From the J.A.Freeman AK47 / AK74 Website
Pre & Post Ban Chinese
AK47 Rifle Overview
AK type
rifles were imported from the People Republic of China (PRC) till imports
were cut off in May of 1994. They were imported in 2 calibers 7.62x39mm
and 5.56x45mm / 223 Remington. A very few samples were imported in
5.45x39mm but were snapped up by collectors so the chances of seeing
one are pretty slim.
PRE BAN RIFLES
Rifles imported before the ban was enacted in July
of 1989 are commonly referred to as "pre ban". They can have all the
evil features of a assault rifle that is defined by the BATF as: (B)
a semiautomatic rifle that has an ability to accept a detachable magazine and
has at least 2 of - (i) a folding or telescopic stock; (ii) a pistol grip that
protrudes conspicuously beneath the action of the weapon; (iii) a bayonet mount;
(iv) a flash suppressor or threaded barrel designed to accommodate a flash suppressor;
and (v) a grenade launcher;
This above is from the BATF website
There were about two dozen importers
of pre ban rifles and almost half of them went out of business when the
1989 ban went into effect.
POST BAN RIFLES
AK type rifles that were imported from 1990 till imports
of Chinese rifles were cut off in May of 1994 are commonly referred to as "post
ban rifles".
They can be identified by the model number stamped on the receiver or barrel
trunnion and 2 digit year of import prefix or suffix to the serial number.
The model numbers of post ban rifles are: MAK-90,MAK-91,NHM-90,NHM-91,BWK-92,and
Hunter.
MAK-90

MAK-90 stands for Modified AK rifle-model
of 1990. They were import with milled
and stamped receivers. Here is a picture of a stamped (top) and milled receivers.
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Notice
the rivets on the stamped receiver that hold the barrel trunnion
and rear trunnion in the receiver. The milled receiver lacks
rivets as it is one piece of steel. Notice the milled out spot
on the front of it. These rifles have a 16" barrel
with the threads turned off the end of the barrel. They were
imported in 7.62x39mm and 5.56x45mm(223) calibers. |
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The
MAK-90 rifles in 5.56 caliber use a different mag than the 7.62x39mm
rifles. The MAK-90 5.56 rifles use a magazine that is commonly
referred to as the Norinco type. As it is the same one used by
the pre ban Norinco rifles and is different from the one used
by the Poly Tech 5.56 rifles. Here is a picture of a 7.62x39mm
mag next to a Norinco 223 mag. Notice how the 223 mag has less
curve to it than the 7.62 mag. |
The only MAK-90 rifles with a threaded barrel
are the stamped receiver rifles imported early in 1990. They were
pre ban rifles that were still in customs when the ban went into
effect and had to be modified to meet post ban rifle specs, I.E.
thumbhole stocks added, bayonet lug ground down, and some but not
all had the muzzle nut tack welded on. Here is a picture of pre
ban rifle that was caught in customs and changed to post ban specs,
notice how it has been re-stamped. The other picture is of a rifle
with the original model name ground off and restamped MAK-90 Sporter. |
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These
rifles had thumbhole stocks of Chinese mfg. that were fastened
to the receiver by the screws on the tang and a pistol grip bolt
and nut. They had the standard pistol grip nut but had the pistol
grip bolt was shortened. Notice how the MAK-90 thumbhole stocks
pistol grip (right) is shorter than standard AK pistol grip (center)
and both are shorter than the NHM-90 thumbhole stock (left).
This is the reason for shortening the pistol grip bolt. |
Here is a picture of MAK-90 stocks notice the one in the center is
darker and has a solid recoil pad but all are of Chinese mfg.

All of the early imported MAK-90 rifles had the original model number
ground off the barrel trunnion and re-stamped MAK-90. Looking close you
can see the grinder marks on this rifle.
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A very few of these early
imports had under folding stocks still attached and folded. A
tang was welded onto the rear of the receiver to attach the thumbhole
stock. With the thumbhole stock attached it prevented the under
folding stock from being unfolded. The stamped receiver MAK-90
rifles came with thumbhole stocks colored from light to dark.
The MAK-90 rifles were imported with some rifles stamped "sporter" on
the left side of the receiver. |
Some of the rifles imported in early 1990
didn't have the 2 digit date of import stamped on them. But most
Chinese rifles imported had (x=serial numbers) 90,91,92,93,94 prefix
or suffix. This was done with a dash, space, or just stamped as
part of the serial number. Prefixes were marked as follows 91-xxxxxx,91(space)xxxxxx,or
91xxxxxx. Suffixes were the same xxxxxx-91,xxxxxx(space)91,xxxxxx91. |
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There
was also a Poly Tech stamped receiver rifle imported that was
stamped MAK-90 and imported by KBI. This blows the notion that
only Kengs Firearms Specialties(KFS) imported Poly Tech rifles.
It had a 16" barrel with the threads turned
off the end and bayonet lug ground down. Notice the ground down
spot that is re-stamped "MAK-90 SPORTER". |
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Milled receiver MAK-90/MAK-91

MAK-90

MAK-91
Both rifles had the threads turned off the end of the barrel and bayonet
lug ground down. They were only imported in 7.62x39mm caliber. The MAK-90
has a 16" barrel and the MAK-91 has a 19" heavy barrel. Measured between
the gas block and front sight the barrel of the MAK-91 is .685" in diameter
which is the largest diameter barrel on any post ban AK type rifle imported.
Both came with a dark brown Chinese thumbhole stock with black recoil
pad and white line spacer. They are both stamped 386 in a oval on the
trunnion which is the same factory that Poly Tech rifles were mfg. in.
The MAK-91 has NM stamped under the factory stamp and serial number as
you can see in the picture about serial numbers.
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The stamping NATIONAL MATCH is
also on the side of the receiver. |
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On the right side of the receiver
are 3 Chinese letters which translate as "precision degree gun". |
All of the above pictures of markings on the MAK-91 are also on the
Poly Tech Legend National Match rifle. IS the MAK-91 a post ban PTLNM
rifle? All the markings are there. Both these milled receiver rifles
have the best trigger pull of any AK type rifle ever imported to the
US. I have fired 6 MAK-90 and 2 MAK-91 rifles and all have fantastic
trigger pulls.
NHM-90

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They
were imported in and calibers. Stamped receivers with 16" barrels
that were threaded with a muzzle nut tack welded on. The muzzle
nut looked like piece of pipe 2 to 3 inches long. The. They
were made by Bishop or Boyd of hackberry wood. Which ever company
mfg. the stock can be seen by their name imprinted on the black
plastic butt plate. |

These thumbhole stocks are the most comfortable ones
on any post ban Chinese rifle imported. They are attached to the rifle
by screw through the tang on the top of the thumbhole stock and a pistol
grip screw and nut. The pistol grip screw is longer than the standard
AK pistol grip screw.
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Quite
a lot of the NHM-90 rifles imported had under folding stock receivers.
The holes in each side of the receiver were covered by a steel
plate that were held on by a rivet. A long rivet passed through
the receiver and held the plates on. The rear of the receiver
was closed up and a tang was added to attach the thumbhole stock.
The 223 caliber rifles use the same magazines as the MAK-90 rifles. |
NHM-91
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They were imported in
7.62x39mm and 5.56x45mm(223) calibers. The 223 caliber rifles
are pretty rare as very small numbers were imported. All had
stamped receivers and 20" heavy
barrels with a short muzzle nut tack welded on. |
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The early imported rifles had
the folding bipod with adjustable legs attached but later imports
had it unattached in the box. The bipod has a thumbscrew on each
leg that allow the legs to be adjusted for length. The only problem
with them is that you just can't tighten the thumbscrew up enough
with hand to keep it from loosing up and the leg collapsing during
firing. |
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NHM-91 rifles came with a rivet
where the rear tang of the magazine hits the receiver when the
mag catch holds it in the rifle. I had to hold the mag catch lever
back to get the picture. In the picture the arrow shows where I
ground down the head of the rivet, it is the shiny spot. |
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The magazines
that came with these rifles had the tang milled out to clear
the rivet when it was inserted into the rifle. Here is a picture
of a 5rd and 10rd mag that came with one of my rifles. Modified
30rd magazines also came with these rifles but most were removed
from the box by dealers sorry bastards) for sale separate at
a higher price than standard 30rd magazines.
The rivet was not
required by law or any import rules it was just something
that was done by the mfg. or importer. Removal of it breaks no
laws or anything else. I have seen NHM-91 rifles new in the box
with the rivet in tight, loose, installed but not riveted, and
missing. This rivet has no function other than to prevent the use
of regular AK magazines that are not milled out to clear it.
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Stocks on the NHM-91 were the same as the NHM-90,mfg. by Bishop or Boyd.
But some were made of birch wood but were the same pattern as the hackberry
one.
BWK-92
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The BWK-92 was mfg. in
China by Norinco and imported B-west. Unlike the B-west rifles
with Chinese parts and US mfg. receivers that had heat treating
problems they are 100% made in China. It came only in 5.56x45mm/223
and used the same Norinco pattern magazines as the MAK-90/NHM-90.
It has a 16" unthreaded
barrel and had the same thumbhole stocks as MAK-90 rifles. |

| These rifles were also imported by A.C. |
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Norinco Hunter
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The Hunter rifle has
a milled receiver that is marked with a 386 in a oval. This is
the same factory stamp as the Poly Tech rifles and denotes that
they were made in factory #386 located in Shenzhen,China. The
barrel is 20" long and
doesn't have threads on the end for a muzzle brake. This rifle
is while not a exact copy of the Valmet Hunter M-88 is copied
from it. |

For ease of identification I have classed the rifle into 3 types based
on the type of rear sight it has.
- Type I = peep sight mounted on the receiver cover.
- Type II = two leaf folding notch sight mounted on the rear sight
block.
- Type III = standard type AK rear sight.
There were 3 holes on the left side of the receiver above the mag well
for the detachable scope mount. Not all rifles were drilled and tapped
for a scope mount.
| Type I |
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The first type had a peep sight on rear of the
receiver cover. The receiver cover had a small ear on each
side that hung down over the receiver. It had a hole in it
that a screw went through and into the receiver. This was to hold
the receiver cover to the receiver so that it would be in the same
position each time it was removed for cleaning. It had a
sliding mag release that looks like the one on the SKS rifle. The
rifles that had the scope mount used a scope mounting plate that
fastened to the receiver with 3 screws. The scope mount fastened
to the mounting plate with 2 large knurled thumb screw. This rifle
had long trigger.
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The trigger was mounted in the same place
in the receiver as a standard AK rifle but it was very long with
a long trigger guard. This was done so it could be reached with
the sporting rifle type stock it has. |
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| Type II |
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The second type Hunter rifle that I refer
to as the Type II is pictured here new in the box. |
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It has a L shaped notched rear sight that
can be flipped from the shorter 100 meter notch to the taller part
of the L that has a 300 meter notch. The rear sight is in the same
position as standard AK-47 rifle. |
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Here is the rear sight with 300 meter side
flipped up. |
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It has the same sliding mag release as the
type I rifle. Just like the type I some were drilled and tapped
for the scope mount and some not. The scope mount for this rifle
didn't have the knurled thumb screw. It was attached to the scope
mounting plate by 2 screws. It had the same long trigger as the
Type I. Also the same sliding type mag release as type I. |
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| Type III |
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The third type rifle had a standard sliding
rear sight as a AK-47 rifle. The mag release was the same lever
type as the standard AK-47 rifle. The trigger was in a position
farther back on the receiver but looked like the standard AK rifle
trigger. It was modified on the inside to be longer so it would
work with the hammer and disconector that are in the position as
the other types of Hunter rifles and standard AK rifles. |
There are
transition Hunter rifles as I have seen pictures of type II rifle
with type III mag release. I have recently received some pics
of a Type I rifle rifle marked "HUNTER
90" with the same type front sight mounted on the gas block
just like the Valmet Hunter M-88 rifle. |
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| But about 98% of Hunter rifles fall into the
Type I, II, or III categories. |
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| Poly Tech Post Ban Rifles |
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Besides the above mentioned
Poly Tech MAK-90 Sporter there was also a rifle imported by Kengs
Firearms Specialties (KFS). These rifles have all the standard
type Poly Tech markings with the addition of two letters "sp" stamped on the
left side of the receiver above the mag well. The "sp" is
a silver color because it was stamped on the receiver after the
rifle was imported. They have 16" barrels that are threaded
with a muzzle nut tack welded on. They have Choate black plastic
thumbhole stocks and hand guards. |
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The "sp" rifles
are pre ban rifles that were not released from customs before
the 1989 ban went into effect. Kengs filed a law suit to have
the rifles released from customs in 1989. It was in court and
the rifles sat in customs for 7 years. In 1996 Kengs won the
law suit to have the rifles released from customs. But part of
the court order was that the rifles were now post ban and had
to be modified to post ban specs to be released from customs.
This confirmed the precedence that the import date of rifles
is not when they come into this country but when released from
customs. The bayonet lugs were ground down, muzzle nuts tack
welded, and Choate thumbhole stock set applied. |
| Sile Post Ban rifles |
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Post ban rifles were imported by Sile in New
York, New York. They were pre ban 56S rifles modified to post ban
configuration by the bayonet lug being ground down, some not all
had muzzle nuts tack welded on, and thumbhole stocks attached.
The fixed stock model had the number 7 stamped on each side of
the model number 56S. |
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The under folding stock rifles had a tang
welded on the back of the receiver and a thumbhole stock added.
They had a 1 stamped in front of the 56S-1 model number. |
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| ACC/Intrac MAK-90 rifles |
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As you can see from the
picture ACC/Intrac did import a small number of MAK-90 rifles.
Until a fellow AK-47.net member sent me these pictures I had
only seen Romanian and Egyptian rifles that were imported by
ACC/Intrac. They have 16" barrels
with the threads turned off.
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| Compasseco MAK-90 Rifles |
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Compasseco Inc. is a big importer of Chinese
air rifles/pistols. They imported some stamped receiver MAK-90
Sporter rifles in 1994. They have square cut receivers and unthreaded
barrels. They have Chinese light colored thumbhole stocks.

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For more information use the
links below
- Pre & Post
Ban Chinese AK47 Rifle Overview
 |
AK type
rifles were imported from the People Republic of China (PRC)
till imports were cut off in May of 1994. They were... Click
Here for more |
- Romanian
AK47 Rifle Overview
 |
It was
not untill 1997 that the arms embargo was completly lifted
that rifles were allowed to be imported from Romania. So
there is no such thing as a .... Click
Here for more |
- Egyptian
AK47 Rifle Overview
 |
Semi automatic
AKM rifles were / are imported from Egypt. The factory was
shipped to Egypt lock, stock, and barrel from Russia. The
Russian's set up.... Click
Here for more |
- Russian
AK47 Rifle Overview
 |
The first
semiautomatic AK-47 type rifles imported from Russia were
the Saiga 7.62x39mm imported by B-West Tucson, AZ USA in
1994..... Click
Here for more |
- How
to change handguards on AK rifles
 |
TOOLS
NEEDED: Vise or Quick Clamp, hammer, rubber
/ wood / rawhide mallet, screwdriver, punch, adjustable
wrench, padding for vise jaws (old leather belt, rubber,
rags, etc..). After removing the bolt carrier from the
rifle... Click
Here for more |
- How
to load a 75rd and 100rd AK47drum
|
The
7.62x39mm drums for AK type rifles were made in 75rd and
100rd versions. The only difference between them besides
capacity is ... Click
Here for more |
- AK47
drum and magazine overview
 |
The
2 types of drums imported for use in AK-47 rifles that
are chambered for the 7.62x39mm cartridge are the Chinese
type and the Russian type. The Chinese type drums are easy
to spot ... Click
Here for more |
- AK47 rifle ammo identification
 |
The 7.62x39mm cartridge
was invented by the Russians and adopted as the M-43 cartridge
in 1943. The cartridge was developed in response to.. Click
Here for more |
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