MAK-90 - yea or nay?

KyleYankee · December 23, 2017, 01:19 PM

My grampy is getting up there in years and would like to shed some of his arsenal to family members. I've fired one of his AKs years ago, and asked if he'd sell it to me. He said for $500 I get the rifle and 4 full mags.

I was trying to figure out just what in the hell it was - I hadn't seen it in a long time - but I do remember it has a thumbhole stock, much like ones I've seen on MAKs. I don't know much else about it as I haven't seen it in a few years (matching part numbers, straight/slant cut, milled or stamped, etc.)

Even if it is one of the lesser value MAKs, it has been sitting in a gun safe sans a few times it went to the range. Is $500 a reasonable price or should I keep saving for an N-PAP?

ed308 · December 23, 2017, 02:42 PM

Yes as long as you like it. They were imported to the US b/w 1990 and 1994. I think Norinco and Polytech were the only two makers of the Mak90. Probably won't be any more so value will continue to rise most likely. You can convert them to a AK. There selling for $750 and up on AR15.com.

CWKahrFan · December 23, 2017, 07:28 PM

$500 is a steal for a MAK90 these days!

ed308 · December 23, 2017, 09:52 PM

Link to Mak90 site....

http://www.mouseguns.com/mak90web/mak90.htm

AverageJo · December 24, 2017, 09:43 AM

$500 is a great deal. You can not purchase these days anything like that unless it is assembled in USA. So if it is a true import it’s a great value/quality ak. I would never purchase a US made ak.

Nodak1858 · December 24, 2017, 12:15 PM

If there's not something wrong with it 500 for a Mac is a very good deal.

bfoosh006 · December 26, 2017, 08:53 PM

Not trying to sound like a jerk, but along with all those MAK's....came, by the ship tons, corrosive 7.62x39 ammo.... you might check the bore.

If it is GTG ... buy it.

kozak6 · December 29, 2017, 07:05 AM

It has a chromed bore, so it's no biggie.

$500 is a great price. If you don't like it, you can definitely turn a profit on it or trade it for an NPAP and some goodies.

Jacket67 · December 29, 2017, 12:12 PM

My uncle has one and it is still one of my favorite rifles to shoot. His has the thumb hole stock which I initially thought was dumb, but it just makes it so comfortable to shoot. I would also say go for it.

ms6852 · December 29, 2017, 06:37 PM

It's your grandfather, he probably is a proud man and would never ask but he could probably use the money more than the firearm, regardless of value, just buy it.

bamaranger · December 29, 2017, 09:26 PM

The MaK90 thumbhole rifles were OK, and doing a "parts count/ USA parts" modification will get you legal and more friendly AK to boot.

Watch out for the MISR 90 AK, which is a Egyptian receiver and Chinese parts. These are hit and miss on durability and reliability, and all of them look awful. The MISR came with a thumbhole stock that was about useless. Converting from thumbhole can be done, along with a parts count, but the durability and reliability could be a roll of the dice.

I wouldn't give $500 for a MISR, but would for a clean MAK.

joeb · December 29, 2017, 09:49 PM

Get it.

ThomasT · December 30, 2017, 03:58 PM

I bought one a couple of years ago from a reletive needing money for $250. He set the price. i sold it a couple of weeks later for $750 on GB. So $500 sounds like a deal to me. Mine was the milled receiver Norinco version with a scope base and rings added.

Ignition Override · January 2, 2018, 03:17 AM

Yes! Buy it before somebody else gets the chance etc. I have only five AKs--all were imported--and a MAK 90 is one of them. You will learn quite a bit if you bother to spend time on AKfiles, the website.

KyleYankee · January 2, 2018, 04:00 PM

Update: drove 40 miles and met grampy for coffee early this morning.

Afterward, went out to his truck to inspect the weapon. Barrel is all shiny and chrome-lined, not a scratch on the wood, finish is beautiful. The serial number showed a 1994 vintage. Came home to clean it after the transfer, and I found:

A straight cut, milled receiver
A nice big "MADE IN CHINA BY NORINCO" on the side
A box grandpa handed me with the rifle, with 4 30 round mags filled with surplus steel core

Best $500 I ever spent!

RC20 · January 2, 2018, 04:44 PM

Well done. They are going for north of $700 these days

The MAK-90 is not as appreciated as it should be. Its the Best AK out there.

It has the thickest stamped receiver by a lot of all the AKs.

Chrome everything (piston, barrel) so no issues with corrosive (thought that is not as much a problem)

Trigger is awful but the best AK trigger out there with the dual hook.

Keep the box if its the original.

Stock Upgrade: 922r complaint: : To start with, unless you upgrade to 6 US made components, its illegal to change the stock. Not a big chance it will get snagged, but there are good ways to do it and totally avoid it as an issue.

The key is that its not an active gun unless it has a magazine in it. Don't ever put a non US made magazine in it in public.

Replacement Stock: Counts as 3 parts even though there are 4 (is the government, what can you say.) Butt stock, grip, fore stock counts as one piece.

Magazine: 3 parts, body, follower, base (not the spring does not count, this is the Government) : PMAG makes excellent AK magazines that work, I would go with 10 round as its handier. Also 20 and 30 round versions. 20 is max to me, 30 is awkward.

Deadwood makes stocks that are specific to the MAK. You do need to know if the back of the gun is slant or straight cut as they came in both.

They will finish it or you can.

ed308 · January 2, 2018, 07:57 PM

In a couple of years, you'll probably be able to sell if for double your money. Enjoy it while grampy is alive and kicking.

December 23, 2017, 01:19 PM	#1
KyleYankee Member Join Date: December 23, 2017 Location: Yankeedom Posts: 29	MAK-90 - yea or nay? My grampy is getting up there in years and would like to shed some of his arsenal to family members. I've fired one of his AKs years ago, and asked if he'd sell it to me. He said for $500 I get the rifle and 4 full mags. I was trying to figure out just what in the hell it was - I hadn't seen it in a long time - but I do remember it has a thumbhole stock, much like ones I've seen on MAKs. I don't know much else about it as I haven't seen it in a few years (matching part numbers, straight/slant cut, milled or stamped, etc.) Even if it is one of the lesser value MAKs, it has been sitting in a gun safe sans a few times it went to the range. Is $500 a reasonable price or should I keep saving for an N-PAP?

December 23, 2017, 07:28 PM	#3
CWKahrFan Senior Member Join Date: November 3, 2010 Posts: 2,016	$500 is a steal for a MAK90 these days! __________________ What did Mrs. Bullet say to Mr. Bullet? ... "We're having a BeeBee!"... IF THE SHOE FITS, WEAR IT!... IF THE GUN FITS, SHOOT IT! "Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it."

December 24, 2017, 12:15 PM	#6
Nodak1858 Senior Member Join Date: September 7, 2009 Location: N. Dakota Posts: 435	If there's not something wrong with it 500 for a Mac is a very good deal. __________________ We've all heard that a million monkeys banging on a million typewriters will eventually reproduce the entire works of Shakespeare. Now, thanks to the Internet, we know this is not true.

December 29, 2017, 06:37 PM	#10
ms6852 Senior Member Join Date: April 3, 2010 Location: Texas Posts: 1,394	It's your grandfather, he probably is a proud man and would never ask but he could probably use the money more than the firearm, regardless of value, just buy it. __________________ ONLY TWO DEFINING FORCES HAVE GIVEN UP THEIR LIVES FOR YOU. ONE IS JESUS CHRIST FOR YOUR SOUL AND THE OTHER IS THE AMERICAN SOLDIER FOR YOUR FREEDOM.

December 29, 2017, 09:26 PM	#11
bamaranger Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 2009 Location: North Alabama Posts: 8,300	mak90 v. MISR-90 The MaK90 thumbhole rifles were OK, and doing a "parts count/ USA parts" modification will get you legal and more friendly AK to boot. Watch out for the MISR 90 AK, which is a Egyptian receiver and Chinese parts. These are hit and miss on durability and reliability, and all of them look awful. The MISR came with a thumbhole stock that was about useless. Converting from thumbhole can be done, along with a parts count, but the durability and reliability could be a roll of the dice. I wouldn't give $500 for a MISR, but would for a clean MAK.

December 23, 2017, 02:42 PM	#2
ed308 Senior Member Join Date: November 5, 2016 Location: DFW, TX Posts: 1,147	Yes as long as you like it. They were imported to the US b/w 1990 and 1994. I think Norinco and Polytech were the only two makers of the Mak90. Probably won't be any more so value will continue to rise most likely. You can convert them to a AK. There selling for $750 and up on AR15.com.

December 23, 2017, 09:52 PM	#4
ed308 Senior Member Join Date: November 5, 2016 Location: DFW, TX Posts: 1,147	Link to Mak90 site.... http://www.mouseguns.com/mak90web/mak90.htm

December 24, 2017, 09:43 AM	#5
AverageJo Junior Member Join Date: April 1, 2015 Posts: 14	$500 is a great deal. You can not purchase these days anything like that unless it is assembled in USA. So if it is a true import it’s a great value/quality ak. I would never purchase a US made ak.

December 26, 2017, 08:53 PM	#7
bfoosh006 Senior Member Join Date: February 17, 2009 Posts: 1,089	Not trying to sound like a jerk, but along with all those MAK's....came, by the ship tons, corrosive 7.62x39 ammo.... you might check the bore. If it is GTG ... buy it.

December 29, 2017, 07:05 AM	#8
kozak6 Senior Member Join Date: June 16, 2005 Location: AZ Posts: 3,113	It has a chromed bore, so it's no biggie. $500 is a great price. If you don't like it, you can definitely turn a profit on it or trade it for an NPAP and some goodies.

December 29, 2017, 12:12 PM	#9
Jacket67 Senior Member Join Date: July 16, 2016 Posts: 180	My uncle has one and it is still one of my favorite rifles to shoot. His has the thumb hole stock which I initially thought was dumb, but it just makes it so comfortable to shoot. I would also say go for it.

December 29, 2017, 09:49 PM	#12
joeb Senior Member Join Date: August 11, 2007 Location: Coastal South Texas Posts: 135	Get it.

December 30, 2017, 03:58 PM	#13
ThomasT Senior Member Join Date: January 22, 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 2,753	I bought one a couple of years ago from a reletive needing money for $250. He set the price. i sold it a couple of weeks later for $750 on GB. So $500 sounds like a deal to me. Mine was the milled receiver Norinco version with a scope base and rings added.

January 2, 2018, 03:17 AM	#14
Ignition Override Senior Member Join Date: February 18, 2008 Location: About 20 nm from the Big Muddy Posts: 2,884	Yes! Buy it before somebody else gets the chance etc. I have only five AKs--all were imported--and a MAK 90 is one of them. You will learn quite a bit if you bother to spend time on AKfiles, the website.

January 2, 2018, 04:00 PM	#15
KyleYankee Member Join Date: December 23, 2017 Location: Yankeedom Posts: 29	Update: drove 40 miles and met grampy for coffee early this morning. Afterward, went out to his truck to inspect the weapon. Barrel is all shiny and chrome-lined, not a scratch on the wood, finish is beautiful. The serial number showed a 1994 vintage. Came home to clean it after the transfer, and I found: A straight cut, milled receiver A nice big "MADE IN CHINA BY NORINCO" on the side A box grandpa handed me with the rifle, with 4 30 round mags filled with surplus steel core Best $500 I ever spent!

January 2, 2018, 04:44 PM	#16
RC20 Senior Member Join Date: April 10, 2008 Location: Alaska Posts: 7,014	Well done. They are going for north of $700 these days The MAK-90 is not as appreciated as it should be. Its the Best AK out there. It has the thickest stamped receiver by a lot of all the AKs. Chrome everything (piston, barrel) so no issues with corrosive (thought that is not as much a problem) Trigger is awful but the best AK trigger out there with the dual hook. Keep the box if its the original. Stock Upgrade: 922r complaint: : To start with, unless you upgrade to 6 US made components, its illegal to change the stock. Not a big chance it will get snagged, but there are good ways to do it and totally avoid it as an issue. The key is that its not an active gun unless it has a magazine in it. Don't ever put a non US made magazine in it in public. Replacement Stock: Counts as 3 parts even though there are 4 (is the government, what can you say.) Butt stock, grip, fore stock counts as one piece. Magazine: 3 parts, body, follower, base (not the spring does not count, this is the Government) : PMAG makes excellent AK magazines that work, I would go with 10 round as its handier. Also 20 and 30 round versions. 20 is max to me, 30 is awkward. Deadwood makes stocks that are specific to the MAK. You do need to know if the back of the gun is slant or straight cut as they came in both. They will finish it or you can. __________________ Science and Facts are True whether you believe it or not

January 2, 2018, 07:57 PM	#17
ed308 Senior Member Join Date: November 5, 2016 Location: DFW, TX Posts: 1,147	In a couple of years, you'll probably be able to sell if for double your money. Enjoy it while grampy is alive and kicking.