Nice! Luv all the proofs! My 61 Izzy has different Cyrillic letter prefixes than yours - I thought they might be the same.

 

I know right!? Takes a pro to teach me what all this means. Perhaps one of our many forum AK nerds (respectfully) will share some insight.

 

Solid shooter for sure. Atlantic has done a decent job with these. Most won't know or care about the 3 spot welds over the right side dimple etc. Your buttstock is a late era one with the side swivel sling loop, reinforcement pin location etc. Looks like a Izhmash stock which would be correct for late 1971 to end of production. Handgaurds are likely izhmash but have been sanded and refinished giving the palmswells a rounded Tula like appearance. If the LHG has a tension spring it is a later style as well

61 would normally have a wood pistol grip. It would also have 14 matching parts when new. They would be: Trunion, bolt, carrier, recoil rod, dust cover, gas tube, sight leaf, handguard, selector lever, trigger, disconnector, hammer, auto sear, and hammer retarder.

 

SWolff,
Yes the LHG does have a spring. The palmswells look like they have hints of more defined beveled edges. I am planning to put a Bakelite grip on it. But, your suggesting a wood grip for period correctness. Can you suggest a seller for the correct grip?
Thank you for the information

 

That looks like a good shooter. Good introduction to the Russian AKM. It’s been refurbished but that pretty typical. I agree with SWoff and the gas block should have been non lightened also. It wouldn’t have been used until sometime in 63.

 

Military surplus AKs are like military surplus 1911 pistols, they are a mix and match of parts.

Not all of them.

But yeah, 61 is a very difficult year to find all original. I have seen a few with all OG metal parts, but so far never 100%. I still say the paint just doesn't look right on these Atlantic builds. Look at your muzzle nut, that's the color the whole gun should be, with varying textures on different parts. It doesn't help that they painted over everything either.

 

Hey Panzer Front
What do you think it would cost to ask Techno to paint this with his Russian paint?
Do you think it would be worth the hassle?

 

Hmm, I guess it depends. On the one hand the damage has already been done by painting all the original parts. On the other hand it would be closer to what it should have been if you did repaint it, and this is a refurbished example anyway. His paint isn't cheap when it's available though. I'm sure AK John or TRA would paint it for you for a small fee. I'm not sure if Techno offers a painting service or if he just sells the paint.

 

It’s a good entry level rifle. I would just shoot it and enjoy Atlantic’s build. If you now have the AK bug like the rest of us, just try to find a correct all matching kit and have it built correctly. No need to waste money trying to change it, imo.

 

It’s a good entry level rifle. I would just shoot it and enjoy Atlantic’s build. If you now have the AK bug like the rest of us, just try to find a correct all matching kit and have it built correctly. No need to waste money trying change it, imo.

DK18,
That sounds like good sense to me. Kits have been expensive and scarce.

 

Hmmm, I've been wondering about this for a while. I have a Tula that I have been considering doing as well.
Has me thinking.

 

The grip is the thin style, I believe 24mm?

 

Maybe somebody with an original 60 Izzy or 62 Tula can chime in about this. @Jrice @SWolff how about it? Would 61 have had the thick or thin laminate grip?

 

Thin

 

This company on GB is selling a bunch of the early 60’s laminated Russian AK wood thin grips for $99 (then add on tax and shipping).

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1050801576

I’m still trying to find one cheaper.

 

I have 3 of the thin laminate type. I'll do $85 shipped if you need one. @Akman28

 

Since it’s a 61 Izzy party here’s a recently acquired kit from Moka’s Raifus ($1300). Notice the 5/2 marked Bakelite grip which, as someone here noted in a different thread, was probably swapped in during a refurb.

 

REWELD IT

 

Nice looking rifle! Your stock set looks in a bit nicer condition than the one on my 1963. I'm currently looking for a nice 60's sling for mine, since my stash of Russian slings are nearly all 70's and 80's dated.

I'm surprised you didn't get more matching parts. I must have gotten lucky to receive a rifle with nearly complete matching numbers, sans the full-auto parts and the refurbed LHG.

 

Yep, I'm glad you received a satisfactory number of matching parts with yours. I think one has to take a gamble with this type of thing. The excitement of purchasing a historical AKM is so fun. I once received a Tula build that was loaded with matching parts! Romy's too. Just less this time, but I'm happy I have another awesome great AK!

 

24mm for grip is correct. Only the type 2/3 had the 29mm grip as original

 

I enjoy trying to create “correct” AK’s from parts kits but I wouldn’t worry too much about having everything be “correct” unless that matters to you personally. To the average AK guy they could care less about original paint, proof marks, etc on these. They just want a Russian AK. It’s like re-welds, the only people that care about them are fans of them. You could explain at the range “No No don’t you understand that front part here on the receiver still has this little cool marking!!” Nobody will care except for the small group that’s really into that stuff.

 

Here’s the furniture from my 14 matching numbers 61 kit. IMO, wood grips look great but finding one to match your refurbished furniture would be near impossible.
@Akman28 If you were to get a wood grip, you would need to get it refinished to match. If you’re going to go that far you might as well get the correct stock and lower hand guard as well. IMO, I would just get a Izzy Bakelite grip and honor its refurb history and enjoy it. Izzy mold numbers use a “ / “ , 1 / 1 . It’s been refurbished any number combo would work.

@Caverpete Nice kit, are you going to have that receiver welded back together? As AJD mentioned, some are fans of re-welds. I’m one of those fans. If I can save one, I will at least try. If they turn out well, I’ll use it on my builds. If you go far enough down the rabbit hole of collecting the little details matter to some of us.
@Akman28 I would enjoy your rifle then decide if you have the AK addiction and want to try and build a “better clone”. There are still some decent matching kits available but yes they are expensive. Only you can decide if the details are worth it. Is the juice worth the squeeze?

 

@Caverpete Nice kit, are you going to have that receiver welded back together? As AJD mentioned, some are fans of re-welds. I’m one of those fans. If I can save one, I will at least try. If they turn out well, I’ll use it on my builds. If you go far enough down the rabbit hole of collecting the little details matter to some of us.

I’m considering welding it which is why I was more careful than usual when finishing the demill. Then again, after doing a deep dive on the topic of welding thin receivers I realize this is probably beyond my skill set. I’m just relearning TIG after a 40-year gap and the best way (as per @Vlado’s advice in an older thread) is likely MIG (which I don’t have) because of the sizable gap between receiver pieces. I may just use it for reference and donate the pieces to a builder who can do it justice. From what I understand the best modern receiver is a Childers unmarked Polish (with 3 spot welds) which you can then use stencils on to get the selector markings correct. I took @Panzer Front up on his wood grip offer and I’ll refinish it if it doesn’t match the existing furniture. And then there’s the lower hg which, as noted in this thread, has the tension spring and was made some years after 1961…. So many details to get right. Def gonna use Russian paint and carefully mask all the og parts.

 

DK18
You make a lot of sense my friend. I'll take your advice.
Thank you for the information

 

@Akman28 That is a nice looking rifle, I would be happy with it if it was mine!

 

Thanks brother, I'm grateful to have it. Happy Father's Day to all you great dad's out there.

 

Woah. Sweet izzy.

 

Nice !

 

Misha featured this on his channel..$2,300 is to expensive for Half Built Com Bloc Clone. PSA GF5 Soviet arms Kalashnikov Clone is as Good for $1,100. PSA offers a Ishevsk Clone too but for $2,200 they can keep it too.