Arsenal AKs

[UrbanWolf]

It isn't that they are not getting them from Bulgaria...it is that Arsenal is trying to fill contracts to the U.S. Governemnt

US Gov't does not issue AKs to anyone.

[275RLTW]

US Gov't does not issue AKs to anyone.

false. I've run US govt issued AKs overseas.

[BPTactical]

And I know of a service that parkerized two cases of unmarked Kalishnakov pattern rifles for .gov entities.
And it wasn't me.

I throw the BS flag on the reasoning.
Remember when our dear leader placed sanctions on Kalishnakov holdings during the Ukrainian foofaraw?
It kills any importation of Kalishnakov Inc licensed property. Which any former CommBloc country that built AK pattern rifles has done.
Proxy AK ban by Executive fiat.

[Big E3]

Arsenal US is a Las Vegas company that was created to convert Arsenal of Bulgaria rifles for the US market. Do to US demand for converted Russian Saiga's, Arsenal US had increased production also converting Saiga's under the Arsenal name. Bulgaria then threaten litigation over use of the Arsenal name. Arsenal US spun off a company called FIME to produce US Saiga conversions. Arsenal of Bulgarian was recently required to increased importation to cover the short fall of AK's when the BHO halted the Russian Saiga imports.

I'm thinking because of the Russian Ukrainian invasion that on an international scale the demand for AK's is increasing. I'm also thinking that Russia is now supplying the other side in this small arms race causing US allies like Bulgaria to pick up the shortfall in the NATO market. I'm sure that in the statement released by Arsenal US they are referring to Arsenal in Bulgaria when talking about military commitments. So there may be an actual shortage of Bulgarian AK's and Arsenal US is now over a barrel without Russian or Bulgarian guns for conversion. It's not like we Americans are willing to start paying Arsenal prices for just any counties AK's.

[Ridge]

There just trying to keep there prices inflated. Dont belive ther BS, its all about money. They have been doing this same crap for years now, its how they keep there prices high and rifles in demand.

Agreed. No country is going to pay $1000 per rifle from a US company when they can get the same thing for $400-500 from the source.

[SAnd]

I read on another forum that ITAR has an impact on this. Any US military aid has to be spent on US made products. That means a country can't buy AKs directly from Bulgaria, or somewhere else, with US military aid money. It has to go through Arsenal.

On the other hand maybe it's obama is trying to cut into AK availability here.

[Jacket]

I get real suspicious when ever I hear gun merchants cry “shortages”. I have heard the same old song crying “shortages” for years. It works and people flock out and buy stuff just like Bennie Babies and Xboxes.

The last Tanner gun show I went to about 5 years ago the guy told me “These are the last 7.62x39 that will be imported to the US.” I heard the same exact BS in the late 90s.

The big mystery to me is how are pieced together bastardized AKs are selling for $1000.

Marketing.

[Ronin13]

I get real suspicious when ever I hear gun merchants cry “shortages”. I have heard the same old song crying “shortages” for years. It works and people flock out and buy stuff just like Bennie Babies and Xboxes.

The last Tanner gun show I went to about 5 years ago the guy told me “These are the last 7.62x39 that will be imported to the US.” I heard the same exact BS in the late 90s.

The big mystery to me is how are pieced together bastardized AKs are selling for $1000.

Marketing.

"Shortages" are a lie... in most cases. Besides, I don't see myself spending $1200 on an AK when I can take mine, which I bought for $400, and upgrade it to look and act exactly like the $1000+ ones for only a few hundred on top of what I paid. But call me a purist, I prefer my AK to look as close to original as possible- though I am considering that Magpul folding AK stock...

[Big E3]

I get real suspicious when ever I hear gun merchants cry “shortages”. I have heard the same old song crying “shortages” for years. It works and people flock out and buy stuff just like Bennie Babies and Xboxes.

The last Tanner gun show I went to about 5 years ago the guy told me “These are the last 7.62x39 that will be imported to the US.” I heard the same exact BS in the late 90s.

The big mystery to me is how are pieced together bastardized AKs are selling for $1000.

Marketing.

Not sure what is meant by "bastardized" AK if talking about Arsenal? My Arsenal SLR is made with an all new Bulgarian Arsenal milled receiver and barrel as well as all other internal parts. My Arsenal SGL is made with all new Russian Saiga stamped receiver and barrel as well as all other internal parts. The trigger groups and furniture are US made by Arsenal Vegas to Bulgarian and Russian specs. The Arsenal guns are all new, not from parts kits like true bastardized parts guns sold elsewhere. The Arsenal US guns may be some of the few foreign made guns sold here that are not bastards.

Without the US made parts the foreign AK's can not be sold in the US. Good luck finding a legal AK in this country that is not made with some US parts. That's what makes Arsenal's so pricey knowledgeable buyer's know they are getting a quality product for there money. By the way, having the Arsenal name on your gun along with the word "shortage" never hurts value, if the guns are already in your safe. Just make sure you know what you are spending over a $1000 on, some may be worth it. Nobody is requiring anybody to buy anything from Arsenal if they think it is not worth the price. Nobody is saying that other AK's will not perform just as well as Arsenal's. As a collector, I'm always concerned about resale value when I buy any gun. I have less than a $1000 total in my pair of Arsenals.

You are right every Tanner show I go to has a bunch of bone heads lying to everybody saying we can't import Russian ammo anymore. This is just a sales tactic used on uninformed buyers, and it works.

[Jacket]

^ I am not trying to bash on Arsenals quality I just do not think an AK is worth $1000.+ It is a cheap gun to produce.
Even a cream of the crop AK set side by side to a average $1000. gun the quality will usually not match up. Nothing wrong with that an AK is an AK crude and dependable. The only thing that is wrong is the $1000.+ price tag on it.

I have nothing against “bastardized” guns especially AKs just the fact of spending top dollar on a mismatched gun is a little off IMO. We are not talking about custom machined and developed parts we are talking about AK production parts.

I sold my last AK when prices went up. I would like another one but not at the cost of market prices right now. I just bought a custom built AR for $1000. so much more quality and craftsmanship then an AK.

Just my 2cents.