[Lordofarms1989]

I recently purchased a Soviet AKM barrel and want to know if it's an izhmash or tula manufacturered barrel.

 

[DK18]

Can you show a pic of the chamber face? Is there machining lathe lines by the journal numbers? Looks smooth in the pics not showing lines like the pic with the y

 

[patjsimpson]

Pretty sure that is a fake. a few things to note is that the barrel is very smooth and the circle looks laser engraved rather than stamped. Apparently there is a guy on gunbroker that is taking recent romanian import barrels and laser engraving circle y on them and selling them as romanian / russian barrel that arms of america was selling years ago. I had three of the original barrels and recently sold two and the machining on the originals were not nearly as nice as the machining on those.

 

[patjsimpson]

Here are some examples of the ones I had.

New item by Pat Simpson

photos.app.goo.gl

New item by Pat Simpson

photos.app.goo.gl

Notice the machining and the imperfect y stamps.

 

[DK18]

I thought it might be the recent fake gunbroker barrels. Y looks etched or lasered . Not a expert but the metal looks melted. I bet it has a feed ramp in the chamber face also (modern barrels).

 

[patjsimpson]

Yeah there is a thread on this forum that discusses those barrels.

 

[patjsimpson]

this is what the chambers looked like on the ones I had.

New item by Pat Simpson

photos.app.goo.gl

 

[burnnrbr]

Not Soviet but really nice in my opinion. Here's a couple photos of mine.

 

[patjsimpson]

I agree the romanian barrels are great. Just not sure they are worth the 350 premium for a fake circle Y stamp.

 

[burnnrbr]

I don't know, but the one I have in my hands doesn't look laser engraved or etched. The edges are raised and very squared off. It looks really nice. I guess everyone has a right to an opinion on whether these are worth their premium. Fake has yet to be determined by me. For me it's going to be a great addition to an already nice matching numbers kit. Whoever stamped these used a stamping tool and I would challenge anyone to do an outstanding job of making a headstamp as nice as this and to strike it precisely, has my thumbs up whether it was done here or in Romania. I'm glad I bought one and will be looking forward to using it on my build.

 

[patjsimpson]

That is geat. As long as it makes you happy that is all that matters. It is just a bummer for people looking or authentic and it ends up being a forgery. Glad you are happy with your purchase.

 

[burnnrbr]

Thanks.

 

[JoDaBo]

I don’t have a problem with the way they look just the way they are being marketed. They’re definitely not Russian and to say they are knowing that you put the “y” stamp on them is bad juju.

 

[AKFAN]

I also have no problem with people adding the Russian markings... but what I have a problem is them trying to sell them as something which they are not. If there were just upfront about it then cool but instead some have elaborate stories of how these came to be.

 

[DK18]

Exactly!

 

[techno]

Thanks.

Read your messages, text me.


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[Sunspot]

The circle Y stamp is hand stamped at factory, not roll stamped. Every example I have seen back when people first starting looking for that stamp on barrels has shown that it is hand stamped. The actual Hand stamp has a flat surface, and when stamping on a round barrel there will always be part of that stamp that that is less pronounced than the rest. Much in the same way that the angle the person holding the stamp also creates an area less defined than the rest of the mark. A Perfect impression of a circle that size on a round surface that diameter, in my opinion, is definately not genuine or credible.

 

[burnnrbr]

Actually, under a magnifying glass it's not as perfect as in my photo. The lines look like it was as you described 'hand stamped' uneven depth and the circle not uniform in width of it's line. I've compared them to my other Romy pulled barrels, which I have four that are stamped with a y. One with a perfect looking stamp. The only thing that I see is that the circle is too round for my liking. I would rather liked to have it like on most of the original looking y circle stamped barrels, Romy and Soviet ones, to be a little flatter on the one to five o'clock area. That's my only gripe. Of course my other gripe is about the seller advertising in his headline at the top in bold 'Soviet' akm barrels. I knew this going in that they were Romy barrels, but others obviously didn't. I would say those that didn't should ask for a refund, but for me, I like what I bought.

 

[patjsimpson]

I wonder if he would do that on one of my us made barrels. he could offer it as a service and make even more long term money than trying to trick people. In my opinion the number of people who are willing to pay that much for a barrel is far smaller than the number of people who would be happy with a clone. I for instance am not that into the absolute authentic. I just like the different variations of AK's and it does not have to be down to the minute detail. Similar to audiophiles I and a sony/pioneer mid range kind of guy not the 5% high end type of guy when it comes to AK's. I like an m76 but it doesn't have to be a mitchell import.

 

[techno]

Y’all know that is laser engraved right?

And it’s a recent import Romanian barrel, the ones with the goofy 2 journal marks.

I can prove it, but just take my word for it. What a fking asshole.


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