MAK-90 Chinese AK (Before You Buy)

[@crosisofborg5524]

The Norinco is a very good variant. I’ve had my Mak 90 for 30 years now and still love it.

[@papakalashnikova2639]

Awesome to hear, MAK-90s tend to get looked over now but those who have them love them from what I've seen, very solid rifles. I've heard nowadays Norinco's consumer guns in Europe are pretty trashy compared to their US imports back in the day. Thanks for commenting, I like seeing what people think about the videos and rifles, much appreciated!

[@itslegitkid6222]

@@papakalashnikova2639 hey what furniture do you have on this ?

[@itslegitkid6222]

@@papakalashnikova2639 is it Ironwood designs ?

[@papakalashnikova2639]

@@itslegitkid6222 It's actual chinese furniture

[@itslegitkid6222]

@@papakalashnikova2639 where can I get it ?

[@nathanielrittenhouse9965]

Fun fact. Slant cut receivers were originally intended to be under-folder guns

[@jpb1231000]

My buddy has a "thumbhole" and it fits me JUST right... I am VERY good with it... They don't ALWAYS suck for everyone...

[@mikeskorpion8366]

You may want to note that the MAK 90 has a thicker receiver about 1.5 mil compared to most AKMs at 1 mil. So most non Chinese furniture will need to be shaved down to fit into the receiver, so it can be done. Smoother action and chrome lined barrel.

[@papakalashnikova2639]

Thanks for the comment, I knew the receiver was slightly thicker but didn't exactly how much so I left that out and it wouldve been a really good fact to bring up to explain the chinese vs standard akm furniture fitment.

[@juansgotguns_9079]

I’ve had my mak 90 for 4 years and a 386 polytech hunter, they have been tanks. They’re honestly my favorite aks.

[@dickeymoore3662]

Norinco mak-90 ak-47's are top tier rifles I own 5 of them and they are AWESOME!!!!!!

[@markp4401]

Do you have any pre ban Chinese AKs?

[@dickeymoore3662]

@@markp4401 yes

[@markp4401]

@@dickeymoore3662 People say the quality dropped with the MAK90s. It sort of makes sense to me because the Chinese sent shit tons over to the US. They had already been banned once and were going to send as many as they possibly could over before another ban hit which it did in 1994. It’s like they were in a hurry. I’ve only had pre bans for a few months now and haven’t shot them so I can’t really comment on a quality difference. What are your thoughts?

[@wooterrackz2699]

​@@markp4401 more like they just got over with that thumb hole stock, that's what got them here in the first place, no bayonet lug 10rd mags they had no competition

[@BNatoAk]

I've got a norinco 84s (556) preban version. The 556 post ban variants are designated as the nhm90 and the bwk92. Love Chinese AK'S

[@brianc1481]

I love my MAK. I bought a virgin unfired MAK90 about 6 years ago. Its one of the few with a canted front sight so the owner was afraid to shoot it because he thought it was "unsafe Chinese garbage".. the gun is fine, regardless of the canted sight. Score for me!

[@nahuilegorreta6572]

In 93 the MAK90 was going for $375.00 in California. I imagine it was cheaper in other states

[@mGonz8]

I bought mine at Briklee's in S. El Monte, former FedOrd. It costs me on Black Friday Special, $159, yup, and I bought one!!! This was in 92. It did come with a straight cut receiver too.

[@oscarpuente2029]

I paid in 93 down in south Texas 189.00 + taxes. I still have it. sweet shooter.

[@craigdoriety9798]

Bought mine new in Alabama in 93 for 210. Obviously wish I had bought more.

[@nohandle74]

​@@craigdoriety9798if we can only go back in time

[@Anony479]

Bought mine in Northern Virginia for exactly $194 in 1994. It runs like a champ even today. I went down the unconventional path of removing the Chinese furniture and put Magpul on it. It’s lighter and more functional now. Love it and the fact that I kept it despite people putting it down in the early years.

[@danlutjemeier4183]

JMAC sells an excellent "Buffer Tube Adapter for MAK-90 Slant Cut Stamped Receiver". I bought their adapter for a straight cut MAK 90 and couldn't be more pleased; money well spent. For anyone who is wondering; Master Mount side rails and optics mounts are the ticket for getting optics mounted dead-center over the bore on your MAK 90. I just bought a Primary Arms SLx 3X MicroPrism and rear-biased Master Mount and it's an optic combo to die for! & Thanks for a great Norinco review.

[@caryvanvalkenburgh1849]

I personally like the thumbhole stock better , thats why i purchased it in 93 .

[@akslumerican9441]

Same here

[@dougshelton69]

Got mine from my brother nib....800.00...threaded the barrel for brake...fitted red furniture from Atlantic firearms..left factory trigger in...put red dot mount on back sights...super smooth....my favorite shooter...

[@papakalashnikova2639]

badass, $800 for a nib Mak-90 nowadays is a steal! Happy to hear you enjoy your rifle, i love mine. Thanks for commenting.

[@dougshelton69]

@@papakalashnikova2639 had him at 600..but he said he needed more for the 500 rnds of ammo lol I still love my BRO but he's not a good horse trader

[@colejacrispy4663]

I’m looking on Atlantic firearms rn and all the sets says won’t fit on Mac 90s did you just have to modify the set ? Thank you

[@dougshelton69]

@@colejacrispy4663 slight shaving with dremal or file for fitting...go slow and your good...use your old furniture for guide.

[@colejacrispy4663]

@@dougshelton69 thank you so much did you have a slanted or flat Mac 90

[@tampz0nz]

the blonde wood and blued metal of a chinese AK gives off such a classic vibe that is hard to beat

[@b.p.stimemachines2327]

The angle of the rivets is actually more structurally sound, think about how you place your nails when framing a house side to side nails will rock whereas diagonally placed nails hold better for longer

[@DE-ef3xd]

I have a slant cut and I got it as a NOS years ago. It didn’t look fired and the butthole stuck was not split on top. I’ve had Bulgarian, Romanian, Russian, Yugoslavian, American, and now Chinese. I would pick my MAK90 over any of them.

[@skinwalkerhiddenvalleyranch]

Loved my stamped and milled maks, sucks how neutered the barrel assembly is

[@papakalashnikova2639]

It really is bullshit, i understand shaving off the bayonet lugs but the whole fangs and all? Ridiculous. Being able to put a cleaning rod in my rifle doesn't make it more deadly lmao, then again it's not like those laws make any sense to begin with. No tactical assault cleaning rod for us, i guess lol

[@Al_capachino]

If you have a slant cut mak90, i highly recommend Kalashni carver customs.

[@FPS_Wingo]

I have an NHM-91 that came to me in a rough state but it was the only thing I could get for a fair price living in a pre ban state. Great gun but fitting new furniture was a chore and a half

[@shilocklebuff6073]

I had a milled receiver with a slant cut , but it also had a hole in the rear where the stock goes for a underfolder . Also it has a 386 factory stamp ( polytech)

[@papakalashnikova2639]

You hardly see those under folder MAK-90s, would be badass to get the hole milled out and an underfolder attached, i know I would have to get that done, it's be too tempting lol

[@alexgray7329]

My norinco has a 386 stamp on it.

[@TheBargainMan]

​@@papakalashnikova2639those Milled MAK-90's with a round hole in rear of the receiver were never meant to be underfolder AKs, as only Stamped MAK-90 & Nhm-90s with stamped receivers with a solid buttplate were meant to be underfolder AKs with a plug in the underfolder receiver to accept a folding stock.

[@TheBargainMan]

​@@alexgray7329your Norinco has a "386" on it that means it is actually a Poly-Tech, but because Bill Clinton made import fees real expensive, the Chinese PLA just kept 1 import license for both Norinco and Poly-Tech AKs.

[@KS-hj6xn]

Original wood stock is too soft.. When firing, the screws would loosten up. Firing with loose screws cracked the stocks on top. The Dragunov fiberforce stock fits both straight and slant cut MAK90. (Kinda sucky) but thats all you could get back then.. You must carefully drill the stock, following the pilot holes in the stock with metric drill bits for all screws. To add a muzzlebrake... (I used an M1A muzzlebrake) finer threads and it fit. Lol. Thread the short barrel tip of the MAK90 using Fine Threaded Taps. Otherwise using a standard thread will not have enough turns to hold the brake. It will seat all the way against the forward sightpost. Looks awesome and it will reduce the barrel-rise by 50%!! And it makes a cool looking star-flash 🌟 when you fire it in low light. Lol

[@markp4401]

I’ve noticed the milled MAK90s have surged in price just in the last few months.

[@KS-hj6xn]

Buy spare springs JIC. Have your gunsmith to finely thread barrel for a muzzle brake.. pick one out that you like. Keep the wood handgrip. Buy the cold war era steel mags if you can find one. They are authentic and look cooler than plastic.

[@TheBargainMan]

A lot of gunsmiths who know about 18 USC 922r won't thread muzzles on MAK-90s because it's a Felony !!!

[@DimMakTen]

Beautiful firearms.

[@94twentytwo76]

Really nice rifle! Great video 🍻

[@tropicaltrucker4425]

I went back to the thumb hole stock on mine because i think it looks better lol. All of my friends with ARs seem to go through more of my 7.62 on range days than they do 5.56... maybe its because i always bring tons of brass... maybe its because the AK its more fun to shoot. They wont admit it lol

[@mphil3051]

Is that Russian build a Tula parts kit build from PSA?? If so how do you like it ??? BTW love the Mak-90, mine even cycles Bear subsonic ammo because the action is so butter smooth, so amazing.

[@liangjianx9504]

I got one Norinco preban 5.56. When I touch it first time I knew falling love 😂

[@bigriceburner]

I've got the 84-S1 preban underfolder in .556 it's my shtf gun. Also I've heard polish beryl mags work with them. Do you know?

[@TheBargainMan]

​@@bigriceburnerif you ask around Tulsa Arms Show, there's a guy named Tony Rumore who converts Galil Mags to work in 5.56 Chinese AKs.

[@davidv.3135]

Excellent firearm!

[@papakalashnikova2639]

Thank you for the comment and have a good day!

[@akslumerican9441]

For anyone wanting to know it will fit palmetto state armorys ak with some negotiating

[@milleniumfalcon8654]

NHM 90 👍

[@JoeyP322]

Chinese arms imports were banned in April of ‘94, and the Clinton ban was in September on ‘94. Any Chinese firearm is a pre-ban. They had the slant cut receivers imported before then. I believe they were the receivers made for the underfolder that had three rivets. Great video. Problem is trying to find Chinese wood stocks at a decent price.

[@TheBargainMan]

Wrong, as "Pre-Ban" refers to Chinese AKs prior to 1990 had bayonet lugs & threaded muzzles with either a slant brake, or a muzzle nut. The "Modified AK of 1990" (MAK-90) made it illegal after Nov. 30, 1990 to have a pistol grip, threaded muzzle & bayonet lug, or folding bayonet, or a configuration to accept type 1 AK bayonets (Poly-Tech Legend style). A true "Pre-Ban" has a bayonet lug, or a folding bayonet, or an attachment for a type 1 bayonet (Poly-Tech Legend & some stamped Poly-Tech AKs).

[@TheBargainMan]

How strange to have simple Chinese wooden stock importation to be a Felony while Bill Clinton & Eric Holder were giving El Chapo and the Sinaloa Drug Cartel 1000s of AK-47s for FREE at the SAME TIME, as the importation of Chinese AKs & Chinese wood stocks were a Felony, yet importers could import Romanian AK-47s with pistol grips & folding stocks???

[@odanewilson]

I need 10000009 of those to buy ok

[@billphil8235]

I like the thumbhole stock

[@Packard1947]

I have three Polytec legends they don’t shoot any better than than eight mak90s I own. By the way all of mak90s I paid 210 dollars for each one. Buy the way the polytec firing ping springs I have replaced since they were new.

[@odanewilson]

I need 20 boxes of those to buy cool ok

[@todd2048]

I would get the correct gas block and fsb and unban that beautiful weapon!

[@papakalashnikova2639]

I keep getting pre-occupied with work and other projects, my poor MAK-90 is begging to be converted properly.

[@todd2048]

You know what you could keep the original gas block just get the Spiker FSB and spiker bayonet combo that Polytech parts sells and punch a hole on the handguard retainer for cleaning rod. I can see you can also thread the barrel 14x1 Lht as well their seems to be enough barrel thickness for it to be done just saying!

[@ArletMangulabnan]

sir can i purchsase?.. thank you..

[@bshadrick]

If you only replace the stock, doesn't that make the gon non compliant? I have a few of these.

[@papakalashnikova2639]

If you are in a state that doesn't allow pistol grips then yes, according to state laws. Uf you are in a state without those restrictions then no, there is no issue with replacing the stock.

[@Ztex]

Yes, makes it non-compliant per 922r federal law. If this guy just swapped the stock with an imported stock and no other parts it is an illegal gun. Be very careful

[@bshadrick]

@@Ztex I thought to be legal at least 3 parts had to be made in USA parts. Or something llike that.

[@Ztex]

@@bshadrick can't have more than 10 foreign parts. You can change the fire control group and ALL the furniture with US made parts and be compliant.

[@deadhorse1391]

Back in the day I had a FFL and bought lots of MAK 90s and sold them at gun shows Used to pay around $175 and sell them for $250 and think I was doing something. Sold ammo to many buyers too. A 1000 rd case cost $50 I’m glad I kept two of them for myself

[@fredmartinez4248]

Were i get that furniture

[@ramrodnj]

Can I change out the thumb stock for what you have in New Jersey?

[@kenstewart7700]

Better than the actual AK

[@brandoncharleswilson]

Wouldn't it need to be a US made stock and pistol grip to achieve 922r compliance? Along with trigger group and magazine?

[@lelandgaunt9985]

Only if he is importing mak 90’s.😂

[@SnakeBitBob1982]

Yes. To legally change the factory thumbhole stock to a standard ak stock and pistol grip you have to either use USA made AK furniture, or if you want to use a chinese stock and pistol grip you need to swap out 5 of the imported parts for USA made parts if you are not installing a flashider, or 6 USA made parts if you are installing a flashider. The trigger group counts as 3 parts, but the front upper and lower handguards together only count as one part. There are guides online to help the owner navigate being legal when changing the stock and pistol grips. Search something like "making my mak-90 922r compliant" and the charts should pop up that help you.

[@ALEXdaG]

Up to $1400? Here in Massachusetts i see for $2-2.5k

[@papakalashnikova2639]

Haha some people think they have pre-ban Polytech Type 56s on their hands which if they did then you're easily paying over $2k but i believe current market value of these stamped MAK/NHM rifles is still around $1400 in original configuration. If you're ever wondering on a price of a firearm I recommend going on gunbroker and searching for completed auctions to get an idea of what people are paying for them. Thanks for the comment.

[@uzileopard6199]

just buy the $180 custom kalashnicarver slant cut stock.

[@sensasian805]

I just ordered a straight cut for mine but shipping can potentially take two weeks to six months 🫤

[@uzileopard6199]

@@sensasian805 same on the shipping part, I got lucky when he made a big batch of mak-90 stocks. Unfortunately I wanted the regular butt plate but had to settle for a padded one to not wait 6 more weeks.

[@papakalashnikova2639]

kalashnicarver stuff is great but my thing is that you can tell it's not a chinese stock because it's made from good wood and not the crap particle board "chu wood" stuff lol So yeah it's better (and cheaper) but I like having the proper furniture and accessories on my rifles which is very sad because the shits overpriced as hell.

[@itslegitkid6222]

Anyone know how to get them looking like new again what can I use ? Thanks

[@papakalashnikova2639]

If you got a good amount of wear/ corrosion on it the best thing to do is to clean it up with oil and #0000 steel wool (very fine) and lightly go over it to spare the finish as much as you can, MAK-90s have a blued finish that isnt extremely durable. If it's in really bad condition there are some gunsmiths you can find around, like on reddit in r/ak47 theres a few gunsmiths that do excellent with reasonable turn around times, you can try asking around for prices. Hope this helps.

[@crosisofborg5524]

Nope. There is a company that sells stocks for slant cuts. No fitting needed.

[@papakalashnikova2639]

Yeah, there's a couple companies that sell slant cut stocks. I believe kalashnicarver does and Iron Wood Designs use to before the owner passed. Was more talking about how standard stocks need fitment and didn't really get into the slant cut options, sadly. I think JMAC has a slant cut modular stock adapter for slant cut MAK-90s as well.

[@markp4401]

@@papakalashnikova2639 I had Kalashnicarver make me furniture for my milled MAK90 which is slant cut. The furniture is gorgeous but there was some fitting involved. Expect to have to remove some material any time you buy after market wood AK furniture.

[@danlutjemeier4183]

@@papakalashnikova2639 JMAC gear is to die for, I recently installed their buffer tube adapter on my straight cut MAK 90 reciever. It fit like a glove! They do sell a slant-cut adapter #SKU:M4-MAK-S

[@daisydixie1178]

Nothing wrong with a slant cut. Adapters made nowadays and ironwood makes stock sets. Not a thing wrong with slant cut. Just as desired

[@papakalashnikova2639]

The slant cut was purely for import reasons, it's not worse in anyways it's all cosmetic of course.

[@joshgalt2022]

Ironwood does not exist anymore.

[@papakalashnikova2639]

@@joshgalt2022 True, kalashnikarver is your best bet for a simple replacement. Chinese furniture is out there of course but prices right now are insane, I am embarrassed to say I spend almost $300 on the chinese stock and pg but good luck finding it much cheaper in NOS condition.

[@joshgalt2022]

@@papakalashnikova2639 Dude thank you!! Was super number Ironwood closed.

[@TheBargainMan]

Matt Schuster the founder and operator of Ironwood DIED a few years ago and NO MORE Ironwood Stocks anymore!!!

[@b.p.stimemachines2327]

I like the thumbhole stocks I am bigger and it is beefier and about an inch longer

[@lmyhoosier]

What other parts did you replace?

[@chrisdavid3510]

Gas block and sight block. Rear stock and pistol grip.

[@papakalashnikova2639]

Only thing I had replaced on my rifle was the stock and pistol grip with standard type-56 furniture. Gas block and front sight block were still factory (they are ground down as to not accept a bayonet and cleaning rod)

[@chrisdavid3510]

@@papakalashnikova2639 yours is not completely de banned then.

[@papakalashnikova2639]

@@chrisdavid3510 That's true, I work a lot nowadays and like doing things myself as projects. Been pushing a lot of stuff aside sadly, one day I'll get it to glory lol

[@chrisdavid3510]

@@papakalashnikova2639 we all do. Get a project started and then find another. Plus stuff to convert mak’s aren’t cheap. I’ve got two, one is fully converted. The other just had a Bulgarian buttstock fitted for it.

[@salmaaboalzain1094]

الله بفضله يرزق عبدالله بن أسامة هذا الكلاشنكوف للجهاد في سبيل الله ولتحرير فلسطين وبيت المقدس والمسجد الأقصى المبارك وتطهير مسرى الرسول من بعد الذل الطويل والعار إن شاء الله

[@jacobardon5605]

What’s a good price on a new in box one?

[@papakalashnikova2639]

$1400 for a NIB MAK-90 I'd say that's a good deal. Really depends on how much you want it and I'd probably take it for up to $1600 but that's just me.

[@cosmokramer1035]

Damn and they were like 250 max when they came out in the 90s from what I read online.

[@papakalashnikova2639]

@@cosmokramer1035 Inflation and increase because of them being almost "collector items" nowadays, at least according to some sellers lol

[@danlutjemeier4183]

@@cosmokramer1035 I've seen vintage ads where they sold for $188.00

[@sensasian805]

My grandpa bought one then for real cheap and now I have it. my favorite gun that I own

[@electraglideclyde]

Where did you get the butt stock?

[@itslegitkid6222]

Ironwood designs was the place to get them but unfortunately the guy had passed bot to long ago he was an awesome woodworker

[@papakalashnikova2639]

I had gotten the stock from a seller on akfiles.com, if you're into AKs I strongly recommend creating an account, there's forums and a public marketplace where you find A LOT of good stuff. They are pretty strict with their rules and marketplace etiquette so just read up and follow them.

[@b.p.stimemachines2327]

Loads of pin on muzzle breaks

[@markp4401]

It’s kind of funny these are becoming collectible. I say this because shitloads came into the US. They’re not like Steyr Maadis or Valmets which came in in much smaller numbers.

[@papakalashnikova2639]

Sellers will slap a "collectible" title on anything they got just to make a buck. Theres still a good amount of Norinco AKs and i personally dont see them as collectibles but some people do, thats why the prices are all messed up. Max price you should pay for your run of the mill MAK-90 alone is going to be around 1k, which is pretty much where most other good imported AK are priced at.

[@timrussell5172]

Lol what state are you in not going find one for $1000 maybe in cracktown

[@papakalashnikova2639]

@@timrussell5172 I live in Texas and frequent sporting and gun stores and find some decent prices. Just bought a M38 mosin the other day for $150 OTD at a gun shop.

[@markp4401]

@@papakalashnikova2639 I wonder if part of the appeal is the bluing which very few other AK types have. I think it’s quite attractive. I also know it’s the worst finish for preventing corrosion.

[@jjranger5022]

Yea ill stay with my M4 platform , anything Chinese made is garbage

[@tropicaltrucker4425]

Mine was made in 91 and still keeps up with my friends AR platforms... its like ford. Anything made before 1996 is mint. Unless you have had hands on one; you cant really talk shit about it. 🤣 over 6k rounds of cheap steel case with some brass mixed in with no issues. Keep crying while i keep having fun with my Chinese garbage