Is it possible to find a new Norinco AK 47?

JerryHN · November 7, 2010, 06:37 AM

Ok so my next purchase will either be an Arsenal AK or a Chinese Norinco AK47. ARe the Norinco's even possible to find new?

zombieslayer · November 7, 2010, 09:16 AM

They're out there. But you'll probably spend quite a bit of cash on gunshow admission and gas trying to track an unfired Norinco down. I had a pre-ban Norinco and it was stolen

. I've seen stamped Arsenals at gunshows here in the Orlando area for $600 nib. I HAVE seen more than a couple Polytech's at gunshows that were brand new. Unfortunately, they were $1600. I scored a really sweet new, unfired Maadi (not a Misr) at the last show, it is really nice and cost me $500.
I'd get out to a few gunshops and shows with some cash. Be patient, but be ready when a deal pops up.

ohen cepel · November 7, 2010, 09:34 AM

It's possible but will cost more than it should in my opinion.

Look at Gunbroker, they are probably some on there.

alloy · November 7, 2010, 09:36 AM

Usually one or two trolling GB with a high buy it now.

Must have been simulposting with Ohen.

LinuxHack3r · November 7, 2010, 10:06 AM

Well, not 100% exactly the same, but recently I saw a 100$ NIB Norinco MAK-90 for $350. Oh how I hated to turn it down because I didn't have the dough. Now, for about $150 it can be successfully "converted" back to the pistol grip "assault weapon" style. Possibly not exactly what you want, but some would say the MAK-90 is just as good as better, minus the bayonets and cleaning rod. Personally, I love my MAK-90.

Sturmgewehre · November 7, 2010, 01:38 PM

I've been buying AKs since the mid 1980's, back when Norinco's and Polytech's were easily had for less than $250.

The current generation of Russian Saiga's (Arsenals) are the best made rifles I've seen in the last 25 years. I still have a couple of my old pre-ban Polytech's (I liked them better than the Norinco's) and side by side the Arsenal is easily the nicer of the two.

The pre-ban AKs simply aren't worth the premium they demand these days. Save a few dollars and get a better rifle, the Arsenal.

igor · November 7, 2010, 09:04 PM

Sturmgewehre, are you sure you're not mixing up the Bulgarian Arsenal brand and the Saigas, which are made at Izhmash in Russia?

Bulgarian: milled receivers, superb sturdy plastic mags, often a thumb selector on the left side of the pistol grip too. Excellent AKs indeed.

Russian: stamped receivers, ok but not superb plastic mags, configurations vary.

And re: Norinco, their quality has been a total lottery. Like ten years ago it was all the rage to rebarrel them with Lothar Walther steel and then they would hit the proverbial side of the barn at least.

I have a Russian one which isn't bad but would prefer Bulgarian. Got the Arsenal mags already...

HorseSoldier · November 8, 2010, 06:39 PM

Arsenal is marketing Saiga conversions these days as well as Bulgarian built rifles, if I'm not mistaken.

Sturmgewehre · November 8, 2010, 07:05 PM

Yup, not mistaken at all.

Arsenal is making US milled receiver guns, import (Bulgarian) milled guns, and doing Saiga stamped receiver conversion guns.

The Saiga's are far from poor quality, and the Russians (Izhevsk) build a fantastic rifle and is the same company that builds Russian military AK-74's. Coupled with Arsenals high quality conversion and refinishing, I've yet to see a nicer stamped AK made at any price.

I see no use for milled receivered guns, they are necessarily heavy and offer no measurable advantage to the stamped rifles. I have a pre-ban Polytech Legend milled receiver gun sitting in the safe... great rifle, but its a relic.

I do believe from first hand experience that between Polytech and Norinco, Polytech builds a superior rifle.

November 7, 2010, 06:37 AM	#1
JerryHN Senior Member Join Date: October 31, 2010 Posts: 124	Is it possible to find a new Norinco AK 47? Ok so my next purchase will either be an Arsenal AK or a Chinese Norinco AK47. ARe the Norinco's even possible to find new?

November 7, 2010, 01:38 PM	#6
Sturmgewehre Senior Member Join Date: December 12, 2006 Location: Indiana Posts: 4,212	I've been buying AKs since the mid 1980's, back when Norinco's and Polytech's were easily had for less than $250. The current generation of Russian Saiga's (Arsenals) are the best made rifles I've seen in the last 25 years. I still have a couple of my old pre-ban Polytech's (I liked them better than the Norinco's) and side by side the Arsenal is easily the nicer of the two. The pre-ban AKs simply aren't worth the premium they demand these days. Save a few dollars and get a better rifle, the Arsenal. __________________ Visit my YouTube channel for reviews, tests and more. Ex Mea Sententia

November 8, 2010, 07:05 PM	#9
Sturmgewehre Senior Member Join Date: December 12, 2006 Location: Indiana Posts: 4,212	Yup, not mistaken at all. Arsenal is making US milled receiver guns, import (Bulgarian) milled guns, and doing Saiga stamped receiver conversion guns. The Saiga's are far from poor quality, and the Russians (Izhevsk) build a fantastic rifle and is the same company that builds Russian military AK-74's. Coupled with Arsenals high quality conversion and refinishing, I've yet to see a nicer stamped AK made at any price. I see no use for milled receivered guns, they are necessarily heavy and offer no measurable advantage to the stamped rifles. I have a pre-ban Polytech Legend milled receiver gun sitting in the safe... great rifle, but its a relic. I do believe from first hand experience that between Polytech and Norinco, Polytech builds a superior rifle. __________________ Visit my YouTube channel for reviews, tests and more. Ex Mea Sententia

November 7, 2010, 09:16 AM	#2
zombieslayer Senior Member Join Date: September 11, 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 3,198	They're out there. But you'll probably spend quite a bit of cash on gunshow admission and gas trying to track an unfired Norinco down. I had a pre-ban Norinco and it was stolen . I've seen stamped Arsenals at gunshows here in the Orlando area for $600 nib. I HAVE seen more than a couple Polytech's at gunshows that were brand new. Unfortunately, they were $1600. I scored a really sweet new, unfired Maadi (not a Misr) at the last show, it is really nice and cost me $500. I'd get out to a few gunshops and shows with some cash. Be patient, but be ready when a deal pops up.

November 7, 2010, 09:34 AM	#3
ohen cepel Senior Member Join Date: November 20, 1999 Location: Where they send me Posts: 1,013	It's possible but will cost more than it should in my opinion. Look at Gunbroker, they are probably some on there.

November 7, 2010, 10:06 AM	#5
LinuxHack3r Senior Member Join Date: June 17, 2010 Posts: 282	Well, not 100% exactly the same, but recently I saw a 100$ NIB Norinco MAK-90 for $350. Oh how I hated to turn it down because I didn't have the dough. Now, for about $150 it can be successfully "converted" back to the pistol grip "assault weapon" style. Possibly not exactly what you want, but some would say the MAK-90 is just as good as better, minus the bayonets and cleaning rod. Personally, I love my MAK-90.

November 7, 2010, 09:04 PM	#7
igor Senior Member Join Date: August 27, 2002 Location: Kalifornistan Posts: 155	Sturmgewehre, are you sure you're not mixing up the Bulgarian Arsenal brand and the Saigas, which are made at Izhmash in Russia? Bulgarian: milled receivers, superb sturdy plastic mags, often a thumb selector on the left side of the pistol grip too. Excellent AKs indeed. Russian: stamped receivers, ok but not superb plastic mags, configurations vary. And re: Norinco, their quality has been a total lottery. Like ten years ago it was all the rage to rebarrel them with Lothar Walther steel and then they would hit the proverbial side of the barn at least. I have a Russian one which isn't bad but would prefer Bulgarian. Got the Arsenal mags already...

November 8, 2010, 06:39 PM	#8
HorseSoldier Senior Member Join Date: February 27, 2006 Location: OCONUS 61°13′06″N 149°53′57″W Posts: 2,282	Arsenal is marketing Saiga conversions these days as well as Bulgarian built rifles, if I'm not mistaken.