Markings for Yugo AK?

[SHOOTER]

I have a Yugo underfolder in 7.62X39. I bought it nib from a friend. The markings on the side of the rifle to do not say M90 or M70 is this a early import.On one side it says,

Model RPK-47
CAL. 7.62X39
Mitchell arms
Santa Ana Cal

On the other side it says,

Zastava-Kragujevac
Made in Yugooslavia

http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=665618&a=4851962&p=22198735&Sequence=0

[This message has been edited by SHOOTER (edited 06-11-2000).]

[This message has been edited by SHOOTER (edited 06-11-2000).]

[ValmetM76]

Yep, your's is a pre-ban.
Worth big bucks to the right person.

If I had your rifle and someone offered me a LOT of money for it, they'd have it.

You have a very nice collectors item.


Regards,
Mike

[SHOOTER]

Thanks, Mike

But does M70 or M90 marked on the reciever make it a post ban?

[ValmetM76]

I don't know about M70 but MAK-90 makes it a post ban.

There seem to be some special grandfathering regarding some of these Yugo rifles.
Someone else would have to explain it to us a little better. I don't know enough about the Yugos to really say.

Regards,
Mike

[JOEZETA]

ive seen this before your reciever was meant for an rpk, and put on a underfolder ...ive also seen it on full stock yugos....now regardless when it came in it should be considered a pre-ban because the model designation is RPK and not AK-47 etc...ive also seen some RPK's that were caught in customs with all the m-90's...That had thumbhole stocks installed but alot of them (like yours) were let in without them scratching out the AK-47....apparently they mixed things up back in yugoslavia a few times because i have a yugo folder that had some strange markings on it...Turns out i found out that my gun was not meant for export..still had military markings on it...

[SHOOTER]

Any ideas how I can track the s/n to see when it came in the country or any other info about my rifle? What should the receiver really say instead of RPK-47 for a underfolder YUGO?

[This message has been edited by SHOOTER (edited 06-11-2000).]

[ValmetM76]

I've heard that all Yugo AKs are built on RPK type receivers.
It's what makes them so much heavier duty than a standard AK.

What's the problem Shooter? Did your rifle have a thumbhole stock on it when you got it?
Some underfolders were apparently delivered that way. Thumbhole stock AND the forward folded underfolder intact.
Did you remove the thumbhole and install a pistol grip?
You naughty boy.
As long as it doesn't say MAK90 on it no one can prove it was ever any other way than what you have now.

I doubt anyone ever will, or even CAN, run the serial numbers and tell whether or not its a pre or post ban rifle.
Here is your final clue.
If that rifle is a post ban, that front muzzle brake is (or was) pinned in place.

Regards,
Mike

[This message has been edited by Valmet M76 (edited 06-12-2000).]

[SHOOTER]

THE RIFLE CAME AS YOU SEE IT. I was just curious why it said RPK-47 on the reciever. but I guess they all say it.

[ValmetM76]

I BELIEVE YOU!

That's what I've heard, Yugos are all on RPK receivers.

I'm supposed to be getting a Yugo Mak-90 this week. I'll report whether it's on a RPK receiver and what it says on the side.

Regards,
Mike

[SHOOTER]

Mike let me know what your says when you get it. I am very curious if they all say that. And thanks for the info.

[M77B1]

JOEZETA is correct,the receiver was for the RPK version with finned barrel,but got stuck on an underfolder. It's no big deal,however,because all models of Yugos use the RPK type receiver with 1.5 mm thick sheet metal with two exceptions: the M76 Sniper uses a milled receiver and the 5.56mm M80,which was made specifically for export used a standard AKM type receiver. SHOOTER's rifle should have been marked "Ak47",which is a Mitchell designation. I believe M70 is the Zastava designation for the 7.62x39 line of rifles (someone correct me if I'm wrong).



[This message has been edited by M77B1 (edited 06-12-2000).]

[Repairoman]

Shooter,
Don't be confused by info given by Valmet M76. The Yugo's were never marked MAK-90. The factory AK stamping is scratched out by an electro-engraving pencil and above it is written M-90 All are made in Zastavia, Yugoslavia. Yours is a true pre-ban. M-90's are the guns that sat in Customs for a few years. They were sold with a thumbhole stock installed and the original wood in the box. I have never seen a Yugo with the "throwaway" thumbhole installed or offered with the gun. Then again, I've never seen one offered NIB. Only rifle and a few mags. I've read in a few separate posts that Mitchell was allowed to sell the re-marked M-90's as long as they thumbholed stocked them, ground off the bayo lug, and rendered the muzzle brake pin non-collapseable. Maybe AKExpert can enlighten us on the real deal as he has stated that he worked for Mitchell Arms. Both of my ser #'s are in the 003XXX range. I saw two M-90's with #'s in the 8,000's
There is a common belief by some that an AK is an AK is an AK. One is the same, and as good, as another. The rest of us recognize a quality rifle when we see it. That doesn't mean that we are happy about paying a higher price, far from it. But I've learned something in my adult life, if you wait for the price to come down -- it only goes up. You can buy a cheap version of anything. Yugo car --Cadallic car They both go from point A to point B. Why do silly people pay more for the Caddy?

[This message has been edited by Repairman (edited 06-12-2000).]

[ValmetM76]

I'm no authority on Yugos but it is my understanding that postban rifles might be marked either M-90 OR MAK-90.

Supposedly the one I'm due to get this week is marked MAK-90. It's a Mitchell Arms gun, Zastava made. I don't know, maybe it's just the box that's marked that way.

I'll let you know when it gets here.

Regards,
Mike

[SHOOTER]

Thanks for the info. I think I have it figured out. My Yugo is the best one I own for all around quailty.

[JOEZETA]

SHOOTER: Take a look at your bayonet lug, see if will accept of bayo. the post-ban yugos had the bayo. lugs ground Slightly on either side so it would not accespt a bayo.
But to the naked eye it looks good and looks like a bayo. lug...Also you will notice if this was done that you will be able to detect the touchup of the blueing, looks like a purplish tint on some...Also if the brake was pinned and changed back you will notice for sure some lite marks from the pin being hit in.....but like i said i think your ok either way as long as your reciever is marked what you said....and yes normally it would be marked model AK-47,mak-90 was on the chinese guns... and the brown box with wooden inserts should be marked on the end model m-70 ab2 .....all of the yugos i have seen only came with the one mag....years ago the owner of a local gunshop
was a personal friend of mitchell and was always stocked with them...to this day he still has a few m-90's...and all of them have the 2 piece stocks installed and displayed on his racks!!! go figure...Joezeta

[SHOOTER]

JOEZETA, The bayonet lug has no damage to it. The bayonet snaps on with no problems. The slant muzzle pin works just like all my other prebans. I own many pre and post ban AK'S, and this is a preban. I was just curious why it said RPK-47, and if all prebans did. I have see many with M90 or M70 on the receiver and I was wondering why mine did not. Again thanks very much for the info. If I could find another for a good price I would snap it up in a minute.

[This message has been edited by SHOOTER (edited 06-12-2000).]

[Eclipse]

Bought one of those cheap plastic Yugo thumbhole stocks at a gunshow last year, sold it here for $10.00. Definately takes the ugly award for thumbhole stocks.

I've seen the Yugo rifles for sale with the thumbhole stock installed. Since the regular wood stock was shipped with the rifle, first thing most guys did was pitch the plastic stock. Technically, the postban rifles need to add US parts to legally install the pistol grip & wood stock.

[This message has been edited by Eclipse (edited 06-13-2000).]

[M77B1]

Eclipse: Not necessarily...

18 U.S.C. 922(r)

27 CFR sec.178.39

(b)The provisions of this section shall not apply to:

(d)(3)The repair of any rifle or shotgun which had been imported into or assembled in the United States prior to November 30,1990 or the replacement of any part of such firearm.

(Thanks to RangerSXT)

[RangerSXT]

M77B1: Glad someone reads the info I post. Just like my GALIL Info post I think we should have a perm. info posting area so you can refer to it later. I did post it again here under my home call sign of SemperFi.