Here's my Norinco

[SaltPeter 6]

I know this category is "RIFLES (non-AK based)", but what the hell. I am proud of this one. It is a Norinco AK-47 that I got in 1988. It has a milled receiver, cherry wood (or something similar), and a (Chinese) threaded barrel. This guns is solid as a rock and is at least as good of quality as a Poly-Tech. If you look closely, you can see that it has both semi and full auto selection notches, although both selections result in semi-auto fire. This gun has never jammed on me, ever. I bought it for $300 at a gun show in Collinsville, Illinois.

 

Interestingly, this AK has a bolt-hold-open feature. If you pull the charging handle all the way back and ease it forward about an inch, it locks into place. Pulling it back all the way and then releasing it will cause it to slam forward, chambering a round from a full magazine. Maybe I've just never ran across one, but I have to this day never seen another AK do this. This can't be a defect, it works too well. Say what you will about Chinese rifles, but this one rocks.

Edited June 30, 2004 by SaltPeter

[KySoldier 2]

Yeah, my new AK had the "bolt hold open," its actually the hammer rubbing against the bottom of the bolt and getting hung up between the bolt and the bolt carrier. I had to file down my carrier a bit so that it wouldn't get caught there when I bump fired. Normal firing worked perfectly, and it was kinda neat to be able to "lock" my bolt to the rear.

[SaltPeter 6]

Whoa... so it is a defect. But I'll tell ya, it can't be pushed forward or broken loose from the open-bolt position once it is in there. It has to be pulled back and then released. I have "bump fired" the gun before without any problems. I just have not been a big fan of shooting like that. I'm into "gun control".