Those chinese Maks are not parts guns like the crap available now, and they are all bringing about $500 used. It's a good deal that will only increase in value, get it before somebody else does.
While the Chinese guns were well made,
SOME of the USA built guns are comparable in quality. I don't particularly care for AK's in .223 or the post-ban configuration (thumb hole, no bay lug and non-threaded barrel) - they don't appreciate in value as much as the truer looking 7.62x39's do - you can track the prices during the last ban and see what I'm talking about.
I have both an older Polytech stamped AK and a new Lancaster built Underfolder using a Polish Parts set. I have done a side-by-side comparison of these two guns and their parts. The receivers on both guns are well made - the lancaster uses a 1.5mm DCI heat treated receiver. The parts set is all matching on the Lancaster and appears to be in excelent condition, if not new.
I prefer the fit and finish of the chinese bolt and bolt carrier - it also uses a sprung firing pin rather than the floating firing pin in the Polish bolt.
The fire control parts are nicely made and finished in both rifles
The DuraCoat that has beein applied to the Lancaster will be more corrosion resistant and durable than the simple blued finish on the Polytech - however, my Polytech is about 20 years old and has no rust on it. I like the underfolder on the Lancaster (that's why I bought it). The wood stock that came on the Polytech had absolutely no finish on it when I purchased it new. It got dirty easily so I sanded it and applied a polyurathine finish to it. I like the all black plastic fore-stocks that came with the Lancaster.
I also like the magazines that came with the Polytech over the one that came with the Lancaster - just seem to be constructed a little better and are slightly heavier.
Still, the Lancaster shoots without a hitch, just like the Polytech does. Both have chrome lined barrels and both will probably outlast me by a 200 years or more.
The bottom line is that there are some really good quality underfolding AK's being made in the USA right now - buy the
good quality ones while you still can; while they are still importing parts. Because come Jan 20, I doubt that any more parts to make AKs with will be imported.
