79 Kalashnikovs for the price of firewood

[MeMyselfAndI]

http://echo.msk.ru/news/848322-echo.html

Authorities in Udmurtia will now be checking firearm utilization plants in the republic, after a rural man purchased wooden container boxes for firewood, from a friend truck driver from the Izhmash plant, which the driver thought were empty. But, when the man came home and he and his wife started to take the boxes apart, he discovered 79 Kalashnikov automatic assault rifles with along spare parts and even live ammunition.
http://stat20.privet.ru/lr/0c02b859d77b6f67595fde2034fe36c4http://kp.ru/f/12/image/30/44/3274430.jpg
http://image.newsru.com/pict/id/large/1438965_20120113104231.gifhttp://kp.ru/f/12/image/07/49/3274907.jpg

It seems the crates were a part of a shipment to Izhmash of old weapons from the Ministry of Defense for utilization.

lol 79 AKs for 500 rubles (divide by 30 for the dollar figure).

:lol: Well, this guy was honest, he brought all the guns to the police, reported it all. Not everyone would have done that :shrug:

[Americano]

http://echo.msk.ru/news/848322-echo.html

Authorities in Udmurtia will now be checking firearm utilization plants in the republic, after a rural man purchased wooden container boxes for firewood, from a friend truck driver from the Izhmash plant, which the driver thought were empty. But, when the man came home and he and his wife started to take the boxes apart, he discovered 79 Kalashnikov automatic assault rifles with along spare parts and even live ammunition.
http://stat20.privet.ru/lr/0c02b859d77b6f67595fde2034fe36c4http://kp.ru/f/12/image/30/44/3274430.jpg
http://image.newsru.com/pict/id/large/1438965_20120113104231.gifhttp://kp.ru/f/12/image/07/49/3274907.jpg

It seems the crates were a part of a shipment to Izhmash of old weapons from the Ministry of Defense for utilization.

lol 79 AKs for 500 rubles (divide by 30 for the dollar figure).

:lol: Well, this guy was honest, he brought all the guns to the police, reported it all. Not everyone would have done that :shrug:

In the US 79 Russian full stock AK47s would be worth a minimum of $790,000. Twice or more that if provenance of existence in the US prior to 1967 was established.

[MeMyselfAndI]

In the US 79 Russian full stock AK47s would be worth a minimum of $790,000. Twice or more that if provenance of existence in the US prior to 1967 was established.

Yes, he could have made a fortune if he kept quiet about the guns and later resold them for a good price on the black market. But, you know, it is a hard and dangerous business, not everyone would want to involve himself and his family in it. I respect his decision, frankly. But, would not be shocked if, in the beginning, there were in fact 80 Kalashnikovs in the crates, and he kept one as a souvenir ;)

[The Drunk Guy]

Yes, he could have made a fortune if he kept quiet about the guns and later resold them for a good price on the black market. But, you know, it is a hard and dangerous business, not everyone would want to involve himself and his family in it. I respect his decision, frankly. But, would not be shocked if, in the beginning, there were in fact 80 Kalashnikovs in the crates, and he kept one as a souvenir ;)

Given the condition of some those, I would have reported 75. ;)

[MeMyselfAndI]

Given the condition of some those, I would have reported 75. ;)

Well these are old guns. That is why they were brought to Izhmash for utilization (means disposal, by the way).

Nonetheless, they can still kill, they are still weapons, which is why the utilization process is (supposed to be, at least) tightly scrutinised and controlled. The guns must not fall in the wrong hands, such as those in organised crime groups.

[The Drunk Guy]

Well these are old guns. That is why they were brought to Izhmash for utilization (means disposal, by the way).

Nonetheless, they can still kill, they are still weapons, which is why the utilization process is (supposed to be, at least) tightly scrutinised and controlled. The guns must not fall in the wrong hands, such as those in organised crime groups.

Exactly....surely he could parts from several of them to make at least one fine weapon.

[Americano]

Given the condition of some those, I would have reported 75. ;)

The AK-47 - one of my very favorite gun subjects.

Appearance has nothing to do with AK-47 functionality and desirability. They are the epitome of literally endless service life, function while covered with mud and negligent maintenance.

The only reason Russia went to the AK74 was it enabled troops to carry more rounds of the smaller 5.45×39mm caliber cartridge than the AK-47's 7.62×39mm cartridge. Otherwise the weapons are identical.

Regarding disposal of surplus Russian AK-47s, Russia currently has an inventory of 10 million AK-74s for a one million man army. It's not that AK-47s are considered obsolete, some military units and many militias prefer the stopping power of the heavier round and keep them in service.

[Michael]

The AK-47 - one of my very favorite gun subjects.

Appearance has nothing to do with AK-47 functionality and desirability. They are the epitome of literally endless service life, function while covered with mud and negligent maintenance.

From what little I've read on the topic of guns, I do think the AK-47 is the greatest gun ever made - for exactly the reasons you state.

[MeMyselfAndI]

Russia currently has an inventory of 10 million AK-74s for a one million man army.

2 million, really: 1 million outer defense military forces; another million internal forces (Inner Troops, OMON, etc).

[Michael]

2 million, really: 1 million outer defense military forces; another million internal forces (Inner Troops, OMON, etc).

So the excess surplus is only 8 million rather than 9 million AK-47's floating around?

I feel safer now! :lol:

[Americano]

So the excess surplus is only 8 million rather than 9 million AK-47's floating around?

I feel safer now! :lol:

Those are just AK-74s. I doubt anyone could ever come up with more than a rough estimate of the millions and millions of AK-47s in Russia.

A bit of trivia, more AK types have been produced than all other assault rifles combined.

[The Drunk Guy]

The AK-47 - one of my very favorite gun subjects.

Appearance has nothing to do with AK-47 functionality and desirability. They are the epitome of literally endless service life, function while covered with mud and negligent maintenance.

The only reason Russia went to the AK74 was it enabled troops to carry more rounds of the smaller 5.45×39mm caliber cartridge than the AK-47's 7.62×39mm cartridge. Otherwise the weapons are identical.

Regarding disposal of surplus Russian AK-47s, Russia currently has an inventory of 10 million AK-74s for a one million man army. It's not that AK-47s are considered obsolete, some military units and many militias prefer the stopping power of the heavier round and keep them in service.
Dirt and mud are one thing....being tossed about for an unknown amount of time is bound to lead to bent and busted parts.

By the way...I don't really recall seeing a 5.45 rifle here in the states. Even the cheap AK-47's single-stack knock-off builds sold here are 7.62.

[Americano]

Dirt and mud are one thing....being tossed about for an unknown amount of time is bound to lead to bent and busted parts.

You'd be surprised at how tough they are. The wood furniture would break long before any receiver damage. In comparison the POS M16 or AR15 is as fragile as a candy cane.

By the way...I don't really recall seeing a 5.45 rifle here in the states. Even the cheap AK-47's single-stack knock-off builds sold here are 7.62.

The AK-74 (5.45) didn't go into service until late 1970s. The US Federal Firearms Act of 1967 prohibited import of any full auto weapon/receiver/sear after that date. There are a few floating around under special collector permits but those permits normally restrict resale.