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PostedNovember3,2014inAK47/AK74/EverythingAK,RiflesbyNathanielFwith54Comments

KonstantinLazarevhassomeexcellentphotosonhisFacebookpageofanAK12undergoing
testing.Theriflehasbeenpaintedinearthtones,andhasclearlyalreadyseenfairlyheavyuse,
judgingbyallthewear.Thesephotosalsoofferalookinsidethereceiverofthegun,whichreveals
aweaponthat,whileitsdesignerswereclearlycribbingnotesfromWesternrifledevelopment,is
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stilluniquelyRussianindesign.
ThetrunnionoftheAK12appearsalmostunchangedfromtheAK74,despitethenewpatternof
receiverandboltcarrier.ItsengineerssolvedtheproblemofmountingopticstotheAKstyle
receiverbycreatingamonolithicrailentirelyseparatefromthereceiverthatdovetailsandlocks
intoeitherthehandguardoravestigialsightblock,whichisdifferentthanthehingingAKS74U
typecoverofearlierAK12prototypes.Thisentireassembly,receivercoverattached,isremoved
fromtherifleforcleaning,whichallowsavirtuallyunprecedentedlevelofreceiveraccessatthe
fieldstrippinglevel.ThecharginghandleremainsinthesamelocationasearlierAKtyperifles,but
isnownonreciprocating,andswitchablefromrighttoleft.TheAK12adoptsaveryslimprofile
M4stylecollapsingbuttstock,whichfolds,butalsohasaveryinterestinglookingapproximately
320degreeringtypeslingmountthatsurroundsthewristofthestock,somethingIdontthinkIve
seenbeforeintheWest.TheseparatesafetyandselectorarrangementoftheprototypeAK12s
hasbeenreplacedwithaunified,notquiteWesternlookingselectorandsafetylever.Anextended,
ambidextrousmagazinerelease,whichiscapableofbeingactivatedeitherintheconventional
Kalashnikovmannerorwiththetriggerfinger(veryreminiscentoftheH&KXM8)supplantsthe
decadesoldAKstylelever.Anewmuzzlebrakeandfrontsightblockroundouttherifle.

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Itsdifficulttoimagineariflethatmoreexemplifiesthesmallarmsoftheearly21stcentury:Atits
core,anear70yearolddesign,conceivedtomeettheneedsandrisetothetechnologyofthe
postWWIIworld,temperedandevolvedthroughdecadesofexperiencefightingdownanddirty
warsagainstparamilitaryforcesinunstableregionseverywherefromAfghanistantoGeorgia.
H/T,RemiguiszWilk,ofBroiAmunicja

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NathanielF
Nathanielisahistoryenthusiastandfirearmshobbyistwhoseprimaryinterestlies
inmilitarysmallarmstechnologicaldevelopmentsbeginningwiththesmokeless
powderera.InadditiontocontributingtoTheFirearmBlog,heruns196,800
RevolutionsPerMinute,ablogdevotedtomodernsmallarmsdesignandtheory.
Hecanbereachedviaemailatnathaniel.f@staff.thefirearmblog.com.

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Comments for this thread are now closed.

54 Comments
Recommend 2
dg13

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a year ago

The safety/selector markings seem confusing...looks like 4 positions (safe, single,

2 round, full) but it looks like the lever only has 2 positions....anyone know what is
going on there?
11

Share

dp > dg13

a year ago

In pictures I have seen previously, there were 2 levers in the roster. This
may not be full-edged military version.

Share

Mr Mxyzptlk > dp

a year ago

Those two levers are not both safeties/selectors, the bottom lever is
the safety/selector, and the top one is a lock that secures the top
cover. Due to the typical AK top cover design it was not secure
enough to take a rail (hence why most solutions involve either the
side mounting or a rail that reaches backwards from a handguard)
so the solution was a latch that would x it more securely rather
than just using that little button thing attached to the rear of the
guide rod.
I initially though that this part was just missing from this gun, but
based on the fact that there is no recess stamped for it and the fact
that the hole is empty when it is disassembled, I guess it is a cross
pin which secures the top cover in some way. I have no idea though
whether this is a new design, whether this is a pre-production gun
and the lever is the current design, or if this is a dierence that is on
civilian or export guns, or something else entirely.
1

dg13 > dp

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a year ago

found some pics with 2 levers here:

http://www.therearmblog.com/...

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dp > dg13

a year ago

Exactly, that's what I meant.

dg13 > dp

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a year ago

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2 levers makes more sense...

Share

J > dg13

a year ago

It probably has 4 positions in that short travel, knowing how a normal AK

selector works, and how far that travels at the axis point.
safe, auto, burst, semi, in that order
currently on semi, I'm guessing.

Share

John > J

a year ago

That sounds like a terrible design and apt to cause error/overtravel

2

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J > John

a year ago

I've got that backwards, it's currently on safe

I wouldn't want to deal with that under stress

Mr.T

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a year ago

''The trunnion of the AK-12 appears almost unchanged from the AK-74 ''
This is like saying every 7 lug bolt is 'almost unchanged from Ar15'
11

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John > Mr.T

a year ago

I would imagine it is dierent. Wasn't it marketed as a do-everything

chassis? The Ak-12 was billed as an assault weapon, SMG, shotgun, and
light support weapon all in one similar to the stoner. I'd like to see how the
pinged and welded barrel evolved to a quick change barrel in this design.

Green Hell

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a year ago

Funny thing, a year ago army said they dont need an AK-12. But after closing a
western civilian markets for Izhmekh (Kalashnikov Concern), ZOG practicly gave
russian government no other choice but to fund making and developing new
military ries, to keep their strategic factories aoat and full of work. This way the
sanctions, created to weaken Russia are gonna leave it with even stronger modern
military in the end. Maybe they'l even open up their own domestic civilian market,
allowing to buy a rie for a simple hunting license.
8

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John Sjstrm > Green Hell

a year ago

Allmost like the USA that don't buy a new gun so they can keep Colt up
and running
2

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Joshua > John Sjstrm

a year ago

No idea where you,got that since FNH is making all M16s and
M4/M4A1s.
4

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John Sjstrm > Joshua

a year ago

Colts owns the design so they still get their share of the deal.
Cancelling of varius replacement programs eso.
2

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Rick Randall > John Sjstrm

a year ago

Actually, it was the incredible screwup in 1967 that occurred

when the Army bought an open-ended license to the M16
TDP from Colt but not the TDP itself that has been a primary
driver in the Army looking at OTHER ries over the years.
In other words, the DoD sticks with the M16/M4 family
because it *works*, and the cost of transitioning over to
another platform simply cannot be justied by the miniscule
(if any) improvements possible versus the *enormous*
infrastructure costs in changing over.
2
dp > Green Hell

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a year ago

KK has apparently other ll including civilian. My bet is that '74' will soldier
on until........ something entirely dierent pops up. Very much like AR in
States.

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Joshua > Green Hell

a year ago

Depends on if they can aord to get rid of all their AK-74s. This will be a
huge undertaking money wise for them and its all to keep their gun manuf.
Aoat.

Share

noguncontrol > Joshua

a year ago

they can sell their surplus into the world market, ood the world
with cheap ak-74Ms.
the liberals and the eu tards are so stupid, God Bless Russia.

Share

This comment was deleted.

Rick Randall > Guest

a year ago

Yes, but only *IN*RUSSIA*. Russia frankly doesn't give a

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Yes, but only *IN*RUSSIA*. Russia frankly doesn't give a

hoot for the gun control laws of other nations. If other
nations want to buy Russian surplus arms, and Russia thinks
it's in their best interests to do so, then Russia will be happy
to say, "Cash on the table?. . . Do you want us to wrap that
in paper, plastic, or CONEX boxes?"

northafrican

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a year ago

still no bolt hold open

7

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mechamaster > northafrican

a year ago

True, it would be perfect if it has bolt-release button like VEPR 12.

n0truscotsman

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a year ago

Now that is sexy. I like.

6

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J > n0truscotsman

a year ago

Unless they design a new magazine, that isn't a possibility.

They have massive stockpiles of 74 mags, they wont change anytime soon.

Giolli Joker

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a year ago

OK, I want it.

Nice to see that it has been painted while on Safety and then permanently used in
Full Auto. :-)
2
Lance

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a year ago

The AK is still a premiere weapon that needs no replacement its design is superior
to the computer made plastic ries the writers drools about. Face it I still think rie
design is still at its current top with the AK and the Stoner systems.
As for the AK-12 its not going to happen the hype of this weapon was killed last
year when Russian army said they will not replace the AK-74. Don't see the
nancial system in Russia improving enough now to get a new test in little lone
adoption. Nothing wrong with the AK-74 to begin with.
2

Share

Nathaniel F. > Lance

a year ago

I dunno, I think the AK-12 makes a few meaningful improvements. Whether

that will be enough to see it into service is another question.
2

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n0truscotsman > Lance

a year ago

The same argument was made about their three chassis for armored
vehicles, stealth Sukhoi, new surface to air missiles, and anything else in
between, and look what happened.
1
dansquad

Share

a year ago

Non-reciprocating charging handle? How can the bolt be pushed forward in case
of a halfway seated cartridge on a dirty chamber?
1

Share

guest > dansquad

a year ago

Don't assume every gun in the word actually had a built in feature to deal
with a built-in potential malfunction.
1

Share

dansquad > guest

a year ago

a simple notch on the bolt carrier (m3-grease-gun style) would be

enough

Share

dansquad > guest

a year ago

Id appreciate if you tell me about another modern assault rie that

would suer from this same "rare" potential malfunction and doesnt
have a built-in feature (apart from the obvious reciprocating
charging handle)

Share

Nathaniel F. > dansquad

a year ago

If they have any sense, it can't be.

Share

Frosty_The_White_Man

a year ago

I wonder how well it holds zero with repeated removals & reattachments of the
rail?

Share

noguncontrol

a year ago

no quick change barrel? how can it be an smg and then a rie then an lmg without
a quick change barrel system?

Share

Nicholas Mew

a year ago

I prefer a reciprocating charging handle.

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toms

a year ago

Love the blacked out elcan serial numbers, wonder where that was smuggled, err I
mean imported from? Now I know where the prismatic Russian site Wolf is selling
came from. The AK12 looks like a heavy 74 with a few enhancements. I predict a
very limited number will be issued to frontline troops. This will be highly publicized
for propoganda value and will make the adoption look much more widespread
than it actually is. I wonder if the burst feature ruins the trigger like it does on the
m16a2.
Share

Timothy G. Yan > toms

a year ago

It's not an ELCAN sight.

Share

Nathaniel F. > Timothy G. Yan

a year ago

Yeah, I'm not sure what it is, but it's not an ELCAN.

Share

Timothy G. Yan > Nathaniel F.

a year ago

It's an Russian ELCAN clone but using better battery and QD

levers. Plus it's lighter by a bit.
2
adadsa

Share

a year ago

nearly 70 year old design? I hope you aren't one of those who believe it's a clone
of sturmgewehr. it's like calling an m60 a 72 year old design becouse it was
heavily inuenced by FG-42 and MG-42.

Share

Rick Randall > adadsa

a year ago

Well, that Kalashnikov design goes back to 1946 for certain, adopted in
1947 (thus "AK47" ;-) ). That makes 2014 - 1946 = 68 years. 67, if you insist
on the actual adoption date.
67 - 68 years is very much "nearly 70 years old" by ANY measure. . .
7

Share

Nathaniel F. > Rick Randall

a year ago

pretty much this

Share

a year ago

So... the Ak-12 is still considered a concept rie right? It doesn't seem like there's
any buyers other than the Russian military, and that's still only for testing

Share

Nathaniel F. > M a year ago

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a year ago

Looks like it's fairly far down the development pipe to me.

ColonelColt

Share

a year ago

It should be noted that this actually seems to be a new variant of the AK-12 that,
as far as I'm aware, we haven't seen before. The big dierence is the dust
cover/top rail in the back coupled with the handguard that seems to extend back
on the left side to act as a shield for the opening in the dust cover. The charging
handle on the right looks like it dog legs up under the handguard to the same
point on the earlier models where the reversible charging handle stuck straight
out. It also seems to ride over the side of the rear cover now. I wonder if they did
this to clear certain optic mounts, or simply to make it more like the position on a
traditional AK. Even if the rie retains the ability to switch the charging handle from
side to side I think we'll still see many Russian operators using it on the right due
to training.
The magazine catch is also quite dierent and no longer appears to have a push
button for magazine release or bolt hold open (we're not sure which). This one is
extended back for trigger nger operation and has a larger surface for striking with
the next magazine. The piece protruding from the front of the magazine catch,
contacting the back of the magazine, I can only surmise is some sort of "kicker"
lever to help get the empty out of the gun.
Other minor things are that the gas block lost its rail section and the buttstock is
dierent.

Share

Nathaniel F. > ColonelColt

a year ago

I believe I did note this in the article.

1

Share

ColonelColt > Nathaniel F.

a year ago

Sorry, I was so excited about the pictures that I unintentionally

skimmed the text. Did you nd information somewhere saying it
was non-reciprocating? I would think that would be a turno to
many buyers, myself included. I want to be able to rack the bolt
back and forth by hand in case of malfunctions and not rely on

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