What is a Legion Arms SGL?

[David Sinko]

I have a chance to buy a new Kalashnikov but I'm not sure what it is exactly. A friend who examined it said it is a Legion Arms. He also used the terms "Arsenal, SGL, Saiga and HEVSK Russia," though I'm not sure which are stamped on the receiver. My search of Legion Arms indicates that they are a parts supplier. Do they sell complete rifles too? Is it an Arsenal SGL sold be Legion? Does it have an actual Russian made receiver? Would that receiver be modified here in the U.S. to accept 30 round magazines? I'm not sure which parts are U.S. made. It does have the black K-Var furniture though. Barrel is 16" with '74 type muzzle brake. It's a 7.62x39. I have a chance to buy it new for $745. If I get another AK I expect it to be top of the line. Can somebody please explain just what this is?

Dave Sinko

 

[bri]

Legion is one of the importers of Saigas, I believe. My 7.62x39 is stamped "Legion USA Inc, Hallandale Beach, FL".

The rifle in question sounds like an Arsenal SGL, who modifies the imported Saigas back to their "original" configuration. They do top-quality work. Yes, this would have a Russian made receiver and CHF, chrome-lined barrel. The SGL rifles have a bullet guide, allowing them to accept surplus, combloc 30 rounders.

$745 is a decent price for an Arsenal SGL...

 

[docnyt]

Buy it! The Legion AKs have good reputations.

 

[David Sinko]

I always thought Arsenal imports the Russian made Saiga in sporting configuration and then configures it to the final product to include the five American made parts. I also thought one of the things they do is open up the narrow magazine well to accept the higher capacity magazines and one of the necessary evils of this process is a spray-on black finish. So what we're saying is this is the same rifle, just sold by Legion Arms? Does Legion Arms actually have a hand in modifying this rifle in any way?

I'm not sure, but I think it has a single hook trigger, and not a Tapco G2. I like the feel of the G2 but I don't like the "bolt hold open" characteristic when the bolt is slowly eased forward. My Romanian kit gun is exhibiting peening of the tail of the bolt carrier and now the Tapco hammer is starting to slightly peen too. I understand that Arsenal makes hammers and triggers here in the U.S. and I'm hoping that they are higher quality parts that will not have peening problems. These are supposed to be cheap guns to manufacture, but still, there's a right way and a wrong way to go about it.

My friend says "Buy it! It looks just like mine!" He has a nine year old Krebs. I don't know a whole lot about the AK, but "it looks just like mine" is not good enough.

Dave Sinko

 

[bri]

I always thought Arsenal imports the Russian made Saiga in sporting configuration and then configures it to the final product to include the five American made parts.

You are partially correct. Arsenal does not import the rifles directly, they buy from an importer, in the case of this rifle, Legion.

I also thought one of the things they do is open up the narrow magazine well to accept the higher capacity magazines and one of the necessary evils of this process is a spray-on black finish. So what we're saying is this is the same rifle, just sold by Legion Arms? Does Legion Arms actually have a hand in modifying this rifle in any way?

I believe the WASR magwells are the ones that need to be opened up once in the US. The Saiga magwells are not touched by Arsenal. As I stated earlier, I believe Legion imports the rifles, Arsenal buys from them, then does the necessary mods.

I'm not sure, but I think it has a single hook trigger, and not a Tapco G2.

Arsenal makes their own FCGs and from what I've heard, they're very similar to the Tapco G2. Both the Arsenal and Tapco triggers are single hook.

 

[mshootnit]

They are nice rifles I own one in a different caliber. Thats top dollar for one though...