[Cincymaga]

I know it’s a reference to the khyber pass along the Silk Road in Afghanistan, specifically the Pakistani cottage gunsmiths that make unlicensed copies of famous firearms by hand, like we’ve all seen in those old Vice videos before they sold out.

I’m asking what it means when you see “khyber” receiver blanks on gun sites or complete rifles for sale in threads. Do these mean actual guns made in the khyber pass, or do they mean high quality franken builds using various vintage Russian parts that usually look pretty BFPU for aesthetics?

 

[Cincymaga]

I’m guessing it just means it has a triangle side folding stock.

 

[AK shooter]

https://www.theakforum.net/forums/82-central-asian-khyber

 

[wingnut308]

Short answer is a 7.62 AKM with a AK-74 style triangle folder.

Long answer which you already have a handle on- Khyber Pass is a region that straddles Pakistan and Afghanistan. They are somewhat known for their gunsmiths that make rifles and conversions sometimes from scratch with crude tools in mud huts. During the Afghan war and after photos surfaced of Afghans with AKM's that had been converted to triangle folders, something the Russians never made*. The folders could have presumably come from captured AK-74s or in house made copies. The Afghans wouldn't have just used the 74's because they would not have had steady access to the ammo at the time. Americans have since noticed and took a liking to the sidefolder over the underfolder found on AKM's, and hence when we build a copy of a rifle with no official designation, it was referred to by the inspiration, it becomes known as a Khyber.

 

[Cincymaga]

Short answer is a 7.62 AKM with a AK-74 style triangle folder.

Long answer which you already have a handle on- Khyber Pass is a region that straddles Pakistan and Afghanistan. They are somewhat known for their gunsmiths that make rifles and conversions sometimes from scratch with crude tools in mud huts. During the Afghan war and after photos surfaced of Afghans with AKM's that had been converted to triangle folders, something the Russians never made*. The folders could have presumably come from captured AK-74s or in house made copies. The Afghans wouldn't have just used the 74's because they would not have had steady access to the ammo at the time. Americans have since noticed and took a liking to the sidefolder over the underfolder found on AKM's, and hence when we build a copy of a rifle with no official designation, it was referred to by the inspiration, it becomes known as a Khyber.

That’s literally exactly what I wanted to know. Thanks.

 

[AKBLUE]

There are various renditions of the Khyber Pass type rifles.
Some are new and shiny tourist models and some well used.
Try the the Khyber area of this site.