So Arsenal doesn't carry the SGL's anymore?  Now they're distributed through FIME..... So what I wanna know is, what does this mean for FIME SGL purchasing......... Same gun, same price, different name stamped on it?  Arsenal reputation and price for a lesser quality product?

http://www.fimegroup.com/SGL21.html

I know a couple guys who bought the "new" SGL-21's.

They say that the quality is not the same.

If I were you, and you intend to buy a SGl-21, buy it now.

Most of the in stock SGL-21's at gun stores are the Arsenal Saiga ones.

Just make sure you check them out first to see.

Thanks.... There isn't a damn thing in any of the stores here in Hilo, but there are a few plum furniture (barf) SGL's on galleryofguns, so I guess I'll try to jump on one of those before they're gone and change the furniture.... Or if I miss out on them I'll pay the extra and get an SLR.... Thanks for the help

Thanks.... There isn't a damn thing in any of the stores here in Hilo, but there are a few plum furniture (barf) SGL's on galleryofguns, so I guess I'll try to jump on one of those before they're gone and change the furniture.... Or if I miss out on them I'll pay the extra and get an SLR.... Thanks for the help

I just bought a SLR-101 and don't regret it one bit. I know it's more money, but I follow buy once, cry once mentality. 
Only piece of advice I can offer is decide quick. Like  you said the SGL  and SLR supply seems very limited right now.
Good luck!

OGC and Security Equipment have SGL-21's right now.

I'm sure they could work out some kind of way to get it to you

i wonder if that would make the existing Arsenal SGLs more valuable?  Hope so. 

I hope it does make them more valuable as I just got one. 

OGC and Security Equipment have SGL-21's right now.

I'm sure they could work out some kind of way to get it to you

Thanks.... good to know, I'm sure shipping to Hilo wouldn't be that bad and it's only a $20 fee through my FFL....  I'll call them today!!!

Thanks.... good to know, I'm sure shipping to Hilo wouldn't be that bad and it's only a $20 fee through my FFL....  I'll call them today!!!

I'll stop by the gun stores today and put my hands on the rifles.

I'll let you know if they're Arsenal Saiga rifles.

There are many posts addressing the K-Var/Arsenal/FIME Group issue on other sites.

From the research that has been done, all three business entities (K-Var Corporation, Arsenal Incorporated, and FIME (Firearms Importers Manufacturers Exporters) Group), are registered under Vartan Barsoumian and share the same business mailing address of 4395 West Post Road, Unit 200, Las Vegas, Nevada 89118.

There is a lot of speculation surrounding the reason behind the change in importers, but the general consensus is that, in addition to the financial woes of the Izhmash factory, the change from Arsenal to FIME may have been executed for business purposes.

Perhaps more importantly, Arsenal and FIME AKs are supposedly the same rifle, with different names stamped upon the receivers (albeit, early FIME Group AKs had that crappy-looking dot stamp thing going on).

I understand that Bulgarian SLRs are fine options, as well.  However, as you already know, the parts on Bulgarian SLRs and Russian SGLs are not completely compatible; there are slight differences with regard to measurements of certain rifle components.  If you want an authentic Russian AK, you know which one you have to choose!

Also, if you can wait, I understand that shipment of new SGLs should be arriving around the neighborhood of December 2012...... but, if you subscribe to this type of belief, there is some talk about the world ending on, or about, December 21, 2012? 

dubya

Went through the same debate about Arsenal & FIME. All the good reviews was about Arsenal. FIME took over the sales and conversions of the SGL -21s earlier this year so theres not much reviews about that version online. I called K-var and asked if the FIME was the same as the Arsenal and they said yes. They said it's the same AK just with a different name stamped on the receiver. After hearing that I went to 3 local gun shops to find my SGL-21. All 3 had the one with FIME stamped on it. So what I did was pick up a SGL-20 which was  made by Arsenal then discontinued when they released the SGL-21s. OGC had them in stock along with the FIME SGL-21s but only came in OD green. The SGL-20s is the same as the SGL-21s with the exception of the ak74 style muzzle brake on the SGL-21s.

When was this?  KK said OGC has some Arsenal SGL21's, I called to ask if they had any and they said they did.  Maybe they got in more or are they actually FIME's?  Did you check out the FIME's?  Notice any differences?  Did you buy the SGL20 simply because it was Arsenal or was there things you didn't like about the FIME's?

Talked to carter, he said he can get either the arsenal or fime AK's.

Same price for either.

The one he had in stock that I saw was a fime.

Thanks KK.