East German / DDR AKs

Partly one in every of this collection, I wrote in regards to the historical past of DDR AKs which by many are thought to be the very best on this planet. On this a part of the article, I’ll describe some experiences I had after I repaired these weapons in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Primarily I needed to take care of MPI-KMs, the folding inventory model of East German AKM, which isn’t stunning because it was probably the most exported DDR AKs that may be discovered virtually wherever.

From the start, I knew in regards to the popularity of DDR AKs, had excessive expectations, and was fastidiously device marks, end, and general construct high quality. So listed below are my ideas in regards to the excellence of East German AK.

Fragile plastic elements

Damaged handguard, typical for DDR AKs. Baghdad.

DDR AKs have been among the many first that bought plastic handguards, pistol grips, and shares. And if you’re the primary to do one thing, it’s by no means good. And it wasn’t on this case, so I changed lots of of these plastic elements on DDR AKs.

One other damaged handguard. East Iraq.

I don’t understand how they examined these elements through the R&D course of, or perhaps this plastic by some means degraded after 30 years, however each time I noticed East German serial numbers on the weapon record of the incoming inspection, I knew I needed to deliver a ton of spare pistol grips and handguards.

Damaged pistol grip, my apologies for the blurry focus. South Iraq.

I used to be actually glad we had primarily folding inventory weapons, trigger at the very least I didn’t have to hold a ton of heavy picket shares to exchange “pebble grain” plastic shares.

End and rusting

Rust on East German AK. Baghdad.

Within the late 50s, with the introduction of AKM, the Soviet arms factories switched to a primitive however efficient ending expertise: phosphating with “lacquer paint”, which is used to at the present time on the manufacturing unit in Izhevsk.

The East German factories have been a bit extra conservative and determined to stay to scorching bluing. There are additionally rumors that the Soviets wished to cost some huge cash for the ToT of their floor end expertise, and that’s the reason East German factories went with the confirmed expertise that they already had.

Nearly each time I needed to take care of DDR AKs, I needed to clear out rust. I don’t thoughts it, it’s a fairly satisfying course of, however the shortcomings of scorching bluing have been evident.

Rust on East German AK.

I fully refinished a bunch of rifles to repair the issue. Generally rusting was so extreme I simply wished to smack the man who allowed his gun to change into so rusty that it appeared {that a} new life kind would quickly emerge from the receiver.

More often than not it was only a floor rust, so it wasn’t a giant deal, however maybe there’s a cause East German factories switched to a unique end in a while with their AK-74 variant. There have been additionally studies about painted MPi-KM rifles, however sadly, I’ve by no means encountered these.

Rust and damaged handguards are the 2 most outstanding issues on DDR AKs

A good friend of mine didn’t imagine me after I described these rusting issues. Someday we determined to movie a video about DDR AKs and he borrowed somebody’s AK assortment for every week. A pair days later he referred to as me in a panic asking: “Hey man, I left the weapons in a single day in my glass terrace, and now they’ve rust spots. I’m sorry buddy, you’re proper in regards to the end”. He rubbed some oil on the rust spots and returned the gathering to the proprietor, and I realized two issues from it: first, watch out when you find yourself lending your gun assortment to somebody, and second, even with an ideal situation end, scorching bluing on DDR AKs isn’t very rust-resistant.

General high quality 

Typical workhorse East German AK with rust and chipped handguard.

The construct high quality of DDR AKs is superb. I’ve by no means seen one with smashed or out-of-spec rivets, a wobbling barrel, or trunnion, or a damaged bolt. It’s good, simply the way in which it ought to be.

However there was nothing distinctive about this high quality. Loads of device marks, many damaged entrance sights, loads of damaged folding shares and typically you’d discover rifles with extra headspace. So, DDR AKs have been significantly better in comparison with loads of different weapons from different nations however weren’t actually above and past with regards to high quality.

Machining marks on DDR AK bolt service

However why?

Trigger the standard of the merchandise doesn’t rely solely on the place it’s made or what passports the employees on the manufacturing unit have. The high quality comes from an effectively run manufacturing course of, elements which might be in spec, good machines, and 100 different issues that may be a hit and miss no matter your geographical location.

In the identical approach, Soviet and Russian weapons aren’t good simply because they have been made by the unique producer, DDR AKs weren’t good as a result of the employees spoke German and beloved sauerkraut. DDR AKs have been constructed to an ordinary, however there was no incentive to go above and past as soon as that commonplace was met. The manufacturing unit was not a customized gunsmith that might cost double for handcrafted weapons.

General, should you change the handguard and pistol grip on the DDR AK and refinish the gun, it will be top-of-the-line, most sturdy, and reliable AKs yow will discover. And whereas East Germany ceased to exist 35 years in the past, I’m positive these weapons shall be used even when no person would bear in mind what East Germany was.