Feat of the Week: Custom AK-47 Gunsmithing

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Customized AK-47 Features

Make/Model: Arsenal SLR-107R

Stock: Magpul Zhukov-S

Handguard: RS Regulate

Optic Mount: Sabrewerks KOP System

Optic: Trijicon MRO

Muzzle Device: LANTAC Dragon

ALG Defense Advanced Combat Trigger (ACT)

Krebs Custom Mk VI Safety Selector

Railed Gas Tube from Midwest Industries

Front Sight Gas Block Combo from JMac

Circle 10 Waffle Magazine

GunCandy Finish by McCluskey Arms

The Gunsmithing Story

This gunsmithing feat of the week is a fully customized black and gold AK-47. We put a ton of gunsmithing and Cerakote hours into this gun and can’t wait to tell you all about it. So let’s get started!

Though we rarely get AKs in for repair work, they can have issues which stem from long-term wear. Overuse causes faults in AK triggers, safeties, and bolts. Headspace issues are another common problem—especially on poorly made Kalashnikovs.

But the Russians built the AK-47 to be mass produced and disposable. They weren’t meant to be long lasting—because they didn’t need to be. In classic Russian fashion, the AK was built to endure tough conditions and to be quickly and cheaply manufactured. This rifle followed in the footsteps of the Russian-made Mosin-Nagant, a mass produced, cheap, and durable rifle for every soldier.

Even decades later, the AK is still a gun for every man. In 2004, it was estimated that 1 in 5 guns were Kalashnikov variants, and AK-47s themselves comprised 15 percent of the world’s guns. These are the most prolific—and notorious—rifles of the modern era. And just like Glocks, there’s now a huge demand for customization.

Whether it’s adding accessories or a custom paint job, almost all of our AK-47 gunsmithing jobs are modifications. This customer wanted a completely customized AK—shorter barrel, tons of accessories, and a brand new finish.

First, we cut the barrel down to 14 inches and rethreaded it. Next using the press, we installed the optic system from Sabrewerks and front sight gas block combo from JMac Customs. Then, in order to meet the overall length requirement of 16 inches, we pin and welded his LANTAC Dragon muzzle device.

He also wanted a ton of other custom parts added to his AK. We installed the Advanced Combat Trigger from ALG Defense and the railed gas tube from Midwest Industries. We also fit and installed his new RS Regulate handguard. The other custom features on this gun include a Trijicon MRO, Magpul Zhukov-S Stock, Krebs Custom Mk VI Safety Selector, and Circle 10 Waffle Magazine.

The Cerakote Story

To round out this fully customized AK-47, the customer wanted a flashy black and gold finish. But not just any finish. Regular black and gold wouldn’t suffice. This gun needed to be completely tricked out, and GunCandy was the best way to finish this custom job.

Example of GunCandy’s Chameleon Colors on a Customized Glock 22

GunCandy is an amazing additive which, when mixed with Cerakote, creates an awesome glossy and shimmery finish unlike any other coating on the market. To check out all their color options, click here. They offer both solid and chameleon colors.

Applying GunCandy is a much longer process than a typical Cerakote paint job—it requires air drying and multiple coats. Using their Carbon and Ingot colors, we created an awesome and unique look for this gun. While it takes a ton of time and a lot of work, we absolutely love the result.

The AK-47 History

At this point, the history of the AK-47 has been told so many times that it’s almost folklore, but we will quickly recap its history for those who haven’t heard the tale before.

During World War II, the Soviet Union was impressed by their enemy’s Sturmgewehr 44 rifles. This German gun could fire at the same rate as a machine gun and was chambered in a new “intermediate” cartridge. Seeking to compete with their nemesis, the Soviets set out to create their own selective-fire gun built for an intermediate cartridge. So in 1944, Stalin held a secret military design competition to create their new rifle. What resulted was the AK-47 chambered in 7.62x39mm—officially known as the Avtomat Kalashnikova. This gun first underwent trials in 1948 and was quickly adopted by the Soviet military.

Russian Stamp Commemorating 100 year anniversary of Kalashnikov’s Birth

By S. N. Prisekin - [1], Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=82421705

A man named Mikhail Kalashnikov was credited with the design of the new Soviet rifle. He is considered a national hero and was given numerous prizes and awards for his invention. The Russians are incredibly proud of Kalashnikov and his AK-47—Putin once said the AK is “a symbol of the creative genius of our people.” But in true communist fashion, while he was honored for his creation, Kalashnikov never made any money from his invention.

The Kalashnikov rifle was shorter, lighter, and had less recoil than other rifles of the time. The ammunition was also small and lighter. This new intermediate cartridge allowed soldiers to carry more while still having enough penetrating power in combat.

With only eight parts, the AK-47 is easy to operate, disassemble, clean, and reassemble. Most notably, though, AKs are known for their durability. These guns rarely fail to cycle even if they’ve been stuck in sand or mud or used in extreme weather. Because it uses a long-stroke gas piston with a lot of clearance between each moving part, the Kalashnikov rifle has earned a reputation of legendary reliability in tough conditions. Even the magazines, machined from a single piece of steel, are almost indestructible—there are countless stories of soldiers using AK mag as hammers. So simple and durable, it’s known as “soldier proof.”

Top: AKM Receiver

Bottom: AK-47 Type 2 Receiver

Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=782466

In total, four iterations of Kalashnikov’s rifle were developed. Each has a different form of receiver manufacturing. Most of the AK seen today are Type 4s—technically known as AKMs—which began production in 1959. These are stamped and riveted receivers made out of sheet metal—an extremely easy and cheap method of production.

During the Cold War, the Russians gave many countries within the Eastern Bloc manufacturing rights for the AK without licensing fees.  In order to arm the Soviet allies, production of Kalashnikov rifles began in Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, and Romania.  The Soviet Union and Warsaw Pact countries also started exporting AK-47s to pro-communist regimes around the world including Cambodia, Vietnam, Iran, and Libya. In a secret collaboration between Mao and Stalin, China’s communist government was also granted permission to create AKs.

The AK-47 Today

Kurdish Fighters from an All-Female Militia in Syria Armed with AK-47s

By Kurdishstruggle -CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=64681458

During the Soviet Union’s war with Afghanistan in the 1980s, the United States supplied the anti-communist forces with AK-47s made in China. Since then, the U.S. has continued to provide weapons to proxy forces in the Middle East. For example, from 2009 to 2013, America supplied 42% of the total arms to the Middle East, and most of the small arms were Kalashnikov variants. More recently, in 2017, the U.S. armed Syrian forces fighting ISIS with AK-47s purchased from manufacturers in the former Eastern Bloc.

Some historians argue that this is one of the major reasons why the AK has become so widespread—especially in Middle Eastern countries. These weapons often end up in the hands of American enemies including several terrorist organizations. In fact, one government report from 2005, recounts how the Pentagon lost track of over 100,000 AK-47s which had been purchased for Iraqi security forces.

It is no surprise, then, that people in the United States associate AKs with Cold War communists and modern-day terrorists. But or the Russians, the Kalashnikov rifle remains a symbol of national pride. Our customers, however, see the AK-47 as a platform for customization, and for us, it’s a canvas on which to create a masterpiece.

Next Up

We hope you enjoyed this week’s gunsmithing feat.  Thank you for following along! Our next feature will be posted Monday, January 11th at 9am.  Comment for any content you want to see. 

If you loved the services you saw today, check out our online store!  You can start shopping by clicking here.  Or drop us a message here. We look forward to meeting you and gunsmithing for you.

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Sources:

https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/how-well-do-you-know-ak-47-heres-5-little-known-facts-108396

https://www.guns.com/news/2019/08/20/kalashnikov-101-the-history-of-the-ak-47

https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=130493013

https://www.militarytimes.com/off-duty/gearscout/2017/12/12/how-the-ak-47-became-the-weapon-of-the-century/

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/world/ak-47-mass-shootings.html

https://theconversation.com/worlds-deadliest-inventor-mikhail-kalashnikov-and-his-ak-47-126253

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AK-47

https://www.theglobalist.com/20-facts-mikhail-kalashnikov-ak-47/

https://www.historynet.com/everymans-gun-ak-47.htm

https://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2014/07/28/pentagon-weapons-vulnerable-after-afghanistan-withdrawal

https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/05/AR2007080501299.html?hpid%3Dtopnews%E2%8A%82=new

https://www.occrp.org/en/makingakilling/the-pentagon-is-spending-2-billion-on-soviet-style-arms-for-syrian-rebels