AKS-74 Bulgarian/Russian Difference

[scaldwellk]

A friend went and got himself a AKS-74 side folder. It folds to the left and has a triangular look to it. Could anyone here tell me how to tell for him if it is a Russian or a Bulgarian folder. It is just the folder With parts and no other parts of the rifle.

[FAL GRUNT]

Look for a triangle with an arrow in it, that would be the first sign, secondly I would go to Tantals web-site, that will help you. I can't post more because i have a meeting in 2 minutes :) I'll try and get back with specifics later. -myers

[jdg2902]

If i remember correctly, the pins the stock pivots on are different diameters. I cannot recall whether the Bulgy or Russian is larger.

[SA58]

The russian pin is larger than the bulgarian.

[scaldwellk]

Look for a triangle with an arrow in it, that would be the first sign, secondly I would go to Tantals web-site, that will help you. I can't post more because i have a meeting in 2 minutes :) I'll try and get back with specifics later. -myers

Would you have a link for the web site?

[KernelKrink]

http://tantal.kalashnikov.guns.ru/default.html

[scaldwellk]

http://tantal.kalashnikov.guns.ru/default.html

Nice website. I did not see the info I needed. I did however call the guy that has the stock and he told me there is a marking on it. He said it looks to him like a square with the number 0 in it. Does this help tell what it is?

[KernelKrink]

Doesn't sound familiar, but a diamond with a 0 is the SUHL factory in East Germany. AFAIK they only made the sidefolder like is on the Tantal and Romys.

Do the struts have straight sides or are they rolled over? Is the buttplate smooth or have ribs pressed into it? If the struts are not rolled, the buttplate should be smooth on a Russian and ribbed on a Bulgarian. Rolled, it could go either way as they both made their rolled version with ribs on the buttplate.


Common markings on combloc weapons listed here:

http://www.ak-47.net/ak47/markings/index.html

[allesennogwat]

I have a pic of the different ones next to each other.I'll try to find it and post it.

[scaldwellk]

It has the rolled sides with ribs on the butt. None of the marks look like what is on this stock. The pics of the 2 would help. Thanks.

[scaldwellk]

I got a chance to see the stock today. I seen the mark he told me about. I found another mark. It seems to be the Russian Izhevsk one with the triangle and an arrow facing upward.

[allesennogwat]

Left to right, Russian Izhevsk, Bulgarian, Tula, and Late Tula (more material rolled)

[scaldwellk]

Thanks for the pic. From what I have seen it looks like the one on the far right.