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Posted: 9/13/2011 2:31:09 AM EDT
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let me start off my saying that I have no skills nor do I have equipment to accomplish a build, though that would be awesome
I've gone over a thorough list of builders on a different thread here but the problem is... which freakin' one???? I'm leaning towards Overland, however it seems like a ton of guys have gone to In Range and they all look really good. Is there any builder I should stay away from? Any great experiences/bad experience are greatly appreciated oh, if you can post the price of a build, I understand if you don't want to post that What I want the builder to do to "Krink": Properly assembled (that should be a given) Has a good finish maybe somewhat shiney and pretty black, however must stand up to the red headed step child abuse I am going to put on it DOES NOT have to be a visual carbon copy of the AKS-74U with all the original markings and what not (Ted Marshall has serious skill in that but that's not what I'm looking for) test fires rifle |
| Apparently Firing Line's ( http://www.firinglineoklahoma.com/ ) turnaround is currently only 3 weeks from what I've heard. I don't have any personal experience with them but they might be worth checking out. |
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Apparently Firing Line's ( http://www.firinglineoklahoma.com/ ) turnaround is currently only 3 weeks from what I've heard. I don't have any personal experience with them but they might be worth checking out. I sent my Tula kit to Mike about a week ago. He gave me that turn around time about a week before I sent it. Tracking shows he received my kit 9-9-11, so check back with me in a few weeks if you have that kind of time to decide. I can tell you, Mike was very pleasant on the phone and very patient with my seemingly endless list of questions. Emails were always responded to promptly as well. I plan to do a pretty thorough review when I get it back. |
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Apparently Firing Line's ( http://www.firinglineoklahoma.com/ ) turnaround is currently only 3 weeks from what I've heard. I don't have any personal experience with them but they might be worth checking out. I sent my Tula kit to Mike about a week ago. He gave me that turn around time about a week before I sent it. Tracking shows he received my kit 9-9-11, so check back with me in a few weeks if you have that kind of time to decide. I can tell you, Mike was very pleasant on the phone and very patient with my seemingly endless list of questions. Emails were always responded to promptly as well. I plan to do a pretty thorough review when I get it back. I'm not even sending it in until Spring of '12 at the earliest so give me a head's up on how it goes! |
Just recieved my virgin Bulgy krink back to dealer yesterday.Just about 30 to the day.Mario at Piece of History Firearms did a fantastic job,second to none.
Virgin build,90% in the white.Finished park under moly.Engraved with all Bulgy nominclature and markings. Test fired and sighted in.Finish and rivets are awsome.Nice trigger also. |
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Here's my Polytech to Tula RR MG by Mario, nice job. Because it was a much more involved job than a fresh build, it took several months. Before: http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa219/faldoc/POHF%20AKS-74U/IMG_3324.jpg After: http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa219/faldoc/POHF%20AKS-74U/IMG_4092.jpg Wow...with the expense of that conversion, wouldn't have been cheaper to just buy a Krink kit as a fresh build? Turned out gorgeous though. |
| Being a registered receiver machine gun you cannot make a fresh receiver, you have to convert an existing one. Since 1986, anyway. I used a Tula Krink kit and E. German barrel for the parts. I would have preferrred a fresh build, it would have cost a third to a quarter as much. |
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Quoted: so what all does Mario do besides assemble it? Does he test fire it also? What about the finish, is it the standard molly over parkerized... what all does he do? He does it all. If you decide on POHF to do the work you won't be disappointed. http://www.pieceofhistoryfirearms.com/pohf-services.html |
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Quoted: Got any video of the Tula in full auto? We are thinking about making a Tula FA for a demo gun I just hate spending a $1000 on a gun that is going to be beat to death and only sold to other SOT's.Here's my Polytech to Tula RR MG by Mario, nice job. Because it was a much more involved job than a fresh build, it took several months. Before: http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa219/faldoc/POHF%20AKS-74U/IMG_3324.jpg After: http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa219/faldoc/POHF%20AKS-74U/IMG_4092.jpg |
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Quoted: How is that on a form 1? He is manufacturing you a krink you aren't building it yourself so in my eyes that gun should be a transfer from Mario on a form 4.Quoted: do these guys do your build if you provide the receiver? Yep. I sent him the complete kit, the US compliance parts I opted for, a stripped receiver already engraved with my info, and evidence of my F1. He'll send me, a krink and a bill. |
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How is that on a form 1? He is manufacturing you a krink you aren't building it yourself so in my eyes that gun should be a transfer from Mario on a form 4.
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do these guys do your build if you provide the receiver? Yep. I sent him the complete kit, the US compliance parts I opted for, a stripped receiver already engraved with my info, and evidence of my F1. He'll send me, a krink and a bill. I furnished the receiver, I own it, I filed the F1 for the right to construct, or have constructed, and possess the final product (SBR). He is essentially, "contracted" to assemble it. There is no need to transfer something to me, that I already own. This goes back to the whole manufacturer vs. builder debate. It's the same reason why any other AK for which you roll the receiver (you manufactured it) needs to be marked with your info if you sell it (and) any parts kit you "build" or "assemble" does not need to be marked with your info, even if you sell it. Manufacturing denotes construction of the receiver alone. His shop needs to be licensed because he is doing it for profit. Screwy, I know. Now, if he furnished the receiver and had it registered as a SBR, and was going to sell it to me, that would need to be on a F4. |
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ya, what is posted above is the problem I was running into with a bit ago and I had no idea which form I needed since everyone had their own "interpretations" they just need to get rid of the SBR/SBS laws altogether and save America a bit of trouble Agreed,.. |
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Being a registered receiver machine gun you cannot make a fresh receiver, you have to convert an existing one. Since 1986, anyway. I used a Tula Krink kit and E. German barrel for the parts. I would have preferrred a fresh build, it would have cost a third to a quarter as much. Oh snap, I didn't realize it was a MG. I would've coughed up the cash too. And taken out a second mortage on my home shortly thereafter. |
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How about throwing some damn numbers on cost out?
A really nice build is great, but if they want a grand to do it, thats something a bit critical to be figured into the equation. I don't understand the reluctance to discuss cost, unless you overpaid and are embarrassed to discuss it. |
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+1 Mike at Firing Line in OK.
My build costs: $500 for the receiver + $300 for the build + $100 for the front sight gas block + $300 for the top cover (nobody has/had them) + $675 for the virgin bulgy parts set from k-var. This may seem like a lot, but it sure does beat the alternative. True story: I'm still waiting for the stamp. While I'm waiting, my rifle sits in my dealer's store. I have received dozens of compliments on that rifle. Several comes from folks I shoot with, who don't realize the rifle is mine. Most compliments go something like, "It looks like PURE SEX! I know you like AKs, so you should go look at it." I'm not bragging or nothing...just saying..... 
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| I dislike Kreb's style. He takes too much liberty in his builds to do something out of the box. I'd rather send it to someone who know how to recreate the rifle like it should be historically. I don't like manufacturer's engravings that detract from the rifle like his logo. |
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How about throwing some damn numbers on cost out? A really nice build is great, but if they want a grand to do it, thats something a bit critical to be figured into the equation. I don't understand the reluctance to discuss cost, unless you overpaid and are embarrassed to discuss it. The cost is included in that thread. |
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Quoted: How about throwing some damn numbers on cost out? A really nice build is great, but if they want a grand to do it, thats something a bit critical to be figured into the equation. I don't understand the reluctance to discuss cost, unless you overpaid and are embarrassed to discuss it request a quote? That's what I had to do. |
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"request a quote? That's what I had to do. "
Paid too much? Embarrassed to admit it publicly? 
The reason I asked is so that I'm not barking up the wrong tree, bothering everybody for an estimate, I sell things for a living, and nothing is worse than tire kickers, especially if you make a good product at a competitive price. I WANTED MY CUSTOMERS TO TELL EVERYBODY how good I was, for the quality product I provide. It makes me suspicious, when I see people raving about someone, and then, hesitating to discuss what it cost them, why the secrecy? Whats the real agenda? And. why not include more info, rather than less? This really gets me, seriously, everybody sure as hell uses coupons, and lets their friends know when wally world has a bargain out, why is it that sellers who give out estimates deserve to have ONLY their prices held hostage? |
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You might keep in mind that comparing quotes from different people having their rifles built is not necessarily helpful.
Asking for the exact same set of services on the exact same pile of parts from multiple builders is helpful. That's what you do when you get quotes. When Billy Ray chimes in and says his buddy built his Romy G kit with the original barrel included for $150, that leaves out the fact that all he did was a little pressing and riveting. I have a kit being built currently that has a virgin barrel. It will need to be headspaced and all the pin cuts made. The builder I chose will also test-fire, parkerize the metal and then put a baked-on weapon finish on it. I could have also paid extra for the application of Russian markings. When you ask how much my build cost, do I include how much I paid for shipping? The new box my builder sends it back in? Rivets? There are many variables in the cost of a build. I could just tell you the base cost of my build and leave out a lot of little things that added to the price. Bingo! It looks like I just got the cheapest build possible when in reality, I paid a lot more. |
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Quoted: "request a quote? That's what I had to do. " Paid too much? Embarrassed to admit it publicly? The reason I asked is so that I'm not barking up the wrong tree, bothering everybody for an estimate, I sell things for a living, and nothing is worse than tire kickers, especially if you make a good product at a competitive price. I WANTED MY CUSTOMERS TO TELL EVERYBODY how good I was, for the quality product I provide. It makes me suspicious, when I see people raving about someone, and then, hesitating to discuss what it cost them, why the secrecy? Whats the real agenda? And. why not include more info, rather than less? This really gets me, seriously, everybody sure as hell uses coupons, and lets their friends know when wally world has a bargain out, why is it that sellers who give out estimates deserve to have ONLY their prices held hostage? no, I did the work myself b/c his price was outlandish. My finances are my concern not yours. However, if you go to Mario's website, he has a request a quote section just for people who want to know. IMO, a business that is unwilling to tell you how much their services cost up front is not a company I will do business with. If you're too embarrassed to ask, then go on sulking in the shadows and have other people do your work for you. |
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Had Troy at InRange put together a yugo M92. Did a good job for a fair price. same here , and mine was done for under $500 IIRC . I supplied all the parts and used a NDS reciever . I also filed the form 2 before I sent it to him so it had my company's name on it . I've gotten lots of compliments about it . 
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