Best blued AK?

[RayTheGreat]

Hello everyone,

I'm on the hunt for an old style blued AK, like the Norincos. However, the Norincos, like the milled Polytechs and the stamped 56's, are very expensive. If I have to, i might be willing to save up and jump the gun on a Polytech. They are beautiful and exactly what I'm looking for. However, is there any other similar style blued AK available for less, or something that offers more for the same price?
All AK's that I can find either are parkerized, guncoted, teflon coated, or spray painted (Arsenals). Are there any blued AK's available anymore?
Something that will wear like this Norinco has (picture not mine):


Here is my criteria so far:
7.62
classic furniture configuration (no thumbhole stocks!), either fixed stock or underfolder
under 1500 (preferably by a lot)
reliable and well made construction
well done and reasonably durable finish (we all know blued finishes will be less durable than say a guncote finish)

NOTE: I am fully aware that a WASR or Arsenal would serve me very well practically! My hunt is for a gun that will meet my needs aesthetically.

Thanks so much everybody in advance for your replies!
I appreciate it so so much. -love from Ray

 

[Jackal]

NHM-90 or Mak-90. NHM-90's are very hard to find, but they wear a very nice gloss blue. Mak-90's arent as nicely finished, with more tool marks and thin matte blue. Try to find one with a straight cut receiver.
Dont let the thumbhole stock deter you, those are generally changed for normal wood easily enough.

 

[RayTheGreat]

Hey there, thanks for your response! I'll keep my eye out for a NHM 90 but as you said, they are scarce. MAK90s look very nice except for the "extra safe features" such as the thumb hole stock. I don't want to have to replace a whole bunch of parts to make it 922r compliant. Aside from that, they look nice...
but a good condition MAK90 is 800-100, the replacement stock is almost 200, and I need to buy the US made parts. The cost is perhaps 400 lower but I don't want to have to pay somebody to do the work, and don't have the knowledge/experience to do it myself.
Are there any other options?
Once again, thanks so much for your response!
-love from Ray

 

[Dr.Rob]

The FEG Sa-85M was deeply blued, the best finish I have ever seen on an AK.

 

[Gordon]

Yes IMHO the Feg 85 M were the nicest fit and finish of the AKs except for an east German AKM that I once saw and lusted after. I have 2 Fegs Sa-85's, now converted with amd 63 kits .
I have pre ban ones I used barrelled military parts kits to build (with a few US parts) . Here is what is still available today
https://www.classicfirearms.com/amd-63-7-62x39-rifle-with-solid-stock-phoenix-stock-type2
http://www.atlanticfirearms.com/com...k-47-ddr-7-62x39mm-rifle-detail.html?Itemid=0

 

[kozak6]

All of the new production Yugo's are blued. The NPAP, NPAP-DF, etc.

$1500 is well enough for a custom build as well.

 

[bannockburn]

RayTheGreat

My brother has an older Yugoslavian AK (M70 B1?), imported by Mitchell Arms way back when. It's been a lot of years since I have seen it but pretty sure it had a very nice commercial blue finish and some really solid wood furniture on it.

I have a Hungarian SA 85M and it also has a great overall fit and finish to it.

 

[RayTheGreat]

Thanks Dr Rob and Gordon! I'll keep my eye out for a FEG 85m but i havne't been able to find any so far. The Hungarian AMD looks like a nice rifle but it does't have the look I'm going for and is parkerized. A nice rifle, just not what i'm looking for. The East German DDR is beautiful but they are sold out and "We only have a limited number of these rifles to offer and once we are sold out there will be no more."

Thanks for the reply, Bannock! Your Hungarian is beautiful.

Right now, my top option is probably a MAK 90 plus parts and hiring somebody to do the deban conversion. I know Meridian Arms does this so I sent them an email asking for some information as well as a price estimate. How much would this cost along with the parts?
The average price for a MAK 90 is 800. I would be getting a standard wood stock, not an underfolding stock.

Would I be better off getting a custom rifle built?
Here is a MAK 90 Meridian Arms converted. This is exactly what I want!


Thanks everybody for the great replies! I appreciate it so much.
-love from Ray

 

[bannockburn]

RayTheGreat

Really like the look of the Meridian Arms conversion! Hope they get back to you with a decent price estimate for the build.

 

[RayTheGreat]

Thank you very much, Bannock! I like the look of it as well, and hope so too!
Best of luck and take care
-love from Ray