Project Overview:
1957 Izhmash Type III AK-47
Thanks to Ekie for the pics and story

Historically authentic recreation of the AK family of rifle

This was a four year project, a friend and I got our receivers at the same time, then we sent them to Ted Marshall, next they went back to the Firing Line for assembly. Had some custom machining done on mine
The rifles is a 1957 (educated guess) Izhmash Type III AK-47 kit on a threaded Firing Line receiver. Rifle was originally purchased by Bulgaria prior to the Bulgarians producing their own. These differ from others Izhmash rifles in the bayonet serial number engraving is different, and they typically had Bulgarian wood on them. Bulgaria sold their rifles as surplus and FAC ended up with a large number of them as kits. In the mix were a few Russians. I know of three that turned up, this one that "MO" found at a gun show, and two others that pinetop got from FAC direct (pure luck).
Ted Marshall did the engraving, the riveting of the pistol grip screw block do dad and the trigger guard, swapped the feed ramp out for a Russian one, and installed the side swivel. The Firing Line then timed and headspaced the barrel, and cut the receiver so that the bolt carrier stopped on the correct side (right). The receiver was blued by Anderson Gun, Springfield, MO. Guards and grip were new replacements from Tantal, buttstock was a beater that Z-recto refinished to match.
Cyrillic selector markings. The selector stop was already done by the Firing Line, it is not quite the right shape and since the receiver was to be blued it could not be fixed by welding. Mike_F went ahead and had Ted add another stop, I elected not to. Note the swirls in the polishing of the selector, characteristic of blued Izhmash Type III selectors.
Various Izhmash 1950's arsenal codes o n the inside of the trigger guard.
Izhmash 1950's arsenal codes on the  ack of the FSB.
A number one on the "windage drum". Reminds me of a similar marking found on Tula SKS's
Various stampings on the rib of the mag
Fake proof marks on the receiver. They were laser engraved and looked to perfect, so had them partially polished out prior to blueing. Also note that the receiver had been modified so that the carrier stops on this side, as it is supposed to. Izhmash Type III blued rear sight bases had swirls polished in them like the selectors, this feature was lost on mine during the process of having the receiver blued, bummer.
Fake Izhmash arrow in triangle. Also note that the receiver has been profiled closer to the Izhmash pattern, and it has been modified so that the carrier does not stop on this side.
All matching numbers, that is 4111, even the bayonet, how cool is that?
Izhmash use to etch the serial number on the bottom of the rear sight leaf, this one is 4111.
Accessories, even found a blued Russian cleaning kit.

Firing Line
69400 E. Hwy 60
Wyandotte, OK 74370
918-666-2788

The FIRING LINE is a Class II Manufacturer and a Type 07 Manufacturer. We carry an assorted line of firearms both new and used; Ammunition, hunting supplies and accessories for all your shooting needs. The Firing Line also offers an INDOOR SHOOTING RANGE, with NO caliber limitations. You can shoot anything from a .22 to a .50 Caliber BMG rifle in our INDOOR RANGE. We also offer Oklahoma Concealed Weapons Classes, contact us for more details. We can handle all of your AK47 build needs from A to Z. We do custom rifle building on your rifle or receiver, and will work on any full auto or semi-auto military rifles along with general Gunsmith services.

Marshall Arms Project Overview:
1957 Izhmash Type III AK-47 (Mike F)

Here's the Type 3 clone that's the fraternal twin of Ekie's. As he said, they followed basically the same pathway to completion. Engraving by Ted Marshall, assembly and cutting the receiver so that the carrier made contact on the right side by the Firing Line. I had it blued by Checkmate Custom in Florida at the recommendation of Troy Sellars (In Range).
My "parts kit" really wasn't a kit at all. I managed to pick up the new condition barrel assembly before any of the complete Russian parts kits hit our shores. I pieced together the rest of the parts with the help of several friends. The stock set has its original Russian finish intact.

Since mine happened to get completed first, Tantal put up a project page about it on his website. Maybe Ekie & I can get the two rifles together someday for a family portrait!

Link to Tantal's project page:

-KALASHNIKOV PROJECTS PAGE 21-
BLUE STEEL: RECREATING A LEGEND

Ted's love of the AK47 rifle goes beyond buying one off the shelf, past building a working rile from a parts kit, to include doing historical research, visiting the countries and factories where the AK47s were built, through to building his own tools to recreate every aspect of those original firearms. 

Ted has met with M. Kalashnikov a number of times, few people, let alone AK47 manufacturers can claim that honor. Ted's through knowledge of his rifle has impressed Kalashnikov who is happy to know his rifle is now being appreciated in the United States by a devoted following of collectors.

Photo by Y. Harrington
Happy Birthday Mikhail