Big Guide To Polish AKs Pt. 1: 7.62x39 Rifles (1947-1977)

This is part 1 in a set of videos looking at Polish AK rifles chambered for the 7.62x39mm round. It is a comprehensive overview, so please forgive us if some details have been glossed over or left out.
We begin by briefly talking about earlier military firearms such as the WZ.43/52 PPS type submachinegun, and then move into the SKS (or KSS as it was known in Poland).
After this background material, we begin at the beginning with the milled PMK, built at ZM "Lucznik" Radom.
From there we progress into the stamped AKM and AKMS era, and finish up by discussing a few interesting variants.
This video has been a long time in coming. We had a few technical issues, which have (mostly) all been worked out finally.
Featured Polish rifles include: PPS43/52, PMK/KBK AK, KBKG Wz.60, KBK AKM, KBK AKMS, KBKG Wz.60/72, RPDM LMG, KBKG Wz.74 Pallad, & KBK AKML & AKMLS.
Also from Russia we look at an SKS-45, AK Type III, and RPK.
Interested in becoming a Patreon contributor? Check out our Patreon page at:
/ mishaco
Visit ozarkbeararms.b... to read more articles.
This video is produced and published to KZbin for historical and educational purposes and to document and make record of the content herein publicly available for said purposes. The Mishaco channel is run by experienced and trained industry professionals and all activity portrayed and content herein is presented with all considerations to safety and in accordance with local, state, and the Federal law of the United States.

[@JoeyP322]

Nothing is better than drinking my hot coffee and watching one of your videos on a blustery Sunday morning... (well some things are better, but this is up there!!) Love this informative video !!!

[@stefanodogg280]

Coffee or whiskey depending on the time of day, either way always a pleasure to see a new Misha vid. Right now watching this with the latter beverage

[@ericvantassell6809]

@@stefanodogg280 If you're Irish Whiskey is a breakfast beverageIand my grandma mccormack made it to 98)

[@kylecarpenter3900]

U said it man, I love coffee while it snows outside and I'm at my table with an ak in front of me and my wife next to me...

[@czlover7531]

Love seeing a Mishaco video in my subscription feed!

[@misha5670]

Thank you, we have several new ones planned for the rest of this month, and then we're going to take a small break. We need a rest about every 3 months just to recharge and think on new ideas. The gun market hasn't given us a whole lot new to talk about this year either. We're doing our best....

[@yellowjacket548]

That makes 2 of us :)

[@ericvantassell6809]

don't we all?

[@dmarkj22]

Mishaco is my go to resource for all my AK info. The dude is a living, walking AK history book. I love this channel!!

[@nemrodxxx8120]

Greets from Poland 🍻

[@matejmatej3554]

I Love the video because i learned something new. Have a great time ! As always greetings from Slovenia

[@484442pt]

3:39 - SVT-40 was not manufactured in Poland, and after WW2 it saw a rather limited use in the Polish Army. As for the PPS-43 - they were made in Poland, by at least 4 different companies, but I've never seen any made by Radom. The wz.43/52 version with wood stock was made by HCP factory (code '6 in circle'). However, the PPSh-41 was made in Radom.

[@ericvantassell6809]

rewatching this video. it never fails to put me into my happy place!

[@adam3651]

Great stuff, polish bakelite grips are slightly thicker than any other countries and my favorite to use on builds due to the slight added comfort

[@misha5670]

Their later black polymer grips are a little larger as well. It helps with ergonomics and also makes them feel a bit sturdier.

[@adam3651]

@@misha5670 keep up the great content!

[@ThePanhead69]

Thanks for your research and this video, answers questions I had about my Polish parts kits.

[@shadowhawk320]

It’s uncanny how well you describe color. Very refined.

[@ericvantassell6809]

(in fond memory of Ron Palillo please hear Horshak's voice in your head when you read this) Ooooh, ooooh, oooooooooh Mr. Misha! This is my new favorite mishaco series!!

[@buck19x87]

Awesome. This will be interesting, thanks for putting this together.

[@misha5670]

Thanks for watching. We'll have Pt. 2 out soon.

[@fookjoebiden]

Man I've been slacking on putting mine together! Can't wait to get it all up and running I love these Polish milled KBK's, picked up a sweet ass parts kit off AOA!

[@sanchinos8698]

I've been satisfied with your explanation of those rifles. Super job done! ^^

[@michaelbirdsong196]

I looked at a polish ak today it was all black beautiful and lightweight . I found myself loving soviet firearms after watching your channel You and jay are awesome ! thank you

[@andrewgates8158]

Polish weren't soviet. They were commie ..but not soviet.

[@michaelbirdsong196]

@@andrewgates8158 yeah I know that ! But thank you for correcting me !

[@striknine570]

You the man Misha, great video and information. Now if I could only make it til the very end without heading to the range to shoot these variants it would be great. Well, not really. 😉

[@misha5670]

Thanks much for watching as much as you were able, cheers.

[@ericvantassell6809]

It would be really cool if you made a video featuring your cats and have Jay wander in and out of camera with various AKs

[@andrewpinheiro7202]

The polish make damn fine AK’s ! Only thing I don’t like is the bolt being polished but easily fixed with paint WBP is a great manufacturer of the AK .

[@RAGE-OF-SPARTA-X]

Hey Misha, I don’t know if you’ll read this comment but i have a question. Do you think an AK that has a bolt and bolt carrier in the white will have a smoother action than an AK with a finish?

[@GUNTHER-lx6vu]

I can't believe how much I learn in such a short amount of time Misha clears up so much bs I've heard from other firearm historians

[@misha5670]

Short? i ramble for nearly 50 minutes in thiss one lol.

[@revmarcell6449]

Again an excellent presentation! Polish weapons are very high quality..

[@misha5670]

Thanks much for watching, cheers.

[@stefanodogg280]

You have a sweet collection, my East Block collection does not compare, and your thirst for weapons lore is admirable IMO, mine being similar and insatiable. You and Ian/Forgotten Weapons are the two best of the web in this arena

[@ksztyrix]

I have seen here in Poland for sale 7,62x39 AKM style rifle with Tantal style selector. Propably from research program that led to wz. 88 development. Unfortunetly I didn't had free funds to take it :(

[@Leman.Russ.6thLegion]

ksztyrix WHAT ARE POLISH GUN LAWS?

[@ksztyrix]

@@Leman.Russ.6thLegion You can own firearms and carry handguns if you jump lot of hoops but that will change soon because EU regulations that government of Poland is more then happy to follow

[@HelloFineSir1]

Hey Misha is there any significance of 1957 vs 58 Polish milled AKs? The ‘57 kits are slightly more expensive.

[@Voice1977]

Love your videos Mishaco, especially com bloc firearms, keep'em coming !

[@ty.9267]

Oh Yes MORE AK videos!!!

[@lasermaker5]

Hey Mishaco, I need help finding what generation sling is correct for a 1966? I believe it is the gen 2 with metal to leather strap.

[@Leman.Russ.6thLegion]

Just put a plum FOX on layaway. Already got my lynx. Paint scratches easy, but the guns are made well.

[@ElijahDecker]

Heh, the paint is authentic to military AKs, just like Arsenals and Saigas. AKs look better with honest wear IMHO.

[@misha5670]

That is literally the same paint that FB-Radom uses; from the same vender. Militaries don't much care about cosmetics because all of their guns are going to look like hell in 6 months anyway haha.

[@MSWeaponsChannel]

In this video you state the grenade launching AK takes the type 3 bayonet. So it doesn’t take the Type 1 bayonet common with milled AKs?

[@anthonynastasi2022]

wow, another fine video. Im surprised how much i like the accessories that you add to you're presentation. I have a question about slings, particularly the ones for the Vepr 12 or Vepr Rpk 46. Why do these two weapons have the rear sling mount on the opposite side (right side) as to the sling mount which is in front (left side)? Maybe you could touch on this in one of your videos.

[@misha5670]

Because of their folding buttstocks.

[@anthonynastasi2022]

Well that seems like a really simple answer, I guess as a gentleman you left off, "DUH" If that be the case why not have the rear sling mount on the bottom of the butt stock? It just seems that I have a lot of sling flapping around because of the extra distance. Anyway, just an observation not a complaint. Keep up the good work.

[@AlexPcmsm]

Did the polish ever give them a name or designation SMG at any point or was that some sort of prototype idea perhaps? Or did I make it up.....

[@dang3554]

Did any of the Circle 11 AKM have a scope mount. Trying to keep this thing as close to original as possible but still be able to enjoy an optic from time to time.

[@jacobardon5605]

They did but 7.62 ones only had em for the first gen night vision and had a special flash hider. Most normal ones didn’t

[@harvestblades]

@Mishaco are the Polish (WBP) riles of better finish & quality then Romanian Cugir's, and if so how? I would love to hear the top five or ten arsenals that made the AK or AKM I am more interested in a fighting rifle not necesarily a range queen though obviously quality craftmanship can say a lot about re;iabilty, as well as accuracy.

[@francisp.4992]

With all the surplus guns that came in from Poland in recent years why hasn't the sks rifles in Poland been imported in the United states. Did the atf ban them or something.

[@misha5670]

No, but as said in this video, Poland only acquired a small number from Russia and used them as guard/parade rifles for decades. Who knows how many survived? Radom never manufactured complete KSS/SKS carbines.

[@Mostlyonoff]

Great episode, I enjoy collecting Polish arms The Polish SKS were all Izhevsk actions in Polish stock from what ive read and seen in photos. ( Im referring to the ceremonial rifles, not sure what other sks exist there) I've made a Polish Honor Guard SKS clone with the exquisite Polish laminate stock. Another rifle that belongs in this vid is the Wz78 Wifama .22 Polish AK trainer (additionally there is the wz48 .22 Mosin trainer)

[@ksztyrix]

@@Mostlyonoff Unfortunetly honor guard dont use snazzy nickle plated SKS anymore. They now have non functional plastic vomit known as MSBS

[@Mostlyonoff]

Yes they retired the SKS in favor of some black tupperware, sad because they had the best looking SKS. I suppose they wanted to get away from the commie era reminders and use something indigenous and 'modern' Im not aware of any Polish SKS being chromed

[@a.c.2499]

Are Polish AKs still being imported? In case you said so in the video, I haven't had time to watch it yet.

[@MishacoOBA]

Check out our video feed for the imports from WBP. This video was recorded before those were available and this is focused on military issue anyway. - Jay

[@eanaustin4524]

@Misha Do you know of any resources that cover the design differences between the Polish AK variants by year (in particular, a 1985 Polish AKMS and a 1987 Polish AKMS)?

[@blackhd92]

No difference at all.A polish AKMS is a modernised version of the AK.The MS stands for Modernised folding.

[@ninjascout468]

👍👍🇺🇸🎃 Blued akm's are awesome looking weapons , I've never liked the painted one's except the tantal with all the different colors on it , funky but beautiful gun oddly as it all blends nicely to me , only chance I had to buy a tantal was the bad barrel cai , I passed 😉

[@misha5670]

The CAI Tantal was fine but nothing to write home about. While some had bad barrels, most made did not....still 1 bad gun out of 100 ruins the lot for people. The damage was already done. If you find an Interarms Tantal, it very likely could have an original Polish barrel.

[@InugamiTheHound]

38:51 I think Poland was drinking too much Vodka when they made that shit!! My question looking for polish guns(pistol, bolt actions and ak type rifles) what is best place to look for them without paying too much?

[@MishacoOBA]

If you're in the US - GunBroker, J&G, Atlantic... Also could contact Misha directly as he's a dealer and finds a lot of that stuff. - Jay

[@conradsz]

kbk stands for „karabinek” which can be translated to carbine

[@AngelSilverFourtySeven]

Woot woot 🙌🏼

[@misha5670]

cheers

[@clayc1287]

Are the AK files are better resource than books that are out there on the AK? Looking to learn more information.

[@OriginalBongoliath]

AK: The Grim Reaper is an excellent book about the AK i highly recommend it.

[@misha5670]

Depends, books are a good foundation and forums can have a lot of drama & BS. That said, I've found books on the AK to focus on mostly the Russian guns and only briefly touch on others made in nations like Poland or Romania. So for foreign variants, sometimes online can be a good resource. Just be sure to have your BS filter set to 'high.'

[@ericvantassell6809]

So this friend of mine really wants to build an AK despite being cautioned by preople with expertise that he respects. He's scotch-irish-dutch and hence a bit stubborn. So, if he's already given a lot of money to atlantic firearms(all of it well spent btw) now he's got the hare brained notion "I want to build something unique but not utterly stupid(ex:not an RPK in .25 acp)". Any suggestions for something other than what he can just go buy?

[@jacobardon5605]

Parts kit build a Romanian aims 74,polish akm,Russian akm

[@GUNTHER-lx6vu]

love your videos Micha thanks for your time that submachine gun is as big as an ak lmao

[@misha5670]

They were going for a PPSh41+PPS43 hybrid. Of course mine has an extension on the barrel to make it legal as well.

[@thexsandxassain]

Do you think that WBP will import a 5.56 gun again if the fox does well.

[@DuckandBalls]

DING DING DING WE GOT A WINNER

[@MatJan86]

I wonder if next video will feature newest rifle made in Poland or at least talk about it.

[@misha5670]

Wait and see hehe

[@droppinplates6665]

i have a m91/30 pu sniper which i always believed was a build that someone put together non the less it shoots well / however it is stamped with a circle 11 could that mean that this gun was shipped to poland? or what exactly does that even mean i always thought poland used the m44 clones can anyone tell me what is up with my 91/ 30 being circle 11 stamped

[@bookerwtight3457]

You do great videos l gave you a thumbs up... The Russian AK is kool l prefer our US M4 carbine the little brother of the M16 from the 60s a do all battle rife in modern era....Great history of the AK 47

[@julianizydorczak5258]

Beryl m762 used by Kongo in 7.62x39

[@pappapinskie5883]

I wish Poland wuld have made an SKS. I'd be all over that

[@MastroAdventures]

All of the current full auto Military version Radom AKMs being produced in the original Circle 11 factory (and by the same employees) with cast trunnions and nitrided barrels. They get imported by their partner as Pioneer. I know, I know... lots of AK snobs get their panties in a wad about Pioneer... but you can't dispute a 15,000 round trial and the proven military use of the Pioneer/FB Radom/Circle 11/Interarms AKM currently in production. They did make a forged trunnion for the whiney US market though.

[@JenniferinIllinois]

My only AK was a Polish one.

[@gijoe5372]

Good ol AK

[@factorybear5264]

Did Poland ever make sks?

[@ddaverr]

Is the only way to get a proper Circle 11 AK from a parts kit build?

[@ElijahDecker]

Yes, unless there's NFA registered Circle 11 AKs floating around the legal machine gun market, but I doubt it. Then again, there's a North Korean AK in the U.S, so who knows?

[@misha5670]

Yep, only way. All circle11 AKs were made as select fire and made back when. They are NFA items and those haven't been legal for import for the civilian market since 1968 (right, 1968 and not 1986 as is commonly repeated).

[@AKking530]

Misha I just received a matching/unissued Polish AKMS Underfolder, headspaced to a new Radom Barrel, from AOA. I had asked for a 1985 (birth year) kit. It was a great surprise when I opened the box and found they gave me a 1972 first year kit. I just purchased a Recreator Receiver, tonight, and am planning to have Meridian Ordnance complete and refinish the rifle with their Custom Sheen Moly Resin.

[@johnski4709]

I seem to inadvertently be collecting Romanian stuff. I guess because that's mostly what we can get atm.

[@MishacoOBA]

That's how my Polish collection started. I was buying them because they were available, affordable, and well made, now I'm committed to buy them all. How I ended up with an RPD I didn't really want lol. - Jay

[@misha5670]

Me too. I should line all the Romies up on the couch because why not? Once they were inexpensive, very.

[@johnski4709]

@@misha5670 I seem to have ended up with a nice Aes-10b just like Misha's. Not sure how... videos or chicken biscuits or both.

[@royalservant7011]

Do we still have to stay 922r compliant?

[@OriginalBongoliath]

Technically, yes. Can the government enforce it? Not really. Impossible to. The law has been around for almost 30 years and no one has been convicted by 922r.

[@royalservant7011]

@@OriginalBongoliath ok, thanks

[@nice1019]

قناتك جميله بترجمه العربيه اغلب القنوات انجليزي شكراً

[@cgweightlifter]

Yes finally 😥💦

[@misha5670]

You have no idea; we had to record this one 3 times for various technical reasons and then when the AKM part needed redoing, my own AKM was away at the gunsmith's having some work done. Truth is we recorded this video last Oct-Nov, but the raw files were a mess and it took Jay a lot of time to clean them up. Just one of those things but this one is done and part 2 will be coming shortly as well. Plus we have more on the Fox rifle and WBP company history in the near future.

[@buellboy007]

Gun control is about racism and slavery This Patriotic Veteran approves this mesg Gun deaths There are 30,000 gun related deaths per year by firearms, and this number is not disputed. The U.S. population is 324,059,091 as of June 22, 2016. Do the math: 0.00925% of the population dies from gun related actions each year. Statistically speaking, this is insignificant! What is never told, however, is a breakdown of those 30,000 deaths, to put them in perspective as compared to other causes of death: • 65% of those deaths are by suicide, which would never be prevented by gun laws. • 15% are by law enforcement in the line of duty and justified. • 17% are through criminal activity, gang and drug related or mentally ill persons - better known as gun violence. • 3% are accidental discharge deaths. So technically, "gun violence" is not 30,000 annually, but drops to 5,100. Still too many? Now lets look at how those deaths spanned across the nation. • 480 homicides (9.4%) were in Chicago • 344 homicides (6.7%) were in Baltimore • 333 homicides (6.5%) were in Detroit • 119 homicides (2.3%) were in Washington D.C. (a 54% increase over prior years) So basically, 25% of all gun crime happens in just 4 cities. All 4 of those cities have strict gun laws, so it is not the lack of law that is the root cause. This basically leaves 3,825 for the entire rest of the nation, or about 75 deaths per state. That is an average because some States have much higher rates than others. For example, California had 1,169 and Alabama had 1. Now, who has the strictest gun laws by far? California, of course, but understand, it is not guns causing this. It is a crime rate spawned by the number of criminal persons residing in those cities and states. So if all cities and states are not created equal, then there must be something other than the tool causing the gun deaths. Are 5,100 deaths per year horrific? How about in comparison to other deaths? All death is sad and especially so when it is in the commission of a crime but that is the nature of crime. Robbery, death, rape, assault are all done by criminals. It is ludicrous to think that criminals will obey laws. That is why they are called criminals. But what about other deaths each year? • 40,000+ die from a drug overdose-THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR THAT! • 36,000 people die per year from the flu, far exceeding the criminal gun deaths. • 34,000 people die per year in traffic fatalities(exceeding gun deaths even if you include suicide). Now it gets good: • 200,000+ people die each year (and growing) from preventable medical errors. You are safer walking in the worst areas of Chicago than you are when you are in a hospital! • 710,000 people die per year from heart disease. It’s time to stop the double cheeseburgers! So what is the point? If the liberal loons and the anti-gun movement focused their attention on heart disease, even a 10% decrease in cardiac deaths would save twice the number of lives annually of all gun-related deaths (including suicide, law enforcement, etc.). A 10% reduction in medical errors would be 66% of the total number of gun deaths or 4 times the number of criminal homicides ................ Simple, easily preventable 10% reductions! So you have to ask yourself, in the grand scheme of things, why the focus on guns? It's pretty simple: Taking away guns gives control to governments. The founders of this nation knew that regardless of the form of government, those in power may become corrupt and seek to rule as the British did by trying to disarm the populace of the colonies. It is not difficult to understand that a disarmed populace is a controlled populace. Thus, the second amendment was proudly and boldly included in the U.S. Constitution. It must be preserved at all costs. So the next time someone tries to tell you that gun control is about saving lives, look at these facts and remember these words from Noah Webster: "Before a standing army can rule, the people must be disarmed." What ever happen to up hold the Oath of office to protect and up hold the CONSTITUTION of the USA....NOT MAKE YOUR OWN RULES/LAWS...

[@julianizydorczak5258]

Kbk ak składane wnet as militarny ade

[@aldoraine3364]

And very identical to its Russian counterpart

[@misha5670]

Yes, Poland made some of the closest AK and AKM copies in the Warsaw Pact. Other nations like Hungary did their own thing more.

[@GloriousHeavenlyCourt]

Coming conventional warfare, Russia & China to U.S. Canada Europe, own an AR or AK rifle to fight.

[@dealerofburningsalt3649]

wrong, get your facts straight.