AK-47s Headed to U.S. Had Legal Permits

AP ^ | Wed Apr 28, 4:13 PM ET | CURT ANDERSON,

[FooBarBaz]

AK-47s Headed to U.S. Had Legal Permits Wed Apr 28, 4:13 PM ET Add U.S. National - AP to My Yahoo!

By CURT ANDERSON, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - A U.S.-bound shipment of thousands of AK-47 assault rifles and other combat-type weapons, seized by Italian authorities who suspected they were being smuggled, actually have legal permits to be imported, American officials said Wednesday.

About 7,500 AK-47s, AKM rifles and other weapons worth an estimated $6 million were seized April 20 aboard a Turkish-flagged ship in the port of Gioia Tauro. They were bound for New York from Romania.

At the time, Italian authorities said the guns were hidden aboard the ship.

But Andrew Lluberes, spokesman for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, said the weapons actually were cleared by U.S. authorities. "The permits are valid," he said.

[FooBarBaz]

Gee, no one could have predicted this outcome....

[demlosers]

Just-in-time delivery for sale after the "assault" weapons ban to be lifted this summer. :)

[Taquito]

Wow, the ATF actually came down on the side of gun dealers?.....I'm stunned.

[John H K]

It was sort of fun to see the schizophrenic FR reply to this story, 50% were going into "MY GOD COULD HAVE BEEN 8000 EVIL MOOOSLEM TERRORISTS WITH MACHINEGUNS RAMPAGING AROUND THE US!!!!" mode and 50% were complaining about assault weapons bans (turns out the suspicions of the latter half about the nature of the shipment were correct, of course.)

[Sacajaweau]

They may have legal permits, but no one has said WHO they are going to.

[Pontiac]

They were bound for New York from Romania.

I find this amazing. I thought that Direct Current had high losses over long distances.

My fellow gun aficionados tell me that Romania makes the best AK-47s.

Wish I could get one of these.

I notice there is nothing in the article about the guns being returned and an apology being given.

[Puppage]

They may have legal permits, but no one has said WHO they are going to.

Why does that matter? They had LEGAL PERMITS. Do you worry where all the cars on a tractor trailer are going?

Besides, they're going to licensed distributors who will then (under current law) change the receivers so they don't say Kalashnikov. THAT'S how the AWB saves lives..any gun that says Kalasnikov is deadlier than ones that don't <sarcasm

[Beelzebubba]

Bang

[Puppage]

My fellow gun aficionados tell me that Romania makes the best AK-47s.

Actually, the Polish versions are the best.

Wish I could get one of these

Depends on where you live.....in CT. if it says Kalashnikov, it's illegal. However, there are many versions of the same thing available w/o the word Kalashnikov that are within the law.

[Beelzebubba]

They may have legal permits, but no one has said WHO they are going to.

---

Yes they have. They were going to a long-standing lawful firearms import business in Georgia.

www.interordnance.com

[archy]

My fellow gun aficionados tell me that Romania makes the best AK-47s.

Wish I could get one of these.

Well, not quite, but awfully close. The currently very popular Romanian SAR-1's are actually a variant of the Russian AK74, the later version of the Kalishnikov design, now used in its native land in the newer 5,45x39mm caliber. The Romanians went retro and also produced a version of their AK74 semiauto- also sold here as the SAR 2- in the original chambering using the reliable old AK magazine.

The Romanian guns are indeed therefore a very high quality variant of the stanped receiver Kalishnikovs, if not quite a true copy of the 7,62mm Kalishnikov AKM. 99 users in a hundred would never note the difference nor care, though the differences are there if you know where to look. And the SAR-1 is just as authentic whether fitted with a wooden buttstock and furniture, or more durable and modern polymer plastic, or a metal folding buttstock when the Assault Weaopons Ban expires in 20 weeks. But if you want a Romanian Kalish, get it now: once the AWB expires, it's expected that domestic manufacturers will take up manufacture of the Kalishnikov, and several of the importers have announced they'll be selling a domestic-produced rifle and plan to discontinue importation.

And too there are still a few of us old Vietnam warhorses who first made our acquaintance with the machined receiver versions, the original AK47 or Chinese Type 56-1, rather than the two-pound lighter stamped versions. A bit more controllable in full-auto, there's probably no real advantage to them in a semiauto version, but some still prefer the heavy old clunker, solid as a brick latrine.

Romanian SAR-1 rifles still available *here.* Dealer price $299.97, with 2 30-round magazines.

[normy]

When the story broke of the "illegal arms shipment" and they stated what the arms were I laughed. They even said they were semi-autos "but could be converted to automatic".

I shouldn't have laughed because I see where this is going. Next I guess it will be a "shipment of .30-06 rifles with black plastic stocks" or ".22 cal. rifles, the kind used in mafia assasinations".

[donozark]

I've had a SAR-2 for years now. Took alot of "tweaking" to bring it up to par. Century Arms tends to "skew" the sights, etc. But nothing a shade-tree gunsmith cannot overcome.

Point is, anyone expecting a perfect, out of box weapon? Look elsewhere...

[archy]

Gee, no one could have predicted this outcome....

Original story FReepposted *here:

AK-47S WERE BOUND FOR VT.

[Sender]

If they had legal permits, then they were headed to a US customs bonded warehouse, to a US licensed FFL arms importer, and every single one of them will have to be fully accounted for.

Who will they end up going to? Why, to folks like me, I hope! I already have one Romanian AK which was perfectly legal to buy and own during the AW ban, I might add.

[Hat-Trick]

"They may have legal permits, but no one has said WHO they are going to."

I expect to hear the very same type of comment reported by the national press during the Million Mom March. Are you inferring something illegal might be taking place? If so, please elaborate.

[archy]

I've had a SAR-2 for years now. Took alot of "tweaking" to bring it up to par. Century Arms tends to "skew" the sights, etc. But nothing a shade-tree gunsmith cannot overcome.

Point is, anyone expecting a perfect, out of box weapon? Look elsewhere...

Concur, though the variation is wide, depending on whether the individual rifle is one manufactured by the Cugir, Romtechnika, or Sule production facilities and from which batch, as well as which US importer did the reassembly work. There are a lot of variations and differing quality levels, with some excellent right out-of-the box and others that can be with a little tweaking.

I have a ladyfriend who also favours the 16-inch barrelled SAR-2 in 5,45mm caliber, though she replaced a good many of her rifle's components with those taken from scrapped-out East German Army rifles. And in 20 weeks or so, I expect it'll get the sidefolding buttstock to go with it. I also know one Southern Illinois farmer who carries his SAR-1 aboard his tractor, who also needed a little *tweaking* of his rifle's sights to get them approximate alignment. His version of fine technical adjustment was to lay the muzzle on the railroad tracks and hit the front sight post with a 3-pound machinist's hammer for the precision recalibration required. But it's hard to think of a design more appropriate for such blacksmithing efforts than a Kalishnikov. And he's now perfectly happy with his rifle.

[Sacajaweau]

The first report out on this said the ATF would not comment as to the destination of the arms.

[thackney]

Ping

[IGOTMINE]

I knew it. The moment I read that article I just KNEW it was more BS.

[MileHi]

Can I pick your brain again? I have a Russian SKS, machined receiver and blade bayonet. Shoot great. The only drawback I see is you can't top it off. Is there an answer in its current configuration? Also, if the AWB sunsets, are the detachable mag conversions any good?

[El Laton Caliente]

Century International Arms ...

Their manutactoring facilities are in Georga, VT and the main office is in Boca Raton, FL.

They manufactor the SAR1, SAR2, SAR3 and Converted WASR10 and are the largest importer of Romanian semi-auto rifles.

http://www.centuryarms.com/

We, over at www.ak-47.net knew this was complete BS from the start. The Italians made a mistake and the media rolled with the "demon gun" stance...

[archy]

You bet. They're a great little rifle, offering a bit more velocity and accuracy than an AK can offer with its shorter barrel, and a trigger that approaches that of the Garand for crispness and let-off. And you happen to have the milled Russian version I prefer, though the East German buttstock is a bit better fit for me in T-shirt weather; with a winter parka or field jacket with liner on, it's fine as is.

My preference to any of the detatchable accessory magazines is the fixed magazine that holds a total of 20 rounds. That allows the firing of 10 rounds followed by a topping up of the rifle with an additional ten, yet doesn't destroy the little carbine's neat balance or it's use in a supported prone position.

Gun Parts Co lists them but presently shows them out of stock; neither Mark Kubes in Florida nor Joe Lowe in Texas currently shows 'em either, but they both are bigtime gunshow dealers and might spot one at a gun show for you for a premium. Or you can keep your eye open at the auction sites or gun shows yourself.

Personally, I'm real used to the M1 Garand [if I was in California where detatchable mags are iffy, I'd have a 10-shot SKS and a Garand] so the 10-shot SKS mag isn't a real drawback for me, just spend the extra money on more stripper clips and ammo and practice, practice, practice. And maybe even pick up a spare rifle, and a few Chinese SKS bandoleers, or the East German SKS stripper clip belt pouch or a couple of over-the-shoulder bags for even more mags. It might be worth reworking an M79 gunner's vest for 24 M79/M203 40mm grenades to take SKS strippers instead; they can be reworked nicely for Garand clips, and I've used the SKS bandoleers for Garand clips too.

I've got a pal who's a believer in keeping his SKS scoped, and he's right in that they both generally are accurate enough for that to be worthwhile and the iron sights are miserable enough that it's helpful; and his rifles carry a bipod, too. But for me it's handier as a light carbine, and I hesitate to make one heavier or bulkier in any way. Great little rifles. At least one source is selling them at a grand apiece now, overpriceed, but beautifully reworked.

[MileHi]

just spend the extra money on more stripper clips

I have a bunch of 'em. Works great for loading an empty mag but there is no good way to hold the bolt open as long as any rounds remain.

But for me it's handier as a light carbine, and I hesitate to make one heavier or bulkier in any way.

I agree. Mine shoots just fine with iron sights out 150 yds or so. Follow up shots are pretty quick. I don't have a 30-30 and now I guess I'll never need one.

Great little rifles. At least one source is selling them at a grand apiece now, overpriceed, but beautifully reworked.

I got mine NIB for $125 a few years ago. Wish I would have bought two...

Thanks again, archy.

[FreedomCalls]

They may have legal permits, but no one has said WHO they are going to.

Yes they did. They were going to Century International Arms, the nations' largest importer of military surplus rifles. Where do you think all those surplus Mosin-Nagant's are coming from? Century is located in Georgia, Vermont which caused the initial confusion where the press said the guns were being shipped to Georgia. They are actually destined for Century's bonded warehouse in Vermont.

[Lurker]

Cool. Thanks for the link.

L

[tet68]

One also notes the whole load of turk mausers in that shipment. I'm still looking for a short rifle.

I bought my a Norinco sks before the ban, it's in a
choate dragunov stock and is scoped but I want to get a
ATN sight for it. Takes Ak mags too. Shoots great after
some trigger work and a buffer.

[Lockbar]

Now the big trick is going to see if the Italians will ever allow these rifles to be released. Left wing U.S. political pressure could keep these guns in limbo for a long time. The next time Century Arms tries to have some rifles shipped into the US. they should arrange for a cargo ship that makes NO stops along the way.