Norinco 84S: China Makes a 5.56mm AK Specifically for the US

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With the commercial success of the semiauto Type 56S AK rifles in the US, Norinco looked for other options for export rifles to sell. Given the use of the 5.56x45mm cartridge in the US, an AK chambered for that round was an obvious answer. Norinco did not have the technical data package to make the AK-74, so instead they made their own conversion to adapt the design to the new cartridge (they did the same for the 5.45x39mm round as the Type 88, which was too late to be imported into the US). The result was a rifle with he unique Chinese Type 56 stamped features but chambered for 5.56mm. Six different versions were imported in the few brief years before the assault weapons import ban:
84S: Wood fixed stock and wood handguard
84-1: Underfolding stock and wooden handguard
84-2: Sidefolding stock and wood handguard
84-3: Extra-long polymer fixed stock
84-4: Sidefolding stock and polymer handguard
84-5: Sidefolding stock and black polymer handguard
Contact:
Forgotten Weapons
6281 N. Oracle #36270
Tucson, AZ 85740

[@MilitaryHistory2011]

Highly effective against Super Mutants in the Capital Wasteland.

[@Ghidorah96]

A man of culture I see.

[@davidbrennan660]

Largely used by them as well.

[@blamokapow137]

Was it though?

[@Atma_Weapon]

i have one for sale for 300 caps. its a lil dinged up, but it functions flawlessly. the wanderer said he used it to fend off an enclave attack.

[@FumbleSquid]

God fallout 3 was such a disappointment ;-;

[@scribejay]

I still say he's quarantining *in* the Rock Island Auction House.

[@MrSGL21]

can you blame him? its like the pornhub of guns.

[@desertsmeagol7073]

@@MrSGL21 I would sell my soul to live at the RIA house

[@rriflemann308]

The Norinco 5.56x45 rifles were made using a 7.62 barrel blank, bored and rifled to 5.56, resulting in a medium weight barrel, this produced surprisingly good target accuracy.

[@anthonypritchard2798]

so 556 makes your rifle more accurate and because of that idiots think m16's are accurate and ak's are not?

[@Kalashnigoon]

@@anthonypritchard2798 What? No, a thicker barrel means less barrel movement and less heat build up. And the 7.62x39 is only accurate out to ~500yd whereas 5.56 is closer to ~700yd. Correct me if I'm round. But the legend mostly came from Vietnam where the VC and NVA were using surplus AKs that had sum 50,000 rounds through the barrel, causing them to be inaccurate

[@TheSuburban15]

"Barrel blanks" typically already have a rifled bore. Otherwise, it's just called rod stock.

[@patricksworkshop6010]

@@TheSuburban15 actually barrel blanks have a gun drilled bore which you then drill again to just under the desired caliber and then lap/ream to final size and draw a rifling button through

[@npne1253]

@@jmnypop Yeah that's why most lsw's have a heavy long barrel but wouldn't a heavy barrel also dampen recoil a bit more ?

[@GliderBane]

A buddy of mine bought one of these in 1989. AKs were a little scarce in our part of Indiana back then. At the range someone would always ask if we had any problems getting 7.62x39 ammo for it. We would always answer, No this AK stands for A KOPY, it is in 556.

[@christopherconard2831]

And then the Soviet Union broke up and 7.62×39 became as plentiful, and almost as cheap as 22. I miss those days.

[@aPoorsPerspective]

@@Rickinvegas especially these days. all I can find anymore is hornady black. I miss the spam can days

[@realbasherverse]

ak's are almost unfindable in indiana still, gotta order them

[@alanbud5181]

I have an AK in 5.56/223, but It’s PolyTek.

[@OTP-MMA]

1989.

[@25xxfrostxx]

CSI, LA, stands for China Sports International, Los Angeles, California

[@tangero3462]

Got a bunch of China Sports-boxed ammo for Tokarev and x39. Shoots pretty well

[@bigchomnk2934]

@Friedrich Nietzsche it was also incredibly violent and dangerous.

[@cheesedaddy68]

Big Chomnk still is though

[@bigchomnk2934]

@@cheesedaddy68 during the crack epidemic the homicide rate was more than double compared to today in California.

[@hailexiao2770]

@Friedrich Nietzsche By that time Ronald Reagan had already fucked up California (with gun control laws, no less) and had moved up to fucking up the whole country.

[@custardad1800]

you know what, my parents work for the Norinco. It’s called 北方工业. I grew up in the neighborhood of factory 64 or 68. I couldn’t remember it clearly because they used a newer naming pattern later in the 90s. Seeing this really brings me back to my childhood, when we used to have a kinda of “ bring your kids to work “ day. I still remember watching my mom disassembles various parts of the gun and does the QC inspection.

[@richardpowell4281]

The curvature of the magazine sticks out like a sore thumb. What a neat piece!

[@skepticalbadger]

@@albertoamoruso7711 It's visibly straighter once you get your 'eye in'.

[@BigStomper]

@@albertoamoruso7711 More like the AK-101

[@rubiconnn]

It looks just like an ak 74 mag.

[@exoticcreature3059]

@@albertoamoruso7711 Without the taper of 7.62x39 Soviet to account for you'll notice that these mags are much less curvy than you think.

[@leonidandreev1171]

@@exoticcreature3059 Sure, except he was talking about AK-74 - i.e. 5.45x39. That has a taper that's almost identical to 5.56x45. Looking at the pictures, the AK-74 mag may still be just a tiny bit curvier than this 5.56 Norinco mag... but definitely "similar". (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AK-74)

[@1994CivicGLi]

Design: *Russia* Manufacturer: *China* Used for: *The United States* Hotel: *Trivago*

[@Hxoibrixks]

@@WaefreBeorn who gives a crap

[@zachdew9gaming985]

@@WaefreBeorn i don't care how old a meme is that reaction was just sad.

[@lightningandodinify]

I don't get it :(

[@shanedriver6932]

😂

[@nerfspartanEBF25]

So... It's the Chinese Assault Rifle from Fallout 3 without the absolutely horrendous furniture.

[@TheMegaPingasMobile]

this is pretty horrendous still

[@Gameprojordan]

@@TheMegaPingasMobile not horrific at all. Looks like an AK with a steel ak74 lookalike mag

[@CassiusGreen]

@@TheMegaPingasMobile It's really far from horrendous.

[@blackore64]

Well, The Chinese assault rifle is just really an RPD, that has been turned into an assault rifle.

[@124thDragoon]

I take it you aren’t a fan of the RPD’s furniture then? Lol

[@DerangedManiac12]

I pray that Gun Jesus may get his Holy Hands on a Type 63, China's weird SKS/AK hybrid

[@earlmcmanus194]

How does that differ from the SKS-M?

[@DerangedManiac12]

@@earlmcmanus194 they use the AK's rotating bolt system as opposed to the SKS' tilting bolt and are select fire, unlike most semi-only SKS models

[@john-paulsilke893]

calypsis weird!

[@wraithwyvern528]

Pretty sure he already did

[@TheGreatJoeySmitz]

@@wraithwyvern528 I know he has a video on the Type 81 (which also borrowed from both the AK and SKS but is not of the same design as the Type 63), but I'm not sure if he's done one on the Type 63.

[@roosterj2599]

Back in 86 my uncle gave me this same model AK w plenty of extra mag as well as a 7.62 Polytech AK w an under folding cruciform bayonet. Bothering are awesome rifles. He was a very well off uncle and I was his favorite nephew. Lol! Miss you Bubba.

[@2wheeleddemon999]

That's awesome

[@jxmai7687]

i was 16

[@jayscraggs6320]

Nice man. Do you still have them?

[@roosterj2599]

I wish.

[@roosterj2599]

I traded them and some cash for an IMI Gallil ARM in .223. So worth it.

[@killer1963daddy]

Im Canadian and I've owned several norinco firearms, hand guns, rifles and shotguns. None were beauty queens, but all were fun to shoot!...and inexpensive

[@colonelnoob3269]

Anything China makes is usually much cheaper than other countries’ options and usually gets the job done. Nothing outstanding about them but cheap lol

[@judsongaiden9878]

Ever get yer mitts on a P762? It's a clone of the SIG/Sauer P220 in 7.62 Tokarev and it uses 18-round mags.

[@dougdavey9782]

I had a “97 Winchester” Norinvo. It would do what you needed and slam fire.

[@ScottKenny1978]

@@dougdavey9782 so did I, I really regret selling mine but I needed the money at the time. Fit and finish were pretty crude, but it was solid.

[@killer1963daddy]

@@judsongaiden9878 unfortunately they need to be pinned to 10 in Canada. But 762x25 is hot!

[@Joe-rg9rk]

I see it commonly with the church's security guards in Egypt

[@lutin_mi06]

Church security???

[@notahotshot]

@@lutin_mi06, Egypt.

[@userJohnSmith]

Which church. The Church or churches?

[@cleanerben9636]

Church's chicken obviously

[@shehryarkhan2916]

Coptic Christians in Egypt have been frequently targeted by terrorists

[@epramos6800]

I remember a retailer in Signal Hill Ca called GEMCO and they had a rifle and shotgun counter and they had one on the rack. That was in 1988... I was ten.

[@Gloomshadow100]

I went to SCMA in the early 80s, Signal Hill Military Academy.. Remember those cannons we had out front of the school?

[@epramos6800]

My friend's older brother attended there, got kicked out and ended up down in Carlsbad Ca in another military academy. Their last name is 'Burnett.' known family in LB, had streets named after them, Oil people. Us LB Locals were told only bad kids went to military school What did we know, we were kids. My grandmother would threaten us kids who didn't do well in school or were discipline problems with 'Escuala Militar (military school)!" My friends older brother, ended up a lame till this day...

[@epramos6800]

Honestly, as a kid, we were told by our parents to 'stay out' Signal Hill. We're Latino (5th gen long beach residents) So, you get it right??? Ron Settles???

[@zoomes]

E P Ramos Yoo fellow long beach residents whatup

[@epramos6800]

@@zoomes Hello from the 90803.

[@farmninja6653]

“Norinco” was one of the best in price and quality of their manufactured imports.

[@garrett3698]

Keyword "was"

[@rucker69]

Nice try, china

[@internetexpert8153]

@@garrett3698 still are in Canada

[@elund408]

I still have a 1911 I paid 200 for, I had and sold a very accurate sks that I paid 99 for. Bill Clinton banned the importation of firearms and ammo from China, the ammo was much better than todays russian imports. Chinese imports kept the cost of handguns down, as soon as Clinton banned them the price went back up.

[@CassiusGreen]

@@garrett3698 "Was" relates to the import ban. Not the quality.

[@alexandruianu8432]

That Chinese mag is also not relieved at the front, as the body works as a feed lip. So even if a Beryl mag (or any other 5.56 AK mag) might fit, the rounds will nosedive.

[@enricopaolocoronado2511]

@@vaderdudenator1 Patreon bois are at it again

[@ElShotte]

He did say in the video they are not interchangeable.

[@zacharyrollick6169]

I've seen the tests. Rounds got telescoped.

[@timothymitchell168]

Dang no talking about the 1month ago. It came out 2 hours ago.

[@stevesallai]

Timothy Mitchell can you read the second comment under the main one?

[@brucerobert227]

in early 1989, I drove an old Datsun pickup over to Keng's Firearms in Atlanta and picked up a load for the gunshop I worked part time for, and I got mine for $450 dealer cost and it is super accurate (with 55 grain ammo). When i bought mine, I bought 11 30-rnd. mags. too (thankfully, as this one's mags are HARD to find). Mine was this exact model and I still have it, the only difference being that I have Cera-coated it in black/bolt carrier matte silver, as the finish was completely gone.

[@randomnobodovsky3692]

" (thankfully, as this one's mags are HARD to find)" - Aren't they similar to other 5.56 AK variants? Galil? Beryl?

[@stickfighter1038]

The Norinco 84S is a really nicely fitted, very reliable rifle. Recall getting mine used in 1990 for a great price. It came with 3 30 round mags and a bayonet plus I purchased 4-5 additional Norinco mags. Got deployed shortly after to what would eventually become Desert Storm so my dad ended up with the rifle and took a liking to it. By far my favorite rifle.

[@jwoo2772]

I will never get rid of mine, easily the coolest AK I’ve owned

[@KP762a]

"Made in China" is a warning label...

[@jwoo2772]

KP 762 to know you have a well built AK

[@lornem1160]

@@jwoo2772 You are correct sir, one of two things that won't let you down from China, their firearms and their women. They both go boom boom long time!

[@antoniobocanegra1225]

I feel the same way i got mine 2001 for 450.00 from a pawn shop and still have it and keep it till the end of my life i love it so much i didn't know it was so rear it my prize fire are it cost alot now

[@dobypilgrim6160]

Gun show early 1989: $285. Way too expensive. SKS: $69. M1 Garand (International Harvester) $220. I bought the latter two. I miss those days

[@thischannelisbackon5679]

I wasnt around then and it sucks. Being born early 2000's and only turning 18 recently, it leaves me and many others out of the days of cheap AKs and decent milsurp prices. If only those half brained, light bulb-licking politicians had never decided to ruin everything. The intresting part is that the bans never achieved anything and not a single president or anyone is gonna undue that shit. Theyre gone for good

[@hailexiao2770]

@@thischannelisbackon5679 Milsurp guns were only cheap because they were milsurp, not because they were cheap to make. AKs in particular are expensive as fuck to make in the quantities typical of private manufacturers in the US because the tooling costs are so high. The Cold War surplus was bound to dry up sometime, no matter what politicians did.

[@jayscraggs6320]

I'd love to see 285 lol

[@DBCooper81]

@@thischannelisbackon5679 Your a very wise 19yr old.

[@MiseryDuke69]

Take me back please. I was too young to enjoy these cheap firearms. I'd give my left nut to get those surplus and pre-ban deals again.

[@happyveliz]

Funny, cause Big Boss would be almost exactly old enough to remember getting super cheap surplus

[@MiseryDuke69]

@@happyveliz no kidding man. I'd go through the hell he went through for some cheap surplus guns 😂😂😂

[@Hanzer-ns5bh]

Born too late to enjoy milsurp and AKs, born too early to see the rise of the electronic trigger or commercial caseless guns... Born just in time to use these safe queens in self-defense when society crumbles. Well, at least the ARs were cheap for a time...

[@pepethememelord5752]

@@Hanzer-ns5bh "society crumbles" whatcha implying there bud

[@davijazzz]

Take me to the USA please... I really like guns, but I live in anti gun shithole country

[@k1e1n1t1o]

Thanks for the lesson. I work for a Pawn company and I sold one of these last year. I knew it was somewhat scarce and priced it at 1600. A lot of "you'll never sell it, you're insane". Til one old timer scooped it up. He said: if you want one of these now you buy it when it presents itself, regardless of price.

[@hailtothe_rooster1572]

Ah shit..... guess I’m getting old if this is on forgotten weapons

[@Felix-dg9rt]

Unfortunately 1981 was 39 years ago my friend.

[@pops55650]

Thanks for reminding me exactly how long ago it was 😞

[@KevinSmith-yh6tl]

You and me both Brother.

[@electrichellion5946]

Here here. Sigh.

[@jayscraggs6320]

Haha right

[@IWatchedWhat]

I had one of those in the 80's I sold it because the mags couldn't be foud, then the ban happened. Oh well.

[@christianguzman8228]

That's like selling a car because you can't find tires for it anymore.

[@mrb692]

Christian Guzman Which, if your reason for owning a car is to drive it, is a perfectly reasonable thing to do.

[@NapoleonGelignite]

Christian Guzman - I am fussy in that I prefer a car with tyres.

[@IWatchedWhat]

@@christianguzman8228 and if the mag you had was broken..... Driving on one tire defeats the purpose.

[@christianguzman8228]

@@mrb692 Maybe. A buyer might have to assume that a more exotic purchase is akin to a novelty. And what purpose other than collecting is most important to a novelty? (Function). So a definite maybe.

[@wolfenher6937]

It’s funny how I see people’s comments say it’s weird to see an AK variant chamber in an American 5.56 round but it’s not weird to swap a big V8 in little Japanese car... just saying 🤷‍♂️

[@njones420]

660cc is plenty big enough ...

[@Mamiya645]

That's weird to them? Wanna see them react to seeing what rifles people have converted into running on gas for 6mm airsoft.

[@njones420]

@@bmstylee I'm getting around 220 BHP/Litre out of my little 3 cylinder F6A :D

[@TraTranc]

They're still being made. They just changed the name to LR3S, I own one. They're fairly common here in Europe.

[@grugg3108]

Not to be a "hurr durr Europe anti-gun" guy, but in what countries can you get these?

[@TraTranc]

​@@grugg3108 mostly everywhere. There is a common misconception about the level of gun control that exists in Europe, but while several Countries have their restrictions and hoops to go through, modern sporting rifles like this are legally available in a way or another. Technically speaking, the only Countries in Europe that outright ban semiautomatic centerfire rifles to civilians are the UK, the Republic of Ireland, Greece, and partially Norway. All others may have other restrictions (eg. calibers or "special licenses" to obtain), but they make them available more or less easily. So to speak, here in Italy, just any type of gun license will grant you access to this kind of gun and other modern sporting rifles. Italy, along with Malta, is by far the most liberal Country in the western part of the EU when it comes to gun ownership (Switzerland is not an EU Member State, so it doesn't count). And Czech Republic is a whole another planet. Countries like France and Germany make it harder, with mandatory gun club membership and attendance required for a special license to have them, but it's still available. There is also a misconception about the "European gun law" (a.k.a. the European firearms directive) banning those, but the firearms directive is not a law, actually more like a sort of common framework that all Countries must adopt, albeit adapting it to their specific needs.

[@glintwing]

@@grugg3108 not in UK (edit: not in non .22lr) or Ireland. Thats for sure. But other than that I can assure you France, Germany, Czechia,, Slovakia, Switzerland, Italy, Slovenia, Poland, Netherlands, Austria, Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland have them for civilian use. I surely missed some.

[@glintwing]

@@TraTranc i think Slovenia and Austria have an even more liberal standpoint about guns. But other than that, you are absolutely correct.

[@TraTranc]

@@glintwing Austria is more liberal con "Category C" firearms (single shot shotguns) that don't need a license to purchase, but to date it's pretty strict on modern sporting rifles and on handguns. Correct on Slovenia, they're just as liberal as Italy in terms of licensing, a little bit more in terms of numbers of firearms and ammunition you can own. But we don't consider Slovenia "western" EU...

[@matthewtaylor3308]

Ahhh Norinco, and the days of $89 SKS rifles and walls of wooden ammo crates at the gun show... 1000 rounds of 7.62X39 for $125!

[@KevinSmith-yh6tl]

Matthew Taylor AH YES,I remember those days well.

[@jxmai7687]

it was yesterday.

[@matthewtaylor3308]

Michael Mai Maybe it was, in China...

[@jxmai7687]

@@matthewtaylor3308 i mean time fly.

[@matthewtaylor3308]

Michael Mai Ahhh, gotcha. 👍

[@Gloomshadow100]

I bought the black plastic side folder version back in 92 when i was in the 327th Campbell Ky , MIB with bayonet and 7 30rd mags for i think 700. it was a sweet shooting AK. I shot a few belts of SAW ammo through it one time and it ate it up like candy. Kept it for a few years and sold it to my CO for 850. They were solid combat carbines but UGLY, like it was finished with a belt sander then blued. The whole thing was one solid field scratches. I gave a few AK familiarization classes to the platoon with it. Good times.

[@davidpbcivil]

I bought the underfolder version, my first semi-auto rifle, back in 1989 when I first got interested in firearms. I was a kid stationed out in southern CA at the time. The rifle is still in my safe and I take it out to shoot once in awhile, although I can’t see the sights too well anymore ;-)

[@Jason_556]

Get old is hell! I know first hand also. 😊

[@martinpikart1343]

I recently bought a Norinco-CQA1...very accurate, groups around 3 cm at 100 meters, reliable and to compare: Ruger AR-556 - around 1000 dollars Norinco - around 800 dollars (Czech Republic prices)

[@AshyGr33n]

NORth INdustries COrporations - NORINCO. Rolls off the tongue far better than NIC I suppose.

[@gaylordeshiddik4403]

Should have called it NOINC like boink

[@devaughansaws]

China NORth INdustries COrporations Limited. Like you said, Norinco is spelled better tham NIC or CHINORINCO.

[@adamak47miller90]

I have that same AKM that I got at a pawn shop in Janesville WI. I purchased it in 1999 for $299 and it was brand new in the box. The manual is in Chinese and English somewhat. I love collecting all AKM rifles from the old combloc days.

[@TheGorillafoot]

Wish we could still get Norinco. That would be a sweet AK to have.

[@mikecop45380]

You can on the secondary market

[@jaxrammus9165]

Tha k the retards who run the nation.

[@TheRoadhammer379]

Surprisingly, I picked up two ak pattern shotguns to be truck guns instead of my Vepr12s, and both are very well built with forged internals. When I Google searched the manufacturing plant in China, it turns out its part of the Norinco conglomerate. Both guns have close to 5k rounds on them and are holding up well.

[@Mikhail-Tkachenko]

@@mikecop45380 Yeah if you want to pay $3000 for a $200 rifle.

[@Mikhail-Tkachenko]

@DroopyWorm Yeah you're not saying anything I haven't already known for years. I used to live 10km from factory 270.

[@WBatte1]

I have one of these rifles . I ended up buying a second one just after Clinton was elected the post ban style MAK with no muzzle device and a thumb hole stock which just didn't fit my hand at all . I bought the second rifle because it came with 11 magazines . They were hard to find then . Catalogs were your go-to at the time before the internet. And Clinton was about to ban magazines for 10 years . My brother has the second rifle now

[@DH-xw6jp]

Tfw you buy a rifle just to get the mags that go with it. *glances at 2011 & 2017*

[@arnbo88]

I purchased the same rifle in Canada in 1988 for $465 new in box. The Canadian import version had a three position selector with "L" & "D" markings but lacked the internal auto parts. It also had a slightly longer barrel with a standard muzzle nut. It grouped well at 200m. The 7.62 x 39 mm magazine would lock into the mag well but of course rounds would not chamber.

[@fallencrow6718]

"Factory 66" Palpatin aproves this ak.

[@braddussault3213]

I got one many years ago and still have it. I love it.

[@coreblue762]

There's something very satisfying about seeing that 5.56 mag on that classic looking ak

[@blastshadowproject]

That bolt carrier looks like it was milled with an angle grinder!

[@KP762a]

It probably was.

[@blahorgaslisk7763]

As long as it works. It's not going to be strutting it's stuff on a catwalk.

[@owllymannstein7113]

That's the way all chinese guns look on the inside, There's no attention paid to finish machining the internals but its still infinitely better than any AK made by century.

[@theia1653]

That's the beauty of an AK, it can be made in dirt floor huts by cavemen.

[@blastshadowproject]

@@theia1653 - Clearly they paid more attention to the locking surfaces

[@billymc2681]

I had one of these in the early 90s. Mine had black polymer furniture. Great rifle, but the safety was very hard to manipulate and almost required two hands to switch between safe and fire. Mine came in a styrofoam box with a sling, oil can, bayonet and 3 (?] magazines. Unfortunately, I ran into financial trouble and sold it to pay the rent one year.

[@mattpiersma7355]

I had one I bought to have a Bulgarian AKS-74NU kit built onto it. I had my fun and sold it on after a while. The magazines were hard to find even back then. I had a set of 30 rounders and a forty round one for the full bin laden look.

[@JF-xq6fr]

Way back I sold these, MAK-90's, Tokarev clones in 9x19, etc. Ended up buying a NORINCO 1911A1, and like every other mentioned, I can not recall any customer ever complaining about reliability... My stock NORINCO 1911 will feed empty cases like butter, and I can not recall any malfunctions with any ammo to include lead semi-wadcutters. Fantastic pistol, especially for $225 NIB back in 1993.

[@davidlamppert9093]

My shooting buddy bought one of these back in the mid-'80's. We were blowing through a lot of ammo out at his farm and 7.62x39 was really hard to get, so he ordered one of these. Don't know if he still has it, but it was cool.

[@richardpowell4281]

Oh my goodness need Brandon Herrera to buy or review one of these.

[@nickthompson9697]

Tell him.

[@ScottKenny1978]

I'd be surprised if he doesn't have one.

[@3of11]

And just like that. Prices of these went up 15% on gunjoker.

[@mitchfromtheinternet297]

I do often wonder how much Ian’s vids effect gun prices in the US.

[@owllymannstein7113]

Anyone who could afford what they cost before this video will have no problem affording one after.

[@1234jacee]

Proud owner of an 84s here. One of my favorites in my collection

[@lelandgaunt9985]

The 84s magazines also work in my yugo! Also keep in mind that not all are interchangeable.

[@asiri2010]

Many were imported to Sri Lanka in the 80's/90's during the early Eelam wars. Most of the Type-84S were used by police and law enforcement groups.

[@asiri2010]

@Andre Guitard 1971 and 89 had two rebellion which did not involve the LTTE

[@blackhawk65589]

I messed up. 8 years ago I bought a Norinco SKS, loved it. Year later I saw a guy selling a MAK 90 for like $700, didn't buy one......

[@JakeyV]

You gotta take one diving with you Ian. The fish need to know about this rare forgotten weapon!

[@sierramike5259]

True about the magazines ....as i found out the hard way.....having bought a couple at a gun show only to find out they didn't fit...also there were 5 rd mags available for hunting which are nice for shooting from the bench or prone...the stock is very short so I put a Tapco polymer buttstock on mine and just for looks swaped out the Flash Hider for a traditional AK muzzle break...they are very nice shootng.

[@ab5olut3zero95]

I think i need one of these in my life...

[@ChiefMiddleFinger]

Sometimes, Kalashnikov's that look great don't always operate very well and some that look like roadkill, are exceptional shooters.

[@Anonymous-jm1lb]

Never see any of these floating around. Awesome video Ian! Thank you!

[@markscherm5512]

There was an outfit in Atlanta called Kengs Firearms, which imported a Polytech .223. AK. I got the first under folder I could get my hands on. Never could get it to function reliably, tho; a profoundly frustrating experience at the time.

[@MissNeonNyx]

I have a Type 84s-1, the under folder. It has the 74 brake on it though, but not welded. I have a problem finding magazines for it and only have 2. It's a great rifle.

[@muddlypoole6303]

Norinco has very clean packaged AK47, wrapped in plastic for your unboxing, Chinese AK has been the most popular. The design of the Chinese AK were very smooth and neat finish without a single scratch, compare to a rough original Industrial dusty Soviet Type AK or reliability issue of AKM variant.

[@ultrablue2]

Another great review. I was curious why no mention of the different thickness of the sheet metal the Chinese used for the receiver. I know this is true of the 7.62 rifles, and I’m guessing would be the same for the 84S, since it appears they used all the existing bits of the standard rifles.

[@owllymannstein7113]

Thicker steel but it has to be because the metallurgy isn't as good as euro pattern guns.

[@hailexiao2770]

IIRC the PLA had the same "marksmanship over firepower" doctrine as the US Army due to their experiences in the civil war and the Korean War, as well as crappy logistics in a large country. Therefore they wanted each rifle to be as accurate as possible. It's also the reason they adopted the SKS at the same time as the AK and why so many troops were still armed with SKSes in 1979 while their Vietnamese counterparts were almost entirely AK-armed.

[@MrGrimsmith]

I like the little popup asking "Did you learn something today?" I *always* learn something by watching this channel, it's part of why I keep coming back! :)

[@johnniekane6315]

i all most got one of these in 1987 when i was at Fort Bragg. for 200 bucks new in the box and yes it was late 87.

[@birbdad1842]

I just realized that I want one. Now.

[@solidslicc707]

Someone seriously has got to design a 3D Printer file for the 30rd 84s magazines and the 5rd BWK-92 magazines.

[@garykappes4654]

I own a BWK-92. It came with a 30. I found 3 more mags for $200 off of gun broker. I think there was one or two 30 rnd mags and maybe a 15 and a 20? I'd have to dig through my .223 AK mag stash.

[@solidslicc707]

@@garykappes4654 Definitely a solid amount of mags you have for the rifle. They just only go up in price as time goes on.

[@scottflowers7780]

I had a pre- ban just like that one and a post ban fold under . This was back in the late 90s. I modified a ak74 30rd mag to fit the gun but it would not feed the last round do to the follower.I sold the two because the chrome liner was coming out of the barrel on the pre-ban. The ak74 is a softer shooting rifler.

[@Mitron43]

I owned a norinco 84s for several years was an amazing rifle and fun to shoot, you could bump fire it from the shoulder if you wanted. Great trigger great mags mine DID take beryl mags with no issue at all and never gave me problems.

[@lail118]

I remember not having $250 to buy one of these back in the 80s. It's part of what made me want to make money and be successful. I owe the Ak a lot of my drive toward success.

[@chevyvet69]

I could say these rifles are awesome I have 2 of them that I bought in the eighties Not only are they great rifles but they're worth a ton of money in today's market

[@fetishartist137]

In May of 1996, I remember getting settled in a hotel in San Jose for BayCon, one of the top news stories on TV was Norinco got raided.

[@stephenduffy5406]

They did also make a 40 round 556 mag for the norenco . Rare. The similar politech guns, also from China, offered a 90 round 223 drum.

[@matty_ice_cream]

Wow. Last time I was this early to a video was before the assault weapons ban

[@elijahoconnell]

Youve gotta do a vid on the chinese arsenal system

[@thebateman7949]

I have a Norinco JW-15 from the late '80s and it functions well enough, but the whole gun has a rough and uniquely hand-finished look to it. Seeing similar quality on this 84s, it is easy to imagine the two having come out of the same factory.

[@stumpjumper4117]

Wow...that's so crazy.. I had one, back in 87... it was so cool and shot straight. I'm kicking myself for selling it. Mine was the wood handled fold under stock and came with the bayonet.

[@darraghbastick6911]

"if it doesn't work, you always hit him with it" -Boris the Blade

[@pilgrimm23]

I owned one of these. Purchased the Last Day before the assault rifle ban was initiated. Over the years I probably put 10k rounds through it. I later sold it for more then I paid for it. VERY well made weapon.

[@chevyvet69]

You should have kept it I own 2 of these and still have them

[@owllymannstein7113]

It is pretty difficult to sell a quality AK for less than you paid for it these days.

[@SuperFrankto]

I have a -1 which I have had at least since the early 90's. It's a fun gun and we used to do hip fired mag dumps with it! It is very awkward to shoulder fire with the underfolder.

[@StrictlyPlinking]

My friend had that same caliber Norinco AK, but with the underfolding metal stock! It was pretty bad ass!

[@BarrowX]

Russians in Stargate SG1 had these rifles.

[@xptransformation3564]

Best series ever

[@Jreb1865]

Wow..I love Stargate...I'm gonna have to watch for this.....

[@paulstan9828]

I wish I would of grabbed one of those when they were available.

[@loupiscanis9449]

Thank you , Ian .

[@Jackkalpakian]

The CS/LR17 appears to be development of this. It is a modular AK firing 5.56 rounds, with rails, polymers etc.

[@orzorzelski1142]

>5.56 AK platform Beryl/Archer review when? :v

[@dave6907]

You should do the Chinese factory system video some day. There's almost no information on the net.

[@derickstiffs9051]

There was also the nhm90 with the thumb hole stock in .223 as well.

[@thewiezman]

My dream rifle, first ak i ever held. The crutch stock side folder variant.

[@jetalone6]

As a Chinese-American this rifle is my spirit animal. Chinese on the outside, American on the inside. I need to get one now.

[@MitchellCH]

sean0bi good luck 👍

[@beyondbackwater4933]

Lol Chinese American, are you American or Chinese? Pick one

[@beyondbackwater4933]

@Segul Rog Spatha I know I just find the term stupid

[@bebopwing1]

Does anyone have an actual good excuse for why they leave stuff in the white like rifle bolts? I've heard several theories over the years, and they all sound like gun shop lore.

[@mattfleming86]

Wanted to post here so I can follow for an answer. My brother-in-law has a norinco SKS that's the same way. I imagine cost vs necessity but its a good question!

[@bebopwing1]

@@mattfleming86 The most common thing I hear is that it's a metal hardness question, that apparently the type of metal they make bolts out of doesn't take finishes very well. But lots of companies make AK with bolts that are finished, so I always thought that was just wild speculation. Fingers crossed somebody will show up that actually knows for reals.

[@ScottKenny1978]

I've heard Mark Novak say that it is a matter of dimensions. Adding bluing or plating changes dimensions just enough to cause problems.

[@Obelisk57]

@@ScottKenny1978 unlike plating, bluing has no thickness, but I think these bolts maybe chrome plated.

[@bebopwing1]

If I remember correctly the Mauser 98s from war 1 had a bolt and the white, and then when they were refinished in the twenties they blued them. So it's always been very confusing.

[@geraldhoskowicz5157]

When these were for sale they sold at Gun Shows for $125-150 and the SKS sold for $30-50 both new. These were the 7.62x39. This version 5.56 I seen a few times. These guns are high quality. I THINK the first AK's were milled receivers from Norinco.

[@spiderjerusalem8284]

I like the furniture of the 84-5s, it has a folding side stock similar to the ones of the FN FNC instead of the typical AK triangular side folding stock.

[@richardturk7162]

Just to add these had feeding issues due to the straight walled 5.56 round. I have owned several 84S rifles over the years Last one being the underfolder variant. Very well made but not as reliable as the 7.62 models

[@blackacidgaming5672]

Is it still reliable? Not as reliable as a 7.62 isnt exactly descriptive

[@richardturk7162]

The under folder I believe had chamber issues because it would not eject 100% of the time The other two were very hard on the bolt faces plus they would not shoot consistent groups at 100 yards. When I had these it was the late 80s early 90s and just shooters and not collectables like they are now. I wish I had kept them but I have a few 7.62 type 56 and a type 3 that shoot very well. I love the Chinese AKs

[@ApachePieman]

An AK chambered in 5.56... Perfect analogy for modern day china

[@Panzermeister36]

Thanks Ian. Quality content as always.

[@Solnoric]

Buddy of mine had one of these from the late 80s. Really good gun. Fun as all out to shoot.

[@leoli2450]

6:06 Excute order (chinese factory serial number)

[@Axemantitan]

Norinco is "Northern Industries Corporation." The acronym is pronounced Nor-In-Co. It's not "inc." like "incorporated."

[@haha20121000]

I think it's really sexy how smoothly Ian handles the bolt of an ak

[@haha20121000]

At 9:00 when he just mad smoothly slides the bolt head into the bcg😍😍😍

[@randallpetroelje3913]

Dude I was wondering when the Chinese were going to cover that caliber. I’ve see only a couple. You are the first to fully cover subject. Thanks 👍

[@zacharyrollick6169]

Gun shop just got one of these in for $1200.

[@abuzaben]

Really? I thought it’s worth more

[@zacharyrollick6169]

@@abuzaben Mint conditions ones are worth way more. That one is a little beat up.

[@kywildcats6476]

You can get the 7.62 by 39 for 350 bucks with all the magazines you want for $10 a piece

[@zacharyrollick6169]

@@kywildcats6476 In America?

[@kywildcats6476]

@@zacharyrollick6169 yep. Just seen couple of them at the flea market

[@Soff1859]

I live in switzerland and we can still get modern chinese AKs. Mine is made by N.E.D.I., which seems to be part of or related to norinco. However there is very little info since most gun content on the internet tends to be american. And most americans dont have access to them. Does anyone here know anything more about this NEDI company? Its the only AK i own or have ever fired so i dont really know how it compares to other manufacturers. Altho the video makes me think it is just an exact copy of the norinco type 56

[@M81_WOODLAND]

Also Norinco stands for North Industries Corp. not "group". So yes, the acronym does work.

[@paulkelly7896]

Brilliant educational content in every episode, good man Ian :-)