B-West Norinco Mak 90?

[fredfoley]

So I picked this up in trade last week, and while I am very happy with it, I am not really sure exactly what I have.

It is marked B-West Imp., Tuscon, AZ on the side-rear of the receiver, Cal 7.62 x 39mm in the front side, and Made in China by Norinco on the bottom of the receiver in front of the trigger guard.

However, that's it. No Mak 90, no Sporter, No 56s, no Norinco star, no 386, no nothing. No marks to indicate anything was wiped either. The serial number doesn't start with "9*"
The barrel threads have been turned, and the bayo lugs are gone, it is a slant back stamped receiver.

Was this one of the rifles stuck in customs? Anybody have any idea of info or history?

This is my first post, so thanks for your help!!!
2189
http://www.gunsnet.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=2189&d=1359229064
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http://www.gunsnet.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=2190&d=1359229083
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http://www.gunsnet.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=2191&d=1359229100
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http://www.gunsnet.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=2192&d=1359229118

[imanaknut]

Welcome to the group !!! :welcome:

Added your pictures for you to make it easier for lazy people like me. :D

You are correct in assuming you have a MAK-90 Made in China and imported by B-west. I am guessing that it is not marked "MAK-90" because B-west didn't think it was needed, and in truth as long as the "evil" "56S" wasn't marked on the rifle, they really didn't have to mark it at all. Bush the First was sure that the name of the rifle, along with other "evil features" caused honest people to become criminals, so most manufacturers requested Norinco to stamp the rifles MAK-90. Some that came in right after the ban had the name scrubbed from the trunion in such a way that you couldn't tell it was ever there. It was at that time that some importers etched "MAK-90" or "NHM90" again depending on importer. In B-west's case, they just left it blank.


The nice thing is they didn't mess with the trigger group which arguably the best feel of any commercial AK import.

Nice rifle, a real Chinese and not one of B-west's mess ups.

[Schuetzenman]

One of those was my first AKM back in 1993, that and a Hungarian SA-85M thumbhole stocked AKM. Mine was also marked B-West and Nornico as yours is marked. They were some of the last in before the 1994 ban.

[mack8384]

This makes me miss my MAK 90 It was my 1st AK also and started me on this slippery slope of AK addiction

[tnakfan]

I lov all 3 of mine