Like most firearms the AK-47 will start to show adverse wear and or malfunction if the weapon is not kept reasonably clean.   Fortunately for the AK it is very easy to field strip, which makes cleaning not much of a chore.  The AK requires no special maintenance tools or extensive knowledge of it's parts.

Materials:
1. Cleaning kit
2. News paper or throw-down

The Following Procedure should be used to field strip and clean the rifle.

 

1)Removing the magazine  Holding the rifle in the left hand at the upper hand guard and fore end, grasp the magazine with the right hand and remove it.  The magazine is removed by pressing forward on the magazine catch. After this, ensure that there is no cartridge in the chamber by lowering the selector, pulling the bolt carrier handle to the rear, and inspecting the chamber. Release the bolt carrier handle and release the the hammer form the sear ( squeeze the trigger) 

 

2) Remove the cleaning rod Pull the end of the cleaning rod away from the barrel so that its head is disengaged from the stop on the front sight base and pull the cleaning rod upward. The drift may be used when removing the cleaning rod.

3) Remove the receiver cover  Grasp the small of the stock with the left hand, and with the left thumb press on the recoil mechanism's guide rod lug.  Lift the rear portion of the receiver cover upward with the right hand and remove the cover.

4) Remove the recoil mechanism. Holding the rifle in the left hand by the small of the stock, press the recoil mechanism's guide rod forward with the right hand until its heel emerges from the longitudinal slot of the receiver.  Lift up the rear end of the guide rod and pull the recoil mechanism form the bolt carrier channel.

  

5) Remove the bolt carrier with bolt. Continuing to hold the rifle in the left hand, bring the bolt carrier to the rear to stop with the right hand. Lift it up along with the bolt and remove it   6) Remove the bolt from the carrier. Grasp the bolt carrier in the left hand with the bolt upward.  Draw the bolt to the rear with the right hand, rotating it so that the bolt's guide lug comes out of the shaped slot of the bolt carrier, and remove the bolt forward.

7) Remove the gas tube.  Holding the rifle in the left hand, lift the gas tube latch located on the right side of the rear sight block.  Rotate the small latch downwards and clockwise at the same time.  This should enable you to free the gas tube, lift and remove it. 

For Complete disassembly instruction please Enter here.

Source: Text and Pictures from "The official Soviet AKM Manual" By Maj. James F. Gebhardt