It was 1985 and I had just graduated from college and gotten my first "real" full-time job with a boss other than my father. I was looking through the classified ads in the newspaper and saw an AK-47 for sale. I was stunned, didn't even know people could own such a thing since I had grown up in a house without guns. I thought how awesome that would be, but the guy had already sold it and the whole thing was soon forgotten.
A few years later I shared a cubicle with a guy who had an FFL, a typical 10% dealer of the time period. I mentioned the AK-47, and for whatever reason he talked me into getting an SKS instead. I suppose he thought he was giving good advice to someone that had never owned a gun. It's not unusual for people to think a "newbie" should get something cheaper and simpler.
As the years passed, I ended up with several AR-15's, and even a Galil. I guess an AK just wasn't different enough from what I already had and it just never happened.
A couple of weeks ago I came across an auction listing that had a picture of what I instantly recognized as an AK from the pre-'94 import ban era. I researched it and found that the Hungarian made rifles have a solid reputation, many people say they are the highest quality build ever imported. I clearly don't have enough experience with AK's to know whether that is true or not, but it is certainly a nice rifle!
I ended up getting "auction fever" and spending more than I wanted to. My winning bid was $750, so $802 out the door with tax. However, it appears to be brand new, never fired! Also, in my defense, considering how long I waited for this it is perhaps somewhat understandable that I got excited.
I have to figure out what I am going to do next. I intended to purchase enough 922r compliant parts to allow me to replace the thumbhole stock with the classic AK buttstock and pistol grip. However, now that I have it in hand and can feel how remarkably good the trigger is for a military rifle, and how comfortable the stock is, I'm no longer sure what I want to do. Short term, I need to have a spending hiatus anyway, so I have time to think it over.
A few years later I shared a cubicle with a guy who had an FFL, a typical 10% dealer of the time period. I mentioned the AK-47, and for whatever reason he talked me into getting an SKS instead. I suppose he thought he was giving good advice to someone that had never owned a gun. It's not unusual for people to think a "newbie" should get something cheaper and simpler.
As the years passed, I ended up with several AR-15's, and even a Galil. I guess an AK just wasn't different enough from what I already had and it just never happened.
A couple of weeks ago I came across an auction listing that had a picture of what I instantly recognized as an AK from the pre-'94 import ban era. I researched it and found that the Hungarian made rifles have a solid reputation, many people say they are the highest quality build ever imported. I clearly don't have enough experience with AK's to know whether that is true or not, but it is certainly a nice rifle!
I ended up getting "auction fever" and spending more than I wanted to. My winning bid was $750, so $802 out the door with tax. However, it appears to be brand new, never fired! Also, in my defense, considering how long I waited for this it is perhaps somewhat understandable that I got excited.
I have to figure out what I am going to do next. I intended to purchase enough 922r compliant parts to allow me to replace the thumbhole stock with the classic AK buttstock and pistol grip. However, now that I have it in hand and can feel how remarkably good the trigger is for a military rifle, and how comfortable the stock is, I'm no longer sure what I want to do. Short term, I need to have a spending hiatus anyway, so I have time to think it over.
