Alright folks, Vlad is officially retired from Soviet AK's. A first generation AK-74 is one of the most sought after rifles to build or clone in this hobby since its inception and its taken me 12 years to do this project.
1976 Izhmash AKS-74 OG barrel. AFAIK, there are only three of these in private collections in the country, only two being OG barrel.
This poor rifle has been through hell and back in its long life. Many of the external components had decades old surface rust from moisture and the other parts have almost no finish or basically stripped, giving them that oh so sweet patina After removing the rust from some of the parts, I creatively used Techno paint and VladTech to match and blend to the other OG painted parts patina. This is an extremely worn rifle in appearance. Internals are fantastic surprisingly. For me, there is no better looking AK than a Soviet AKM or AK74 in an almost stripped patina finish, reminiscent of the rifles in Afghanistan in the 1980's.
Unique features of a first generation AK-74 found on this rifle:
This photo has haunted me for years about how badly I've wanted a rifle that looks like that. Heavy inspiration for the VladTech done on my rifle:
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Wood on gas tube and LHG are replacements. No idea what this sticker says but its some type of rack number, thanks Jerry for sending it to me.
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1976 Izhmash AKS-74 OG barrel. AFAIK, there are only three of these in private collections in the country, only two being OG barrel.
This poor rifle has been through hell and back in its long life. Many of the external components had decades old surface rust from moisture and the other parts have almost no finish or basically stripped, giving them that oh so sweet patina After removing the rust from some of the parts, I creatively used Techno paint and VladTech to match and blend to the other OG painted parts patina. This is an extremely worn rifle in appearance. Internals are fantastic surprisingly. For me, there is no better looking AK than a Soviet AKM or AK74 in an almost stripped patina finish, reminiscent of the rifles in Afghanistan in the 1980's.
Unique features of a first generation AK-74 found on this rifle:
- Early short-arm rear trunnion (note the rivet pattern difference than on the common later AKS74 folding trunnion)
- 2nd style folding stock with high latch placement to account for straight-angle cut receiver when folded
- Pre-dimpled, AKM style top cover
- Early pattern AK-74 lightened trigger (only found on AK74's and 1977 AKM's)
- Straight-angle selector notches
- First gen bolt carrier and relief cut pattern
- Wood grip
- Heavy reinforced barrel, extremely unique to the first two years of production
- 62 degree gas block
- First gen 90 degree squared LHG retainer
- Non-lightened FSB
- Half-moon muzzle brake
This photo has haunted me for years about how badly I've wanted a rifle that looks like that. Heavy inspiration for the VladTech done on my rifle:
Wood on gas tube and LHG are replacements. No idea what this sticker says but its some type of rack number, thanks Jerry for sending it to me.
