The Chinese AK's

[Terry G]

There was a question before about the Chinese Manufactured AK'S that were sold in the U.S. prior to the ban. The MAK 90 "Sporter" was made by NORINCO and the AKS was made by Poly-Tec. Both marketed as "Civilian" AK-47's. To beat several import bans the MAK 90 featured no bayonet or lug and a full non-pistol grip stock The 90 also came with a five round magazine. The AKS was an AK47 without the full automatic feature but other than that it was your basic AK47.

 

[.455_Hunter]

Yup- I had a fully sporterized Norinco as shown in your pic. I think I bought it in '94 or '95 as a late teen. It was a complete piece of junk. The bolt carrier would frequently de-rail on one side and jam, either during manual cycling or shooting. The amount of $$$ they want for them now is absurd.

 

[Erich]

One could write a book on the variants of ChiCom AKs imported for sale here. The initial post is nice, but doesn't even begin to cover it. In summer '87 we bought Norinco AKs (under-, side-folders at $179, fixed stocks at $159, avail. in 5.56 and 7.62x39) with bayo lugs and a whole kit of webbing, bayo, sheath, etc. All day, every day at the Indy 1500 show.

 

[boykinlp]

I remember buying a Chinese AK with bayonet, banana magazine, and under folder rear stock in the 90’s for $250! I shot it a few times and it was kind of a novelty to me. A few years later, but before the ban, I was in a local pawnshop and saw a NIB Italian made Beretta 92 that listed for around $650. I thought it would be nice to have one and traded my AK even for it. I thought I had made an awesome deal!

Of course, now you can buy the Beretta 92 or similar one for the same or less money than I paid, and the AK sometimes sells for $1000 or more. I wish I had bought a dozen of the AK’s back then! That’s why they say hindsight is 20/20.
Larry

 

[Valmet]

The Polytech AKS and Norinco 56S rifles were pre-89, the MAK-90 was pre-94 hence the goofy thumb hole stock. Lots of folks use “pre-ban” interchangeably but most serious military collectors consider “pre-ban” being the orig 89 import ban.

The earliest imported Chinese AK were the Claycos which came in in 1982-83.

 

[younggun22]

The Polytech AKS and Norinco 56S rifles were pre-89, the MAK-90 was pre-94 hence the goofy thumb hole stock. Lots of folks use “pre-ban” interchangeably but most serious military collectors consider “pre-ban” being the orig 89 import ban.

The earliest imported Chinese AK were the Claycos which came in in 1982-83.

My father bought 3 clayco underfolders for something like $180 a piece in the early 80’s

 

[Valmet]

The fixed and folder Claycos were actually made at two different factories- I believe the fixed were made at Ling Hua and the folders at Minh Sahn

 

[diyj98]

In the 80’s you could order the Mak90’s, a drum, and a case of ammo dirt cheap. We spent a lot of weekends loading those drums just to blast cans, rocks, and anything else we could find.

Last year I was out of town and met a guy walking out of a pawnshop with a mint looking AK. He was raising heck about the shop not wanting to give him anything for it. I asked what he wanted and it was only $300. He and I both left happy.

 

[Rubone]

This is an interesting variant made by Norinco during the ban era, a "Hunter". Really odd trigger set-up but surprisingly accurate. 20" barrel, milled slant receiver, and uses standard AK mags. Came stock with a 5 round one. Drilled for and came with a receiver mounted scope base plate.

 

[Mike0251]

My Norinco SKS bought back in the day. Also had a MAK 90 that was unfired in the safe for years and sold it for $1200 at the height of all the craziness.

 

[pharmer]

Prices on AK's are wild these days. "Legend" variants for $3K? I thought they were expensive at $400 when other models were less than half. I bought an SKS "paratrooper" which took AK mags for $129 from CDNN 35 years ago. It had the original mag catch modified to hold the AK mag in place. Every time I pulled the trigger it would drop the mag. CDNN exchanged it for another paratrooper actually designed for the AK mag, worked perfectly. I sold it and a box of 30 rd mags for $700 just before the 2008 election. I wish I kept it, money is long gone and I bet that rifle is still going. Joe

 

[Heinz]

The Kalashnikov design is incredibly robust and reliable. Only the Chinese manufacturing process can turn it into a ***

 

[Glenn R. McMannly]

They aren’t a real AK anyhow.

AKs are fun to shoot on full auto. Semi auto only ones are boring and neutered.

 

[Valmet]

The Kalashnikov design is incredibly robust and reliable. Only the Chinese manufacturing process can turn it into a ***

The Chinese manufactured some of the best AKs out there, particularly the Polytechs.

 

[Richard Simmons]

This is an interesting variant made by Norinco during the ban era, a "Hunter". Really odd trigger set-up but surprisingly accurate. 20" barrel, milled slant receiver, and uses standard AK mags. Came stock with a 5 round one.

IIRC the receiver on the “Hunter” was popular for building a Galil parts kit on back in the day.

 

[wood714]

The Chinese manufactured some of the best AKs out there, particularly the Polytechs.

This is one of the favorites of all the guns I own. My Maadi is a close behind it.

 

[diyj98]

Every Chinese AK variant I’ve owned or shot has been extremely reliable.

 

[AJ]

Got rid of an SKS by Poly Tech during the 1st Obama scare. Only had a couple of hundred in the AK, had picked up a Poly Tech Drum mag and about 10 30 round mags. The drum cost me $50 (dealer thought it was junk) and the mags were $10 apiece. Sold it all for $1200. Was happy at the time with the deal......guess it worth more than that nowadays.

Do have a NIB Norinco SKS that I paid $100 for many years ago. Don't see much love for these now.

 

[Pisgah]

I owned MAK 90 for several years. A brick to carry, saucer-sized 100 yard groups, but you could shoot it 5000 rounds without cleaning, run over it with a truck, dunk it in mud -- it would shoot. I do not believe anything short of a cutting torch poses them much of a threat.

 

[robvious]

had Norinco NHM-90... a type 56 thumbhole modified AK that unfortunately was waiting on the dock when the "ban" occurred... a rare and valuable version historically... pie tin accurate at 100 yards... but not as accurate as my sks..