AK Sponsor
Posted: 8/22/2011 11:38:42 AM EDT
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I have a couple of Hungarian SA 85M rifles, both unfired pristine condition from the late 80's- post ban condition.
I assume the K-Var underfolder is SS and a quality part. That stated it also occurs to me that the reciever would need to be re worked and refinished. THis seems as though it could affect the integrity and value of the weapon. Is this correct? Another question is- who should I get to do this work and @ what does that run?? Is the application even advisable? |
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What do you mean by "SS and a quality part"? It could be done without effecting the structural integrity, but it's a big job and likely to be expensive. Put a Romanian or E.German side folder on it. They are rock solid, and you don't have to cut or modify the Receiver at all. Plus, they have a better cheek weld then an under-folder. You can do it yourself, it's plug-n-play. Or, put an Ace Folder on it. It'll run you about $200, and you will have to cut the rear trunnion stub off, but at least you won't have to cut the receiver. Don't butcher the receiver to install an under-folder. If you are dead set on getting one, you would be far better off to buy one that was originally made that way. |
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if you sell your two guns, you can easily buy a preban hungarian, might not have the box or all the original accessories, but you can surely get one in very good or better shape for $1100.
It will retain much more value than spending several hundred to install an underfolder on one of your post bans. I wouldn't pay more for one of these Hungarian post bans than a nice SAR1. Of course I think SAR1s are the most undervalued AK out there, I have seen people sell them for the same price as a WASR since century rep has gotten so bad, people assume all Romy AKs are junk. One thing for sure, when you could still buy a new SAR 1 and Century hadnt crushed their rep, they sold for $100 more than an excellent condition hungarian post ban. However, most people will pay a lot more for post ban hungarian so sell yours. |
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The thing about the post-ban SA85Ms (around 1996 with thumbhole stock) is, they are the last of the genuine factory-built all-Hungarian AKs imported, except for the strange single-stack SA2000M, but considering what you get now for $500, even the SA2000M looks good, and it can be converted. They are straight and smooth-running, having been made at the same factory by the same people and with the same parts (mostly) as the Hungarian military AKs. FEG was a prolific gunmaker for many decades, supplying the Hungarian military and police as well as several other countries with small arms. If I had two of them, I might be inclined to modify one and keep the other original. You will not find a better AK at any price. FEG has been out of the gun business for about ten years now, so what's out there is all there will ever be. You will find that they will be appreciating in value over the years, although so far they have only managed to double their value. The pre-bans have gone up a lot more - wish I had the sense in the early '90s to get one of those! I modified my SA85M to resemble either an AK63 (AMD63) or a pre-ban. It takes about ten minutes to swap out the front end to make the swap. But, I probably will leave it in pre-ban trim. All I had to do for 922 was put in the three-piece Tapco G2 fire-control set and use a USA magazine with it.
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Pre-ban: 
AK63: 
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