What kind of MAK-90 do I have??

[BLeeZ34]

Hey guys.. super noob here! I just put a Norinco MAK-90 on lay a way and I am curious as to what I got.. I have done some research and found out the year should be somewhere in the serial number on the left side of the rifle.. I don't see anything that would resemble the year.. It has the triangle with the 66 in it.. I have heard that, that triangle makes the rifle more "desirable"?? Why is that..?? oh and my serial number starts with QH 41**** then MAK-90 sporter is engraved right below (looks like a child did it lol) also it has SportArms Miami, Fl stamped on it too.. I have seen a list of importers that imported the mak and sportarms wasn't on the list.. Maybe i have received limited info.. I know it isn't a pre ban because it has the thumb hole stock.. but it does have a flash suppressor on the barrel (I assume someone put it on after buying it but still had to have a threaded barrel).. so i am very confused as to what i have.. no one else that has posted about their maks having similar features.. help! lol somebody teach me how to figure out this rifles history.. :) thank you so much.. look forward to great discussions on here, Bryan

[imanaknut]

Welcome to the group !!! :welcome:

Generally only the 1993 and 1994 had the 93 and 94 as the first two digits of the serial number, but as I have said here to others, with the Chinese the only rule was there were no rules. Sometimes you can get an idea of import year by the serial number itself, but even then I have seen pre-ban 56S with a higher number than a marked MAK-90. The triangle 66 (factory mark) usually was erased and later just left off on almost all the later MAK-90s, which would indicate you have an early post-Bush1-ban rifle. The scribed name that looks like a child did it would also indicate an early one.

Some of the first MAK-90s did have threaded barrels, but anyone can easily thread one, something I personally have done many times.

The only Norinco I have seen with a "Q" start of the serial number was the 84S-3A, but that doesn't mean an importer didn't specify a special number. The Chinese would mark the rifles how ever you wanted as long as you were willing to pay for it.

When you get it out of layaway, take some pictures of the markings and we will try and find out more for you, but there were so many importers, and some were "sub-importers" as in shells for the real importer that it is amazing how many names you can find on some rifles.

If nothing, you will enjoy shooting it as the Chinese had arguably the best factory trigger of any AK imported into the land of shall not be infringed.

[BLeeZ34]

Thank you for the reply.. good info.. I actually took some shots today when i was at the shop putting it on layaway.. it almost looks like it says "MAX-90" lol Sorry about the flash making it hard to read.. I hope these help identify it.. Thank you again for your help!

http://imageshack.us/a/img191/1436/20120914150717.jpg
By bleez34 (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/bleez34) at 2012-09-14

http://imageshack.us/a/img40/5082/20120914150733.jpg
By bleez34 (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/bleez34) at 2012-09-14

http://imageshack.us/a/img29/5960/20120914150910.jpg
By bleez34 (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/bleez34) at 2012-09-14

[imanaknut]

Would guess if you looked closely above where it is now marked "MAK-90 Sporter" you might be able to read "AKS-47" or "AK-47/S" what was ground off because it was too "evil". MAK-90 is so much more angelic. (according to a jerk known as Bush the First).

I am guessing, and I hope someone who knows for sure pipes up, that the "QH" is either an importer mark, or one the importer requested from factory 66 for reasons unknown to all but who asked for it.

Looks like you found a really nice rifle! The beauty is that it really doesn't matter who imported it because most ordered off a menu, very few custom ordered from the Chinese although it was possible.

[BLeeZ34]

Thank you for all the great info! So are the earlier mak90s with the triangle 66 more valuable than others? I am getting this one for 600 out the door.. I've seen wasrs around my area going for 650 plus.. And a couple mak 90s for around 850.. So I think I'm getting a pretty good deal.. .. Any more info you think I should know about these rifles? Thank you again for all your help!

[imanaknut]

$600 out the door is a great price these days. You are correct about the WASRs. Prices on them are crazy, but supply and demand is causing prices to go up. Panic buying by some doesn't help either.

About the only thing you should know about the rifle is they are so much fun to shoot the cost of ammo could cause you financial issues :smiley31:

Also, that mag is not original as I am sure you figured out. Personally I like the Chinese factory mags since they do not have that sharp spine that the European mags have. Easier on the fingers is the only reason, otherwise stick to the cheapest factory made metal mags you can find.