You can’t use “high quality” and “US made” in the same sentence you’re asking for a sub-$1000 price.
From a manufacturers view… I could machine a BEAST of an AK. I pulled the designs and could cut the parts out easily. To get the highest quality, I would demand the highest quality material. I’m talking S7 steel bolt and piston, 17-4 steel action and assembly parts, billet Tenalum and titanium receivers and gas blocks. My material cost would be nearly $500, and I haven’t even started cutting yet. Add to that a match grade barrel, match trigger, proper sights and modern furniture… that’s easily another $1k. Now I’m over $1500 and I haven’t started in on the labor. I’d love to do the project, but I don’t think of AK owners as being a bountiful market of big enough spenders to finance this project.
The Yugo M85 Pap that takes AR mags has been out for years.
It seems that i have heard a few Canadians say this. They must have shipped their seconds to Canada. My Norincos and Polys are good to go. They are built just fine and look great. I know Canada has Poly and Norinco guns besides AKs, but didn’t realize the AK was legal? Hmmm…?
I prefer combloc AKs. Combloc countries invented the design and have been making the AK for over 70 years. They have it figured out. The materials are just fine from most combloc factories.
And this is why I own an IWI Galil ACE
I totally agree with you.
Perhaps I should have stated my remark as a “higher quality AK” instead of “high quality AK”…simply meaning something that isn’t complete crap…kind of like what the Russians, Bulgarians, Hungarians, Poles, and even the Romanians have been producing for decades.
I also agree that manufacturing a top of the line quality US AK would be extremely cost prohibitive and you would not be selling a whole lot of them.
My personal opinion is that most American AK buyers want a decent quality AK (read: one that works and lasts for a while) at a sub 1K price tag.
The price tag is a little high. I could see $1,200ish but $1800 is a bit steep. Same goes for the Tavor.
why I said Hipoint of the north - they will always go bang. Remember we get stuff that doesn’t require BATF fingers in holes or have to meet 922r. AKs are prohibited by name but are still obtainable and transferable.
Bite your tongue, you heathen bastard!
It is well made though! In fact @Caw, just to spite you, I’m going to walk out the back of my shop door to my house and go pet mine right now! LOL
Have has many subscriptions over the years, loved that rag
And this is why no one in their right mind should pay $2,000 for one imo
The Tavor is one of them rifles that looks better in person. I always felt kinda “meh” about it but when I got to shoot one I seen the appeal.
Once you take one apart, you understand why it is worth every penny.
This was in the 80’s. Think about how cheap a new car was in the 80’s. And they are collectible too. $2000 is not too bad for most prebans, considering the ban was 30 years ago. We haven’t been able to get an AK built with “features” and all foreign parts since 1989. It makes sense to me. And even with current preban prices. these AKs are great investments since the price has only trended upward. In fact some Chinese prebans are worth much more than $2000. The current range is starting at about $1600 to $4000+ depending on model, NIB, etc…
You probably think I’m nuts. But that’s just fine with me.
We’re all crazy! Look at all the shit we buy & own lol.
I just cant believe with the modern tech & manufacturing practices we use today, that a quality, accurate , kick ass AK47 can not produced for well under 2k!
Have to agree on that… Sharp Bros is making a badass lower and trunion… but damn… upgrade to a threaded barrel at least… do something to make it better.
OH WAIT.
IWI ALREADY DID!
Outside of finish , what exactly does an Arsenal offer over a Wasr?
Quite frankly, the Arsenal I owned had a horrible spray paint type finish that was flaking off before I even used it. I found it to be more front heavy than my WASR, which made it awkward to handle, the polymer furniture was crap. So I guess in my opinion…the Arsenal offers you a lighter wallet lol.
I do think that some of the machining might have been a little better…but it has been quite a while since I’ve owned one. I just remember when I actually got mine I was expecting something so much better than what I got that I was a bit disappointed in all the hype.
That being said, I still own a WASR…but no Arsenal’s…
My opinion and observations…YMMV