Originally Posted by
RetroRevolver77
My first krink build over thirteen years ago cost me several thousand dollars by one of the best AK gunsmith's in the country. Each part was force matched to a rare early 80's Tula trunnion which a portion of that serial number had to be scrubbed and force matched as well using the same period correct font. The detail that went into that particular build is amazing. In addition each component was sourced to be period correct as an exact replica of the AKS-74U 1984 Soldier of Fortune article. The receiver itself was selectively serial numbered to the rifle such that all numbers are matching. In addition I have a mid 80's Izhevsk AKS-74 build along with an all matching RPK variant. This along with original imported FEG's, Arsenal's, etc. Marshall Arms, AK-USA, Piece of History Firearms, Azex Arms, Gewehr Werks were just a few names among maybe a dozen master level AK builders out there. Only a couple of these original high quality AK gunsmiths remain today and last I spoke to one of them- he wasn't doing well trying to keep afloat. Once they are all gone that era will close forever as no one will be able to replicate the quality of work that was done at that time. Essentially the era of collecting is over, we'll see the last AK gunsmiths close their doors and all of it being thrown down by these cheap replicas just as we saw the biggest name in the AR industry stop selling AR's to the public because they can't compete at the price point of similar cheap AR's. Rifles aren't meant to be cheap, they are meant to be quality whether it's an original 1986 AKS-74 build with all period correct components, an RPK, or a mil spec Colt M4 or even an MP5. Watching some mouth breather talk about their cheap US made MP5, cheap US AK build or cheap non mil spec AR variant is just ridiculous.
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