Confusing AK Parts

[scoutjoe]

Alright so I got stumped today this group of parts came into the shop today and the gentleman wants to put it on consignment.

The trick is I can't figure out what it should be.

Its basically the front end of a Romanian PSL (Finned muzzlebreak, bayonet lug, lower handguard retainer, long "AK" style gas piston and rear sight block that is off a PSL, the front trunion looks close also.) I do not think the bolt carrier will support the PSLs bolt though (will double check on this )

I would call it PSL parts and be done with it, but it will chamber a 7.62x39 and will not chamber the 7.62x54r. The barrel is approx 23-24" long chrome lined with no cutout for the lower handguard retainer and no cutout for the extractor. It appears to have a gas port (as per shining a bore light down in the front gas block and seeing light in the barrel).

Then on the bolt carrier is a small orange sticker " Made in Romania Imported by K-Var". I could find no markings on the barrel other than the #5 in front of the chamber.

So ideas? Is it just not chambered correctly? If it was something like an RPK barrel what are the odds of the barrel outside diameter being the same so the PSL parts fit?

[PA Rifleman]

Joe:

Can you post a photo?

[scoutjoe]

Joe:

Can you post a photo?

Kinda figured that was going to be the request but I didn't have my camera on me today. I'll get pictures tomorrow. Any specific angles?

[bige64]

aes-10b or rpk with psl furniture is my only guess...

[mojo]

aes-10b or rpk with psl furniture is my only guess...

If it's chambered for 7.62x39 ... that that ^^^ would be my guess. Someone bought an RPK and tried to make it look like a PSL or something. I've definitely seen stranger things.

[scoutjoe]

Ok picture time

So this is what we have to look at...



Pfft that's a PSL parts kit minus the handguards you say



Well not with that chamber (7.62x54 Bulgarian used)




But the 7.62x39 looks a whole lot closer to me.

Here is what made me go "ah"






Pulled the PSL off the rack, took out the bolt/bolt carrier to compare and low and behold it honestly looks like to me that somebody put a 47 sized bolt carrier with a PSL piston

The mystery part bolt carrier measures 3.485" long while the PSL bolt carrier measured up at 4.265" long. I also have a picture from the side that shows the difference between the two bolt carriers.

So I'm guessing this mixed mess of parts was purchased by someone who didn't know a whole lot about what they were getting and they got taken for a ride.

Either that or its some sort of combination custom work with the idea of making a 7.62x39 PSL

[Jackal]

That's bizarre, why would anyone prefer the lower powered round in a sniper configuration....

[JLR666]

looks to me like somebody was trying to do a taubak ?spelling? Build. Maybe or he was makeing some kinda counter sniper that the Romanians should have thought of.

[flclis-great]

how long is the barrel? copes sells RPK and Tabuk barrels, my guess is its probably one of those 2 with with a psl gas piston. does it have a front trunion? measure the OD around the chamber and see what that is.

http://www.copesdistributing.net/pro...oducts_id=1225
http://www.copesdistributing.net/pro...oducts_id=1617

[scoutjoe]

Barrel measured 24" from end to bottom of flash suppressor. I'm thinking its a one off barrel.

The Tabuk build idea is a possibility though. Who knows, stranger stuff will show up sometime I'm sure