Lancaster AKs - any good?

[Cowboybebop]

Are these AKs any good? How do they compare to Arsenal? Price is similar from what I can see. Seem to be USA made too.


Thanks

 

[Inebriated]

I've seen mixed reviews, and they use US barrels, which is less desirable than any foreign barrel. What are you looking for in an AK?

 

[boricua9mm]

I remember when I first started hearing about them, they were doing kit builds that were of good quality; better than the typical cheap Romanian rifle. I had stopped paying attention, but apparently their QA/QC slipped and then they eventually disappeared from the face of the earth with customer's rifles & money.

If you can inspect it before hand and everything check's out okay, then it might be a green light. If not, RUN!

Run a Google search for them. You might not like what you find...

 

[nathan]

I had their AK 74 Russian Red that came with a US made barrel . The rivet problem occurred after 300 rds . I had to sent it back and they paid shipping to and back. They also put in an original Bulgarian barrel and fixed the rivets. All is well and good now, and shoots like a dream.
This was when they had so many recalls. I was glad they fixed mine . I dont know what happened after as they had been sued by many.

 

[Rob G]

I would be VERY wary of a Lancaster built rifle. They've turned out some good ones. They've also turned out some absolute pieces of garbage. They also sometimes take people's money and rifles and then disappear for a while.

If I was buying one I'd do three things:

1. Look it over really carefully and preferably in the company of somebody you trust that knows AKs.

2. I would not pay Arsenal prices for a Lancaster AK. They're definitely not worth as much.

3. Don't expect the manufacturer to stand behind their product. They might, IF you can get in contact with the. But odds are if it breaks you're on your own getting it repaired.

Seem to be USA made too.

Probably assembled here using a mix of foreign made and US made parts. Personally I prefer a high foreign parts mix in my AKs. Typically better quality that way.

 

[M1key]

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=657246&highlight=lancaster+ak

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=611777&highlight=lancaster+ak

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=542954&highlight=lancaster+ak

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=524539&highlight=lancaster+ak

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=491989&highlight=lancaster+ak

No hate. I have done business with Chet Durda. Personally, I would look elsewhere for an AK.


M

 

[MIL-DOT]

I got an early Lancaster years ago that was an excellent rifle (in fact, it was while researching them that I found and joined this forum.) It was dead-on accurate out of the box, was clean,straight and tight, and I loved it (but, I later got $1200 bucks for it during one of the recent panics.)
But,going by countless horror stories over the past several years, they have become highly unethical, been putting out a poor quality product, and the owner has been tied up with numerous legal troubles.
I would avoid a new one, but if you can get an older one (and inspect it personally) you may have a very nice rifle.

 

[jonnyc]

I have an older one built on a matching Polish kit, came with Russian Red* wood. I put some nice "used" Polish furniture on it and it looks and shoots great. I still prefer my Yugo U/F, but the Lancaster is a keeper.

*Anyone interested in the RR wood?

 

[Fishbed77]

They are bottom-of-the barrel AKs. There are much better rifles out there for the money.

 

[MIL-DOT]

They are bottom-of-the barrel AKs. There are much better rifles out there for the money.

If you're referring to the more recent Lancasters, then many are so bad that they are worse than bottom-of-the-barrel, they should'nt even be considered.
If you're referring to the early-years Lancasters, the fact is that they were very solid rifles, and were very popular at the time. The one I had was a Romanian G model, and was as straight,tight,well assmebled, and accurate as any I've ever had, and far from being a bottom-of-the-barrel AK.

 

[M1key]

FWIW, I also had a '47 G that was very well done. Just a little too pretty for me and I eventually sold it...

Chet's main problems were with the '74s

M

 

[Caseless]

They are bottom-of-the barrel AKs. There are much better rifles out there for the money.

+1. You can't expect much when $1k buys you 3 AK74s.