Inherited Norinco 5.56

1047 Views 29 Replies 10 Participants Last post by Bullitt0088, 7 d ago

Martinp26

Discussion Starter · 12 d ago

9

So my uncle gave me a rifle and said I can keep it or sell it and to be honest I know a little about them but not a lot. It’s a Norinco Mak 90 in 5.56.

Now I always hear things like”pre-ban” and I know values change but I honestly lack the knowledge about the value of this rifle and how I would even label it if I was to sell it.

attached are some pics if anyone can give me a better understanding of the history of this rifle and value I would appreciate it.

btw it is straightcut receiver and the homemade wine is not for sale.

See less See more

Reactions: 2

1 - 20 of 30 Posts

gonogo

· #2 · 12 d ago (Edited)

Post ban mak90 but yours in particular is more desirable than those in general population due to your front sight block has the so-called fang for holding a cleaning rod, plus a barrel-stub sleeve covering what I assume are threads fitting a 14-1 LH flash hider

Your gas block bayonet lug is shaved off but retains an open channel for somewhat securing a cleaning rod.

We’re it mine, I’d find an AKM black poly stock, cleaning rod and a pistol grip (not costly) and get shed of that thumbhole stock. Save your money and Keep your foregrip handguards

Reactions: 2

Yoda

· #3 · 12 d ago (Edited)

What an Awesome Uncle....damn!
I agree with GoNoGo,
It also has the /66\ arsenal trunnion marking and the Norinco star stamp near on the side (some had them underneath, by the mag-well, others not at all)
The correct sight block adds desirability. Non-Chrome lined barrel - as only Chinese versions in 7.62 cal were lined. This is a slightly more desirable of the Post ban models.

It may have threads under the muzzle cap for the proper slanted muzzle brake, the fact its "capped" and probably tack welded on, means there is a really good chance.
Looks like it may have original double hook trigger group in the 1 pic, if so, leave it!
Its one of the best factory FCGs out there and very sought after.

Better value will come, if its has numbers matching on the major components (trunnion, bolt, bolt carrier being the the priority, followed by others if possible (gas tube, selector, etc)
I don't recall if its factory Norinco furniture put on for ban era importation, aftermarket put on to distribute them by the importer or what, but a genuine blonde chu wood set will put ya back several hundred $$ but would be worth every penny. Green web Chinese sling (amazon) would round it out nicely and really give it a more authentic look & feel.

If you want to go all in on the correct original bits & pieces, Original flat back blued steel mags, probably a black non-military bayonet, green square plastic oil bottle and various green canvas mag pouches/chest rig would complete the kit. All of these things are out there to grab while ya still can. Original Chinese AK cleaning kits are elusive, simply because the Mak90's & NHM91's never had a place for them, so not nearly as many came in with them included as the guns themselves and those that did were often lost or failed to travel with the guns ownership chain.

Everything Chinese AK has climbed in value of recent years and while yours is not a pre-ban, it sits nicely in among the post ban configurations and can easily be brought back to more original configuration if you so desire...

See less See more

Reactions: 2

scottyb

· #4 · 12 d ago

How many mags?

Reactions: 2

Martinp26

Discussion Starter · #5 · 12 d ago

scottyb said:
How many mags?

0 that’s why I’m debating to sell or not. I hear mags are a big issue and standard Chinese are like $100 a piece

Reactions: 2

Bullitt0088

· #6 · 12 d ago

What you have is a transitional MAK-90 - it was a CSI import Type 84S when it arrived. It will be costly to put it back to original if that is the path that you want to go down. You will need an 84S birdcage flash hider and Chinese stock set in either wood or phenolic at a minimum. Right now you can find the SDM stock sets for around $350-450 depending on your luck.

If you decide to sell, I’d be interested. I’ve got all the spare parts to put it back.

Reactions: 2

Yoda

· #7 · 12 d ago

Martinp26 said:
0 that’s why I’m debating to sell or not. I hear mags are a big issue and standard Chinese are like $100 a piece

Original Chinese 84-S mags can be costly, $100-150 for used, but they are around. NOS ones command good money!
There are others which have been known to work, especially if you just want mags to "shoot" and keep the harder to come by originals from use. I will link a discussion about them below, tons of good info.
what-mags-work-or-can-work-in-a-norinco-84s.

Indykid

· #8 · 12 d ago

Interesting, your Uncle gave you the rifle, as in you didn't pay for it, and you complain about spending $100 for a mag to make it useful?

You have a very nice very early post-Bush1-ban rifle and most collectors would be thrilled to have that in their collection.

Personally as a collector, I recommend not changing a thing, keep that stock set as I believe it was made by Choate and specified by the importer. Very rare setup!

Reactions: 2

Bullitt0088

· #9 · 11 d ago

Indykid said:
Interesting, your Uncle gave you the rifle, as in you didn't pay for it, and you complain about spending $100 for a mag to make it useful?

You have a very nice very early post-Bush1-ban rifle and most collectors would be thrilled to have that in their collection.

Personally as a collector, I recommend not changing a thing, keep that stock set as I believe it was made by Choate and specified by the importer. Very rare setup!

Negative ghost rider - that stock set was a replacement item. Please see the attached link to an NIB KSI Mak-90 .

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/986547689

Reactions: 2

Yoda

· #10 · 11 d ago

Bullitt0088 said:
Negative ghost rider - that stock set was a replacement item. Please see the attached link to an NIB KSI Mak-90 .

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/986547689

That is what I thought as well.
ATI made them along with others. Numrich still sells them afaik....
I just cant recall if they were installed by the dealers, or by the importer or by whom.
Eitherway, it needs to have the original type56 chu wood furniture set imho.

Reactions: 1

Averageakm

· #11 · 11 d ago

Great gun, basically a neutered 84s. Will be worth way less than a pre 89 gun, but will last just as long. Only mag I’ve gotten to work on my 84s was the og steel mags, and promags. A warning I will give however is the firing pins are soft so using harder mil spec primers for a long period of time can crack it. I know this as it happened to me after using lots of green tip 5.56.

Reactions: 2

Papa AK47

· #12 · 11 d ago

I have one of those stocks. I believe I bought it back in the late 1990’s to put on my Maadi as the thumbhole stock that came on my Maadi was so incredibly uncomfortable. I don’t know who made it. I thought it was made by Choate but I don’t remember for sure. There is not a manufacturer stamp on it anywhere.

See less See more

Reactions: 1

Martinp26

Discussion Starter · #13 · 11 d ago

Indykid said:
Interesting, your Uncle gave you the rifle, as in you didn't pay for it, and you complain about spending $100 for a mag to make it useful?

You have a very nice very early post-Bush1-ban rifle and most collectors would be thrilled to have that in their collection.

Personally as a collector, I recommend not changing a thing, keep that stock set as I believe it was made by Choate and specified by the importer. Very rare setup!

I complain about mags because all my guns I like to use. I’m not a collector really and if I keep this I’m going to end up beatin the piss out of it. I don’t mind buying a couple mags at $100 but I usually like to buy reliable mags and lots of them. I’m probably going to end up selling it to someone who will appreciate it more.

Reactions: 1

scottyb

· #14 · 11 d ago

If you do keep it try to find a spare bolt or min a firing pin.

Reactions: 2

MAKninety

· #15 · 11 d ago

Nice rifle thank you for posting - I would keep a nice Chinese AK 7 shoot the rifle in rotation .

Reactions: 2

Averageakm

· #16 · 11 d ago

scottyb said:
If you do keep it try to find a spare bolt or min a firing pin.

Definitely and maybe get stronger recoil spring or buffer. These have a similar issue to the arsenal 5.56 to lesser degree of being very over gassed. Might be one of the reasons they beat themselves to death

Reactions: 3

Yoda

· #17 · 11 d ago

Averageakm said:
Definitely and maybe get stronger recoil spring or buffer. These have a similar issue to the arsenal 5.56 to lesser degree of being very over gassed. Might be one of the reasons they beat themselves to death

Besides the well known brittle firing pins, what else are you aware of, specific to the 84s?
I have a complete build ready kit - waiting on a receiver, but haven't dug too deeply into it all, so any info would be really valuable here? thanks.

Indykid

· #18 · 11 d ago

Martinp26 said:
I complain about mags because all my guns I like to use. I’m not a collector really and if I keep this I’m going to end up beatin the piss out of it. I don’t mind buying a couple mags at $100 but I usually like to buy reliable mags and lots of them. I’m probably going to end up selling it to someone who will appreciate it more.

I am a collector but I do enjoy shooting most of my items. I have put several thousand rounds through my Norinco 84S-1 (under folder) and it continues to be my most accurate AK variant. Enjoy yours!!!

Reactions: 1

Averageakm

· #19 · 11 d ago

Yoda said:
Besides the well known brittle firing pins, what else are you aware of, specific to the 84s?
I have a complete build ready kit - waiting on a receiver, but haven't dug too deeply into it all, so any info would be really valuable here? thanks.

Absolutely can do, If you plan on using modern loading such as the green tip 5.56 that’s common on the market atm, be sure to have things that can counteract the gases, whether that be harder springs or buffer. Magazines can be expensive if you want steel mags, but promags work just fine for range use. Chinese blued finishes aren’t durable especially in the south so just oil all the metal surfaces every once and awhile

Reactions: 3

Yoda

· #20 · 11 d ago

Thank you Sir! we'll do!

1 - 20 of 30 Posts