Unusual AK Variant

[RReno]

I'm at Camp Falcon in the south side of Baghdad and I came across an AK I've never seen the likes of before. I'll try and get some pictures of it tomorrow but........the Magazine is different, looks alot like a standard AK magazine but has a raised ridge down the side of the rear so it definitely won't fit in any AK I've ever seen. The front where the lip on the magazine is has a groove in it and there's a corresponding ridge in the mag well that it would fit over.

The dust cover is very short and the bolt carrier is almost triangular and doesn't look like any AK carrier I've ever seen. The only markings I saw on it are a set of crossed swords, the number 69 and what appears to be a serial number. There is not the standard "push button" on the rear of the dust cover that you would use to disassemble the rifle as there is on a standard AK either. I believe I saw what might have been a push pin that ran crossways in the receiver and through the dust cover but I'm not positive.

Rumor around here is that it was something carried only by Iraqi marines but I'm not ready to believe that just yet.

It was in rough shape, lot of rust, no stock. In addition, the rear of the receiver is not shaped like either a folder or a standard stock type. It's relatively open, can see what appears to be a flat spring in it. There is a threaded hole also.

The selector lever is very small, about the size of that found on a Beretta 92, low on the right side of the rifle behind the trigger guard, and has only two positions. Neither are marked but dry firing it I found one to be safe and one to let the hammer drop so I'm assuming it's FA only.

Anyone got any ideas?

[Whiterook]

Could it be a Czech VZ58?



The Czechs during the Cold War were very independent with their arms. This looks like an AK but is very different on the inside. Don't know too much about AK's or these, but it would be asy to get confused.

[RReno]

I should add that it is definitely chambered in 7.62 X 39.

Not sure what the Czech would have been chambered in though I know they sometimes used some oddball cartridges.

Thanks for the response.

[RReno]

Yup, that be the one. I looked it up on google before I saw your picture but that's definitely the little guy.

Gonna try and get my mitts on it and take it apart to see what makes it tick. Won't be able to bring it home, don't think Uncle Sam and his buddy the ATF would approve. Sweet looking rifle though when it's clean based on the pictures.