For all of the true AK guys....I generally don’t post other people’s firearms but this one is simply gorgeous and a true masterpiece, not to mention the originality and rarity. Steve Russell is the President and Founder of Two Rivers Arms and one of the premier builders in this specific area. Full disclosure: he has personally done work for me in the past. He is also the author of We Got Him! A Memoir of the Hunt and Capture of Saddam Hussein.
He doesn’t do many builds anymore, as he is focusing his energy on his political ambitions, specifically he is running for the U.S. House of Representatives in Oklahoma’s 5th congressional district. Steve has a top-notch crew that produces exceptional work, and TRA is recognized as some of the highest quality work in the business. Steve himself posted this specific project he did, which is now part of his personal collection, so I’m just sharing his exceptional work for those interested. I think that is ok to do on this forum. I also included a video of Steve and his Steve Russell for Congress home page. Steve is just a really good guy and we need more guys like him running for political office. Hopefully he wins!
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=1431543003751254&set=vb.1428275454078009&type=2&theaterhttp://www.steverussellforcongress.com/meet-steve.htmlSteve’s Post….
An original 'Null Series' MPiK AK-47 is unobtainable. Nearly all of the 8300 made have either been destroyed or made into training cut aways. Even the ones in German state museums are cut aways. Having always wanted one, this is the result using 1950s period parts from East German, Hungary, Russia and Poland with the needed modifications. As I don't get to build much anymore, this was a very enjoyable project for me.
As rare as the rifle is the slotted 'Mauser' style hard wood stock. I had to make one from an M70 blank. Both pieces of wood were the same at the beginning.
After the initial shaping into a Type 3 AK-47 stock, the key was to find accurate dimensions from ultra rare East German originals. Thanks to a couple of folks in Europe from this forum and many generous pictures, the location and design of the slot began with a pencil.
Then, the back had to be slotted for the smooth, no-door butt plate. At the front, the tangs on the top and bottom of the stock were traced where it joins the receiver.
Using a scarce AK-55 Hungarian barreled assembly, I then added it to the even more scarce MLS-99 receiver from our good friend at Firing Line. This was one of Mike's early threaded barrel receivers to keep the assembly original. Russian hard wood hand guards that matched the grain of the East German early style were then rounded up.
With the stock now slotted and fit for the receiver, the East German selector markings were added and the slab side magazines were tested for fit. The Firing Line receiver varied slightly in that it had the slot on the left side for the sling loop which was welded over since the sling now will go through the stock slot. The only other difference is the grip trunnion on the original MPiK 'Null Series' had two rivets instead of three. Since this will be hidden by the grip, there was no need to change it.
Barrel was then timed to the receiver and the bolt head spaced. Everything was fit for function and look as well.
With the rifle taking form, it was now time to replicate the markings and then give it a deep hot blue like the Suhl factory would have done. The two known examples in Europe are marked '8H 18' and '8H 121.' That would have made them the 18th and 121st rifles. I chose '8H 122' since I commanded the 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry in Iraq. The proof mark of a circle with 'MTM' inside is on the two known examples of the 'Null Series.' It was added below in tha same location as the originals.
After a nice sanding and staining of the wood, the finish was to replicate the color of German Mauser stocks and the originals. The rifle was deeply hot blued for the correct East German look.
The wood yielded some beautiful striping during this process making it a nice surprise.
The selectors were notch in the pattern of the originals. A correct stop was added for the lever, shown with the protrusion in between the two fire control pins.
The finished markings came out very convincing.
Unlike the milled receiver MPiKs of the early 1960s, the 'Null Series' had a front sight block and gas block in the Russian style. Later models had no hole for the cleaning rod. Still, the 'Null Series had no hole in the lower hand guard retainer and no milled East German rifle ever mounted a cleaning rod. The Germans stuck to the tradition of the Mauser style pull through cleaning kits.
Beautiful striping appeared on the stained rifle stock. Here, the slotted hole pattern on the opposite side is shown.
A standard Russian pattern Type 3 checkered pistol grip with a metal grip ferule was standard on East German milled rifles.
In the right light, the stock looks awesome. This was not planned but certainly makes for a beautiful stock.
The same pattern shows up in the right light on the bottom as well. I marked the rifle by type just behind also with our company data. The rifle serial number became the 8H 122 and the Firing Line serial.
With the sling mounted, this rifle looks truly unique with its East German style found on no other AK. The sling loop in the front is similar to Yugo milled rifles and is much broader than the standard Russian Type 3 loop.
The East German Type I bayonet had black grip panels. These rifles also used the slab sided blued magazines. The end result is a stunning, rare AK-47 variation seldom seen in shooting condition.
This rifle is now in my personal collection. Hope you enjoyed it. Steve