Not “left handed”, but a left-side charging handle. (Note that there’s no ejection port on the port side.)
This is a right handed gun, and how the AK’s charging handle should be in the first place. It allows you to keep a master grip on the weapon while reducing malfunctions with the weak hand without having to reach over or under the receiver, an action that can be made difficult by optics or drum mags…
The small lever in front of the charging handle appears to be the catch for the folding stock, which means to stock is likely derived from the Krinkov. Does anybody recognize the stamping on the rear of the receiver? Doesn’t look familiar at all to me.
The receiver stamping is for ITM Arms Co. I have one of their receivers.
Looks like an interesting mod. It would be pretty easy to cut the slot in the left side of the receiver cover and weld a new charging handle on to the left side of the bolt carrier. I have heard of people doing the same thing with SKS bolt carriers.
I don’t think it would hit your cheek or nose. I always keep my face 100% behind the receiver cover.
Tomcatshanger: The safety’s blocking of the charging handle has little to do with the main function of the safety, which is to internally block the trigger from moving sufficiently to release the hammer. The getting-in-the-way-of-the-charging-handle thing is pretty much just a way of ensuring that a round can’t be chambered with the safety on, and is one of the secondary effects of the safety lever (it also acts as a dust cover).
Those have a fairly common AKSU-74 feature. They’re bastard guns, but one of them could in fact be an AKSU-74– we cant see the gas tube, but the rear sight is on the dust cover, “Krink” style. Yes, there is a latch on the front of the receiver to hold the stock in the folded position. The same latch is used on some full-sized AKs with this “solid polymer folder” stock: http://www.k-var.com/shop/product.php?productid=16851&cat=251&page=3
though like the “Krink” folder it requires its own rear receiver block.
I recall reading somewhere that Kalashnikov’s original design called for a left-sided charging handle, but some Russian general found it to be “visually distracting.”
November 10th, 2008 at 11:02 am
Interesting. Must be a conversion… you’d need a new bolt carrier and cover, but really that’s about it.
Bolt carrier a US made part? If it is I’m REAL interested.
It’s not a true lefty conversion though, not as much as it looks like it’s intended for lefty shooters. The cartridge still flies out past your face.
November 10th, 2008 at 11:03 am
That was the first thing I thought. Maybe it’s a mirror image?
November 10th, 2008 at 11:33 am
Not “left handed”, but a left-side charging handle. (Note that there’s no ejection port on the port side.)
This is a right handed gun, and how the AK’s charging handle should be in the first place. It allows you to keep a master grip on the weapon while reducing malfunctions with the weak hand without having to reach over or under the receiver, an action that can be made difficult by optics or drum mags…
November 10th, 2008 at 11:35 am
(Sorry, “Reduce Malfunctions” = Tactispeak for “Clear Jams”, ie “Operate the charging handle with the ejection port rolled towards the bottom.”)
November 10th, 2008 at 12:15 pm
That’s a step in the right direction.
I wonder how the safety works without a charging handle to stop? Or is there a charging handle on both sides?
November 10th, 2008 at 1:42 pm
Interesting. What about the side scope mount, though?
November 10th, 2008 at 1:58 pm
What’s the small lever forward of the magazine?
November 10th, 2008 at 1:58 pm
oh, clip for folding stock?
November 10th, 2008 at 2:04 pm
The small lever in front of the charging handle appears to be the catch for the folding stock, which means to stock is likely derived from the Krinkov. Does anybody recognize the stamping on the rear of the receiver? Doesn’t look familiar at all to me.
November 10th, 2008 at 2:22 pm
Looks like a real good way to get a bashed-up cheek/nose…
November 10th, 2008 at 2:30 pm
The receiver stamping is for ITM Arms Co. I have one of their receivers.
Looks like an interesting mod. It would be pretty easy to cut the slot in the left side of the receiver cover and weld a new charging handle on to the left side of the bolt carrier. I have heard of people doing the same thing with SKS bolt carriers.
I don’t think it would hit your cheek or nose. I always keep my face 100% behind the receiver cover.
November 10th, 2008 at 4:45 pm
The other advantage for lefties is you wouldn’t have the charging handle digging into your back if you sling it, both back and front.
And I’m still not sold on the whole “non-firing hand side charging handle is better” argument.
Yes, it works better when standing and sometimes kneeling. But ever try it that way prone?
November 10th, 2008 at 5:01 pm
Tomcatshanger: The safety’s blocking of the charging handle has little to do with the main function of the safety, which is to internally block the trigger from moving sufficiently to release the hammer. The getting-in-the-way-of-the-charging-handle thing is pretty much just a way of ensuring that a round can’t be chambered with the safety on, and is one of the secondary effects of the safety lever (it also acts as a dust cover).
November 10th, 2008 at 5:16 pm
Those are AK clones from Down Under, where everything is backward!
November 10th, 2008 at 7:17 pm
Those have a fairly common AKSU-74 feature. They’re bastard guns, but one of them could in fact be an AKSU-74– we cant see the gas tube, but the rear sight is on the dust cover, “Krink” style. Yes, there is a latch on the front of the receiver to hold the stock in the folded position. The same latch is used on some full-sized AKs with this “solid polymer folder” stock:
http://www.k-var.com/shop/product.php?productid=16851&cat=251&page=3
though like the “Krink” folder it requires its own rear receiver block.
November 10th, 2008 at 10:03 pm
Heartless Libertarian,
Yes, a fair bit. I’m sold. (…it’s why I put PRI Big Latches on all my AR’s.)
November 11th, 2008 at 1:34 am
I recall reading somewhere that Kalashnikov’s original design called for a left-sided charging handle, but some Russian general found it to be “visually distracting.”
Interesting to see it carried out.
November 11th, 2008 at 6:32 pm
I was mainly thinking of the locked bolt with relation to a left side charging handle and the safety.
Any use as a dust cover is gone now that there is a slot on the left.
November 16th, 2008 at 11:53 pm
I just happened to come across a left-handed bolt system that I think is the same system:
http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2008/11/17/ak-lightning-bolt-left-hand-side-charging-handle/