AIMS-74 Twins

[Bret]

The Romanian AIMS-74 is chambered in 5.45x39. It has features similar to the AKM and the AK74. They will accept Russian or Bulgarian AK74 magazines, but the Romanian ones are metal. Years ago, I was fortunate enough to be able to buy a couple of original barrel AIMS-74 kits from MarColMar Firearms. The story at the time was that 100 full auto rifles with burst were brough at the behest of the US government to be studied or copied for supply to our allies in the Middle East. Apparently, that fell through. So, the kits were demilled. So far as I know, these were the only AIMS-74 kits brought in with the original barrels. MarColMar somehow got them and offered them for sale. Unfortunately, they sold the matching numbers bayonets prior to selling the kits. I had two receivers with "correct" cosmetic features made by 74ULLC. Their serial numbers match the kits which interestingly are only one number apart. I sent the kits off to Two Rivers Arms a few months ago. I asked them to keep all of the finish original except for the receiver that had to be finished to match. They arrived home today. Here's a before picture of a kit followed by a picture of the twins.

[SteyrAUG]

I had a few SAR-2s over the years which I debanned, but when prices started hitting over 2,500 for rifles that I had $450 invested in them, they went on the auction block. That and I had a Russian SLG31 so I was good in the AK74 type department.

[Bret]

I had a few SAR-2s over the years which I debanned, but when prices started hitting over 2,500 for rifles that I had $450 invested in them, they went on the auction block.

If I used that logic, most of my AK's and many other guns would be long gone.

[SteyrAUG]

If I used that logic, most of my AK's and many other guns would be long gone.

At the time I had about 32 AK rifles. Many of them were nearly 1:1 copies of each other except for nationality. So in those cases I kept the best example and I took the opportunity to let go of all the "part kit build on a Century receiver" AKs I had and I thinned it down to about a dozen.

When imports and copies were $400 rifles I did try and have representative example from every country that fielded them, the problem is that in most cases the receiver was US made, NoDak in the better examples and CAI in the others so they were clones of various quality.

So now I have some Chinese 56 variants, a Maadi, some polish builds on Nodaks, some Bulgarian builds on Nodaks, some Bulgarian SLRs, a Russian SLG31 and a Draco SBR set up with East German furniture and folder.

The only thing I need is a retro Type 3 but I missed out on grabbing a Poly Legend. Sorta also want a Norinco red side folder.

[Danus ex]

I had one of these kits, several magazines, and a 74ULLC receiver as well, but sold it instead of building. Glad to see these return to life!

[ABNAK]

At the time I had about 32 AK rifles. Many of them were nearly 1:1 copies of each other except for nationality. So in those cases I kept the best example and I took the opportunity to let go of all the "part kit build on a Century receiver" AKs I had and I thinned it down to about a dozen.

When imports and copies were $400 rifles I did try and have representative example from every country that fielded them, the problem is that in most cases the receiver was US made, NoDak in the better examples and CAI in the others so they were clones of various quality.

So now I have some Chinese 56 variants, a Maadi, some polish builds on Nodaks, some Bulgarian builds on Nodaks, some Bulgarian SLRs, a Russian SLG31 and a Draco SBR set up with East German furniture and folder.

The only thing I need is a retro Type 3 but I missed out on grabbing a Poly Legend. Sorta also want a Norinco red side folder.

Bought my second long-gun ever in 1987 at the "National Gun Day" at the KY state fairgrounds in Louisville. It was a NIB Norinco (detachable bayonet, not spike) for $300. Probably high for those days but whatever. I briefly debated between it and the NIB Hungarian next to it for $400.