

Al Jazeera has published a video (embedded below) on the attacks on moderate Muslim clerics in Afghanistan who criticize the Taliban and the violence the Taliban inflict on the population. One of clerics profiled shows his three gun arsenal. Along with a pistol and a AKM (pistol grip, no stock) he has this fascinating AK-M4 hybrid. It has a AK receiver with a AR-15-style magazine well, an AR-15 charging handle (no side charging handle), an M16 style carry handle sight, 5.56mm AR-15 magazine, plenty of rails, a AR-15 stock and bizarrely no pistol grip. I really like its design (missing pistol grip excluded).

The Keymod system is a relatively new alternative rail attachment standard that allows for slimmer and lighter rails than the picatinny system. Strike Industries has just announced  their new Keymod rail system for the AK. I believe that the TRAX-1 and TRAX-2 are the first Keymod rails for the AK platform.

Colt posted a photo of Gov. Rick Perry shooting a Colt rifle during a visit to the factory. Whoever posted the photo failed to notice that the rifle being fired by the governor is a not-yet-announced Colt LE901 AR-15 chambered in 7.62x39mm!

Venezuela’s centrally planned economy may have run out of the essentials like toilet paper, milk and sugar, but a shortage of AK-103 rifles is not something they need worry about now that the government’s new rifle and ammunition factory has come online.

An X-Ray technician uploaded this X-Ray taken of a person shot by an “AK” (non-shooters call just about any gun an AK, so lets just assume it was a semi-automatic rifle). The patient will require “two really long plates and some bone graft.”. Ouch!

The Big 3 East in Florida is an expansion of the original Big 3 event held at Kansas every Fall.  Both events were started by writers for writers. The Big 3 stands for Tactical gun, Tactical gear and Tactical training. All the companies and writers were handpicked and by invitations only. The Big 3 East event in Florida was organized by Dillard (CJ) Johnson, a highly decorated retired US Army vet and former PMC. Special thanks to  WPA (Wolf Performance Ammunition) for providing the ammo, Action Target providing the steel targets and Revision Military providing the eye protections for the event.

Lenta.ru reports that Izhmash is working on producing a next-generation bullpup rifle along with a new cartridge for it.