A) My previous dragunov clone project went rather well , so I thought (its only natural,
) that I would follow up with AK and RPK clones .
http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=225878
As with the earlier project, my intention was not to bubba the rifles but just to alter its appearance cosmetically, also …. cheapest and easiest way to make it that most CGN members could DIY with minimal cost and power tools required (cheap drill press , grinder and palm sander) .
For the AKs , I chose to do a Chinese and a Romanian , the Chinese was easy but the Romanian was abit of a challenge due to the grip in the lower handguard (HG) , it would be ideal if it was made in one piece but that would require additional machinery or a lot of work so I ended up making it in two pieces , much easier , held together with screw and glue .
My son said “dad, this is my favorite” .
As for the RPK , I really didn’t have a choice there bcos when I bot the Romanian stock off EE , the Chinese RPK stock came with it so that was decided for me .
Bear in mind that certain parts are not available so I had to substitute .
I hope you guys like what I have done .
Chinese RPK and Romanian AK clones
Chinese AK and Romanian AK clones
Romak fore grip
RPK with scope.
B) how to make AK & RPK clones from a VZ/CZ858 .Lets start from the front to back .
1. The bipod, it’s a Romanian RPK bipod , it’s the hinge and pin type , it can be place anywhere on the barrel , although on a real RPK, its always located on the front end but in practice I will be placing it near the gas tube , there are two reasons for that , 1) RPK bipod is too long and it will scratch the HG when folded rearward . 2) when the bipod is near the muzzle , the shots are few inches higher , this is dues the bend in the barrel so by placing the bipod near the gas tube reduces the amount of bend.
2. The Romanian HG: was made from CZ858 wood lower HG and pistol grip (PG) combined.
2a. strip finishing with circa 1850 and sand smooth .
2b. the PG was mounted backwards to allow for maximum curve . held together with glue and re-using original PG screw .
2c. drill 2 half slots on each side .
2d. sand and apply red maghogany stain twice and spray poly 5-8 times.
3. The 40rds AK mag : converted to fit CZ858 . in the pic below, the AK is on the left , converted in the middle and CZ858 mag on the right. Always use a CZ mag to check , measure and compare .
3a.Grind the sides (not the top ) bcos the AK mags a wee bit thicker, always check by fitting it to the CZ mag well .
3b.Hand file the front lug (FL) , file in and up , the FL needs to be deeper and thinner , measure the thickness of the FL of a CZ mag , best not to take the exact amount off , you can always remove more later bcos should you have taken too much off , it will be a pain to put back on ,.
3c. carefully grind (or hand file) the top part of either side of the FL, see the cz mag it doesn’t have that part. be carefull not to touch the top front of the FL.
3d. Grind flat the tapered part just above the rear locking lug (RLL) .
3e. Notice below , the converted mag had the sides , the top sides of the FL and the upper part just above RLL ground down .
3f. with a hack saw cut off the RLL bcos we will be re-using it and grind the back of the mag (see pic below) .
3g. relocate the RLL piece up and to the left (same locale as on the CZ mag) , braze and hand file .... I bot a brazing kit from CT for $42 , it worked great .
3h. Finally sand ruff edges with emery cloth and spray flat black paint. walla !!! its done .
completed converted mag on left and AK mag on right... side view.
Converted in the middle .... rear view.
4. The PG. I really don’t find a need to have the PG retaining plate even with the original grip so I always remove it so it enable me to install wide variety of other PGs . when removing the plate bend the plate back and forth several times till it snaps off , Be careful not to damage the trigger guard .
AK PG screw is longer so make sure you get one with the grip , cant use the AK nut but you need to re-use the VZ/CZ nut , just screw in and AK PG will stay nice and tight .
5. Butt stock : was attached by using the original rear ferrule , a metal folder screw and a home made bracket .
5a. most AK stock has a channel for a rear trunnion , located on the top front .
5b. you need to make another channel at the bottom front of the stock , you can use a router or like me , I used a drill press with a router bit and a lateral moving vise .
5c. make a bracket from a metal strapping from home depot , rivet it to the rear ferrule.
5d. spray the bracket flat black .
5e. if the finish on the stock needs refinishing , then strip the old finish with circa 1850 , sand smooth with a palm sander then strain twice with minwax stain , in the case of romak , I used a red mahogany stain and then spray poly 5-8 times .
6. heres another way to adapt the AK stock to your VZ/CZ858.
the above bracket method tends to become loose so you might want to try the following .
7. cost :
1. RPK : bipod $32 , HG $50 , 40rd mag $50, PG $30 , buttstock $ 20 , bracket $2.
2. Romak : HG $50 , PG $25 , buttstock $20 , bracket $2.
Shipping is extra , so is labour and misc items, like welding , stripper, paint, stain and poly .
8. Finished.
i know i said the chinese AK clone was easy to do , well , i lied , i wasnt happy with the look of the cz handguard (HG) on the clone (on front page) so i adapted the shorter AK HG and place a bracket behind it to fill in the gap and also to lock it in . looks much better now .
) that I would follow up with AK and RPK clones .http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=225878
As with the earlier project, my intention was not to bubba the rifles but just to alter its appearance cosmetically, also …. cheapest and easiest way to make it that most CGN members could DIY with minimal cost and power tools required (cheap drill press , grinder and palm sander) .
For the AKs , I chose to do a Chinese and a Romanian , the Chinese was easy but the Romanian was abit of a challenge due to the grip in the lower handguard (HG) , it would be ideal if it was made in one piece but that would require additional machinery or a lot of work so I ended up making it in two pieces , much easier , held together with screw and glue .
My son said “dad, this is my favorite” .
As for the RPK , I really didn’t have a choice there bcos when I bot the Romanian stock off EE , the Chinese RPK stock came with it so that was decided for me .
Bear in mind that certain parts are not available so I had to substitute .
I hope you guys like what I have done .
Chinese RPK and Romanian AK clones
Chinese AK and Romanian AK clones
Romak fore grip
RPK with scope.
B) how to make AK & RPK clones from a VZ/CZ858 .Lets start from the front to back .
1. The bipod, it’s a Romanian RPK bipod , it’s the hinge and pin type , it can be place anywhere on the barrel , although on a real RPK, its always located on the front end but in practice I will be placing it near the gas tube , there are two reasons for that , 1) RPK bipod is too long and it will scratch the HG when folded rearward . 2) when the bipod is near the muzzle , the shots are few inches higher , this is dues the bend in the barrel so by placing the bipod near the gas tube reduces the amount of bend.
2. The Romanian HG: was made from CZ858 wood lower HG and pistol grip (PG) combined.
2a. strip finishing with circa 1850 and sand smooth .
2b. the PG was mounted backwards to allow for maximum curve . held together with glue and re-using original PG screw .
2c. drill 2 half slots on each side .
2d. sand and apply red maghogany stain twice and spray poly 5-8 times.
3. The 40rds AK mag : converted to fit CZ858 . in the pic below, the AK is on the left , converted in the middle and CZ858 mag on the right. Always use a CZ mag to check , measure and compare .
3a.Grind the sides (not the top ) bcos the AK mags a wee bit thicker, always check by fitting it to the CZ mag well .
3b.Hand file the front lug (FL) , file in and up , the FL needs to be deeper and thinner , measure the thickness of the FL of a CZ mag , best not to take the exact amount off , you can always remove more later bcos should you have taken too much off , it will be a pain to put back on ,
. 3c. carefully grind (or hand file) the top part of either side of the FL, see the cz mag it doesn’t have that part. be carefull not to touch the top front of the FL.
3d. Grind flat the tapered part just above the rear locking lug (RLL) .
3e. Notice below , the converted mag had the sides , the top sides of the FL and the upper part just above RLL ground down .
3f. with a hack saw cut off the RLL bcos we will be re-using it and grind the back of the mag (see pic below) .
3g. relocate the RLL piece up and to the left (same locale as on the CZ mag) , braze and hand file .... I bot a brazing kit from CT for $42 , it worked great .
3h. Finally sand ruff edges with emery cloth and spray flat black paint. walla !!! its done .
completed converted mag on left and AK mag on right... side view.
Converted in the middle .... rear view.
4. The PG. I really don’t find a need to have the PG retaining plate even with the original grip so I always remove it so it enable me to install wide variety of other PGs . when removing the plate bend the plate back and forth several times till it snaps off , Be careful not to damage the trigger guard .
AK PG screw is longer so make sure you get one with the grip , cant use the AK nut but you need to re-use the VZ/CZ nut , just screw in and AK PG will stay nice and tight .
5. Butt stock : was attached by using the original rear ferrule , a metal folder screw and a home made bracket .
5a. most AK stock has a channel for a rear trunnion , located on the top front .
5b. you need to make another channel at the bottom front of the stock , you can use a router or like me , I used a drill press with a router bit and a lateral moving vise .
5c. make a bracket from a metal strapping from home depot , rivet it to the rear ferrule.
5d. spray the bracket flat black .
5e. if the finish on the stock needs refinishing , then strip the old finish with circa 1850 , sand smooth with a palm sander then strain twice with minwax stain , in the case of romak , I used a red mahogany stain and then spray poly 5-8 times .
6. heres another way to adapt the AK stock to your VZ/CZ858.
the above bracket method tends to become loose so you might want to try the following .
http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?p=3220766#post3220766I like the CZ grip better than the AK. Looks nicer to me.
Anyway, for anyone who wants to see how to shape the AK stock to fit the CZ/VZ here are some pics. Other than chopping off the part of the ak stock that fits into the ak's rear trunion and widdleing whats left to fit the CZ/VZ buttstock spacer, you sinply have to drill a hole for the screw.
This is not hard as most AK stocks have a space for the cleaning kit anyway so you'll be half way there. Use a wood boaring bit only as big as the threaded end of the CZ's stock bolt to drill the hole first. Then use one as big as the head of the bolt and drill from the rear to widen out the hole a few cm's so the bolt head can seat in the stock and pull tight to the rifle.
Make sure you get the angle you want first!!!! The first time I tried this my angle wasn't steep enough and I couldn't use my sights so I had to refit it.
Another issue is a cosmetic one. The ak stock has a slot for the rear trunion tail. I just cut out a piece of metal to fit, drilled a screw hole, and blued it. The CZ's stock spacer hides the end.
7. cost :
1. RPK : bipod $32 , HG $50 , 40rd mag $50, PG $30 , buttstock $ 20 , bracket $2.
2. Romak : HG $50 , PG $25 , buttstock $20 , bracket $2.
Shipping is extra , so is labour and misc items, like welding , stripper, paint, stain and poly .
8. Finished.
i know i said the chinese AK clone was easy to do , well , i lied , i wasnt happy with the look of the cz handguard (HG) on the clone (on front page) so i adapted the shorter AK HG and place a bracket behind it to fill in the gap and also to lock it in . looks much better now .
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