NOTE: Please keep in mind that while "AK-47" is often a catch-all term for 7.62x39mm Kalashnikov rifles, most so-called "AK-47s" in movies - particularly American movies - are actually either Egyptian Maadi ARM copies of the highly improved AKM, or variants of the Chinese Norinco Type 56. Please check carefully to make sure that the rifle in question is a true AK-47 and not an AKM or a Chinese Type 56. When in doubt, it is probably safer to assume AKM or Type 56.
The AK-47 is used by the following actors in the following movies:
AK-47
Type I AK-47, hybrid stamped/milled receiver with prototype slab sided magazine - 7.62x39mm
Type II AK-47 (note stock mounting bracket) with prototype slab sided magazine - 7.62x39mm
Type II AK-47 - 7.62x39mm
Type III AK-47 with prototype slab sided magazine - 7.62x39mm
Final Production version of the Type III AK-47 with cleaning rod removed and laminated stock - 7.62x39mm
Poly Technologies AK-47 - 7.62x39mm. This is the commercial clone of the original Type III AK-47 and is the most used in American films and shows when showing the milled receiver AK-47
Authentic AK-47 built from US Receiver. This is an
Actual Screen used AK-47 from the film
We Were Soldiers (built by Cinema Weaponry) - 7.62x39mm
It is noteworthy that the U.S. government had a ban on all weapons imported from Warsaw Pact nations during the Cold War years (1947-1989). Communist nations which were not part of the Warsaw pact, such as Yugoslavia and Mainland China, were allowed to negotiate trade agreements with the U.S., thus the influx of Chinese AK type rifles and Yugo AKs (Zastava). The Maadi ARMs (the US version of the MISR) were allowed because Egypt was never a Communist country nor a member of the Warsaw Pact. But, as a result of this, virtually no U.S. movie has a real original AK-47 prior to a certain date. The exceptions are, custom build ups after the mid 1990s when original AK-47 rifle kits were available (as was done on "We Were Soldiers", using original blueprints and US made milled receivers), and movies filmed overseas where foreign movie armorers had no such restrictions. This is particularly true for films made in Israel and some parts of Europe. This is not the case now, with the current crop of films made outside the U.S., mostly in the newly democratic Eastern European nations (Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, Poland, Czech Republic, etc.) However, Russia has firmly blocked the export of their old AK-47 surplus guns outside of the country, having distributed most of them to client nations and guerrillas throughout the world in the previous five decades. So the AK-47 one 'thinks' one sees may very well be a Poly Technologies Legend series AK (from China) or another AK Variant.
Specifications
Place of origin Russia
Production 1947 - present
Manufacturer Izhevsk Machinebuilding Plant
Caliber 7.62mm
Cartridge 7.62×39mm
Weight 5.21 kg (11.5 lb)
Length 870 mm (34 in) fixed wooden stock/ 875 mm (34.4 in) folding stock extended/ 645 mm (25.4 in) stock folded
Barrel length 415 mm (16.3 in)
Rate of fire 600 rounds/min
Effective range 400 metres (440 yd)
Feed system 10, 20 , 30 , 40, 75, or 100-round detachable box and drum style magazine
Film
Television
Anime
- Islamic revolutionaries in an unidentified desert state and USSR soldiers seen in flashback in Noir
Video Games
Game Title
|
Appears as
|
Mods
|
Notation
|
Release Date
|
Fallout Tactics |
|
|
fires 7.62x51mm rounds |
2001
|
50 Cent: Bulletproof |
|
|
|
2005
|
Army Of Two |
|
Available w/ Beta-C magazine |
|
2008
|
Black |
|
|
|
2006
|
Grand Theft Auto 3 |
|
|
|
2001
|
Grand Theft Auto IV |
Assault Rifle |
|
|
2008
|
Soldier of Fortune: Payback |
|
w/ variety of accessories |
|
2007
|
Operation Flashpoint |
|
Available with GP-30 grenade launcher |
|
2001
|
24: The Game |
AZ7 Soviet |
|
|
2006
|
Blacksite: Area 51 |
|
|
Non-player weapon |
2007
|
Scarface: The World is Yours |
|
Can be upgraded with a Remington 870 shotgun attachment |
|
2007
|
Kill.Switch |
|
|
|
2004
|
Counter Strike: Source |
CV-47 |
|
|
2004
|
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare |
|
|
|
2007
|
Shellshock Nam '67 |
|
|
|
2004
|
Conflict: Desert Storm II: Back to Baghdad |
|
|
|
2003
|
SOCOM: US Navy SEALs Combined Assault |
|
|
|
2006
|
SOCOM: US Navy SEALs Confrontation |
|
w/ variety of accessories |
|
2008
|
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories |
|
|
|
2006
|
No One Lives Forever 2 : A Spy In HARM's Way |
|
|
|
2002
|
Contract J.A.C.K. |
|
|
|
2002
|
Metal Gear Solid:Portable Ops |
|
|
|
2006
|
Rainbow Six: Vegas 2 |
|
w/ variety of accessories |
|
2008
|
Rainbow Six: Vegas (PSP) |
AK47 |
|
|
2007
|
Rainbow Six: Vegas |
|
With optional ACOG, red dot sight, laser pointer, and silencer |
Inaccurately modeled with AK-74 magazine |
2006
|
Insurgency |
|
|
|
2007
|
Counter-Strike Online |
CV-47 |
w/ long magazine mode in Zombie 2 mode, Zombie 3 mode and Zombie Unite Mode CV-47 Dragon |
|
2007
|
Battlefield 2 |
|
Available w/GP-25 grenade launcher |
|
2005
|
Red Alert: A Path Beyond |
|
|
|
2007
|
America's Army |
|
w/ Type 56 bayonet lug |
|
2002
|
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater |
|
|
|
2004
|
Silent Storm: Sentinels |
|
|
|
2003
|
Far Cry 2 |
|
|
|
2008
|
Modern Warfare 2 |
|
w/ AR-15 buttstock; able to attach GP25 grenade launcher, Masterkey underbarrel shotgun, suppressor, red dot sight, EOtech holographic sight, Trijicon ACOG, thermal sight and/or extended magazine |
|
2009
|
Combat Arms |
|
|
|
2008
|
Mercenaries: Playground of Destruction |
Assault Rifle |
|
|
2005
|
Vietcong 2 |
|
|
|
2005
|
Perfect Dark |
KF-7 special |
|
|
2000
|
Mercenaries 2: World In Flames |
Assault Rifle |
|
|
2008
|
Saints Row |
K6 Krukov |
|
|
2006
|
Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter |
|
Type I |
w/ 75-round drum (X360 only) |
2006
|
Zombie Panic Source |
|
|
|
2007
|
Saints Row 2 |
K6 Krukov |
|
|
2008
|
Goldeneye 007 |
KF-7 soviet |
|
|
1997
|
Project Reality |
|
With optional GP-25 grenade launcher and bayonet |
|
2005
|
Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War |
|
|
Seen in cutscenes with cloth-wrapped handguard, non-playable |
2006
|
Rainbow Six 3: Black Arrow |
AK-47 (7.62mm) |
none |
none |
2004
|
Kane & Lynch: Dead Men |
|
|
Cannot be used by player |
2007
|
Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3 |
|
|
|
2008
|
X-Men Origins: Wolverine |
|
w/ wooden fore-grip |
unusable |
2009
|
Goldeneye 007 |
|
w/ optional Kobra red dot sight |
|
2010
|
Singularity |
|
|
used by Soviet guards in 1955 |
2010
|
Splinter Cell: Conviction |
|
w/ various upgrades |
|
2010
|
Battlefield: Bad Company 2: Vietnam |
|
|
|
2010
|
Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light |
AR-06 |
|
|
2010
|
Army of Two: The 40th Day |
AK-47 |
Can be fitted with a variety of stocks, barrels, magazines, scopes, suppressors/muzzle brakes |
|
2010
|
Battlefield Play4Free |
|
|
|
2011
|
Shadow Harvest: Phantom Ops |
AK-101 |
Type I w/ railed to cover |
fires 5.56mm rounds |
2011
|
Uncharted 3 |
|
|
|
2011
|
NCIS: The Video Game |
|
|
trailer only |
2011
|
Project Reality: Vietnam |
|
With optional bayonet |
|
2012
|
Karma Online |
|
|
|
2011
|
Jagged Alliance: Back in Action |
AK 47 |
|
fires 5.45x39mm rounds |
2012
|
Jagged Alliance: Back in Action |
AKM |
w/ side-folding skeleton stock, polymer handguard, and custom pistol grip |
|
2012
|
Rogue Warrior |
|
|
|
2009
|
Animation
AKS-47
Type I AKS-47 - 7.62x39mm
Type III AKS-47 with stock folded - 7.62x39mm
Basically the same as the AK-47, but the rear-trunion is altered with a swiveling mechanism to allow for the under-folding stock.
Film
Television
Video Games
AKM
AKM, Stamped Steel Receiver w/ slant muzzle brake - 7.62x39mm
Maadi ARM - most of the AKMs seen in movies during the 1980s were imported ARMs that were legally converted to full auto fire. This image is of an actual movie gun. The laminated buttstock was replaced with a hardwood one when the original stock was broken during a stunt. This example is also loaded with a 30-round bakelite plastic magazine - 7.62x39mm
The improved version of the AK-47, featuring a number of refinements such as a stamped receiver (as opposed to the milled receiver of the original AK-47), a slant compensator on the tip of the barrel (to reduce recoil), an improved gas tube (without vents), and use of lighter materials to reduce weight and simplify construction.
Most of the AKMs seen in Hollywood movies are actually Egyptian Maadi MISR copies, which were sold in the U.S. as the ARM in the 1980s - such weapons were first procured by Stembridge Gun Rentals for Red Dawn and subsequently re-used in numerous other motion pictures. The Maadi is almost identical to the original Soviet-built AKM, save for the markings, and is nearly impossible to tell apart.
Film
Television
Anime
Video Games
AKMS
AKMS, stamped steel receiver w/ slant muzzle brake and under-folding stock - 7.62x39mm
Basically the same as the AKM, but the rear-trunion is altered with a swiveling mechanism to allow for the under-folding stock. The AKMS nomenclature also indicates that the rifle is not a milled receiver variant and has the AKM style of gas block, top cover, barrel assembly, front sight, and appropriate forearm furniture.
Film
Television
Anime
Video Games
AKMSU
AKMSU Krinkov - 7.62x39mm. This is a blank adapted full auto transferable AKM (7.62x39mm) pistol that was converted into a Krinkov via parts kit. Guns just like this one have been used in
Tropic Thunder,
Three Kings, and numerous other movies and TV shows.
Chopped and shortened version of the AKM, made to resemble the AKS-74U except that it is still a 7.62x39mm gun. The AKMSU was never manufactured by the Soviet Union; however, many other countries, including Yugoslavia, built their own versions.
Most of the so-called "AKMSU" carbines seen in Hollywood movies, such as Three Kings, Tropic Thunder, Bad Boys II, etc. are actually full-size AK variants that have been converted with Krinkov parts kits; many feature side-folding AKS-74U-style stocks. The picture to the right is an actual movie gun that is almost identical to those that have appeared in many films and TV shows.
Film
Television
Video Games
Anime
Norinco Type 56
Norinco Type 56, early model with milled receiver - 7.62x39mm
Norinco Type 56 (fixed stock variant) with under-folding bayonet ("pig sticker") which was standard on PLA-issue Type 56s - 7.62x39mm
Norinco Type 56 (Imported into the U.S. as the Norinco AKS-47 or AKS-47 Sporter) - 7.62x39mm. Rather than having the underfolder pig sticker Bayonet assembly, this has the standard Bayonet lug underneath the gas block as the AKM and later variants.
Norinco Type 56-1 (under-folding stock variant) - 7.62x39mm
Norinco Type 56-2 (side-folding stock variant) - 7.62x39mm
Norinco Type 56 (Imported AKS-47 into the U.S.) with Chinese 75 Round Drum Magazine - 7.62x39mm
The Chinese Type 56 assault rifle (manufactured by China North Industries Corporation, or Norinco) is by far the most commonly-seen AK derivative in Hollywood productions, both film and television. They are frequently seen impersonating Russian weapons in many films, since the Russians never sold a civilian AK model in the U.S. (or Europe) during the latter half of the 20th century. Most of the movie prop rental houses in Hollywood had dozens if not hundreds of Chinese AKs - mostly the Type 56s (7.62x39mm version) or the similar Type 84s (5.56x45mm version). These were usually semi-automatic civilian versions (commonly designated "AK47S" or "AKS47" by the importers), in many cases converted to full-auto by Class III manufacturers.
There are three main variants of the Type 56 - the standard Type 56, which has a fixed stock, the Type 56-1, which has an under-folding stock, and the Type 56-2, which has a side-folding stock. Most fixed-stock Type 56 rifles have an under-folding spike bayonet, known as the "pig sticker"; this rifle is often seen in movies about the Vietnam War, and is correct for NVA throughout most of the conflict. Quite a few of the Type 56s seen in movies also have AKM-style slant compensators fitted; this was a common feature on semi-auto Type 56s exported to the U.S., but NOT the full-auto military model.
The easiest way to tell when an AK-type rifle seen in a movie or TV show is a Chinese Type 56 is by looking at the front sight; Chinese AKs have a distinctive full-circle ("hooded") front sight that no other AKs (including those made in Russia) have.
Film
Actor
|
Character
|
Title
|
Note
|
Date
|
. |
. |
The Guard |
|
2011
|
Nicholas Braun |
Billy-Ray |
Red State |
Type 56 - made to look like AKM |
2011
|
Melissa Leo |
Sara
|
James Parks |
Mordechai
|
Jennifer Schwalbach Smith |
Esther
|
|
Believers |
Type 56-1 - made to look like AKMS
|
|
Taliban fighters |
Kandahar |
with and without under-folding bayonets |
2010
|
Matt Damon |
Chief Warrant Officer Roy Miller |
Green Zone |
Type 56-1 |
2010
|
|
Iraqi gunmen
|
|
North Korean soldiers |
Salt |
|
2010
|
|
thugs |
Across the Line: The Exodus of Charlie Wright |
|
2010
|
Byron Lawson |
Mao |
A Dangerous Man |
Type 56-2 (folded stock), continuity errors: stock (un-)folded in same scene and mirror images |
2009
|
Jesse Hutch |
Sergey |
|
Steven Seagal |
Shane |
|
Vitaly Kravchenko |
Vlad |
|
|
Russian thugs |
|
|
Terrorists |
31 North 62 East |
Type 56-1 |
2009
|
|
Taliban fighters |
The Kite Runner |
Type 56-1 and Type 56-1 |
2008
|
|
Soviet soldiers
|
|
Iraqi insurgents |
Body of Lies |
Type 56-1 |
2008
|
|
Soviet soldiers |
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull |
Type 56 and Type 56-1 |
2008
|
|
|
No Country for Old Men |
Type 56 and Type 56-1, seen with dead drug dealers |
2007
|
|
Crackhead |
Hot Fuzz |
Type 56-1 |
2007
|
Falah Falyeh |
Ahmad |
Battle for Haditha |
Type 56-1 |
2007
|
Oliver Bytrus |
Jafar
|
|
Iraqi Army soldiers
|
|
Iraqi civilians
|
Kagiso Kuypers |
Dia Vandy |
Blood Diamond |
Type 56-1 |
2006
|
|
R.U.F. rebels
|
|
Sierra Leone Army soldiers
|
Weston Cage |
Mechanic |
Lord of War |
Type 56-1, with AKM receiver cover |
2005
|
|
Soviet soldiers
|
|
Afghan Mujahideen
|
|
|
Seen on wall, with nickel finish, AKM muzzle brake, ivory furniture, and AIMS handguard
|
|
R.U.F. rebels |
Type 56-1
|
Matthew McConaughey |
Dirk Pitt |
Sahara |
Type 56-1 |
2005
|
|
Malian Soldiers
|
|
Black September terrorists |
Munich |
Type 56-1 |
2005
|
|
PLO gunmen
|
|
Israeli commandos
|
|
Chinese soldiers |
Batman Begins |
Type 56-1 |
2005
|
|
Tajikistani terrorists |
Stealth |
Type 56-1, with lengthened barrel |
2005
|
|
Thugs |
A Bittersweet Life |
Type 56-1 |
2005
|
|
Pirates |
Typhoon |
Type 56-1 |
2005
|
|
Guard |
District B13 |
Type 56, with & without AKM muzzle brake |
2004
|
|
Tutsi rebel |
Hotel Rwanda |
|
2004
|
|
Militia fighters |
Tears of the Sun |
Type 56 and Type 56-1 |
2003
|
|
Cameroon border guards |
|
|
Refugees |
Type 56, with & without pig-sticker bayonet
|
|
North Korean soldiers |
Die Another Day |
Type 56-1 |
2002
|
|
North Korean commando |
Type 56-1, made to look like AKS-74
|
|
Somali militiamen |
Black Hawk Down |
Type 56 and Type 56-1, with & without pig-sticker bayonets |
2001
|
|
Rebel soldiers |
Air Force One |
Type 56-1 |
1997
|
Brad Pitt |
Frankie Maguire |
The Devil's Own |
Type 56-1 |
1997
|
|
Iraqi soldiers |
Courage Under Fire |
Type 56 and Type 56-1 |
1996
|
Danny Trejo |
Trejo |
Heat |
Type 56-1, with AKM muzzle brake |
1995
|
|
N.V.A. soldiers |
Dead Presidents |
|
1995
|
Pierce Brosnan |
James Bond |
GoldenEye |
Type 56-1, made to look like AKS-74 |
1995
|
Sean Bean |
Alec Trevelyan
|
Famke Janssen |
Xenia Onatopp
|
|
Russian soldiers |
Made to look like AK-74 and AKS-74
|
|
Janus soldiers
|
Lori Petty |
Pvt. Christine Jones |
In the Army Now |
Type 56, with AKM muzzle brake |
1994
|
|
Libyan Army soldiers
|
|
Libyan Army soldier |
Type 56-1, made to look like AK-74
|
|
Colombian cartel gunmen |
Clear and Present Danger |
Type 56-1 |
1994
|
|
Robber |
Crime Story (1993) |
with AKM muzzle brake |
1993
|
Ed Adams |
Dirt |
Beyond the Law |
Type 56-1, with AKM muzzle brake |
1992
|
|
Johnny Wong's thugs |
Hard Boiled |
Type 56-1 |
1992
|
Baldwin C. Sykes |
Monster |
Boyz N The Hood |
Type 56-1 |
1991
|
Waise Lee |
Little Wing |
Bullet in the Head |
|
1990
|
Tony Leung |
Ah Bee
|
Jacky Cheung |
Fai
|
|
N.V.A. soldiers
|
|
Viet-Cong guerrillas
|
Miguel Ferrer |
Amador |
Revenge |
Type 56-1 |
1990
|
|
Soviet Naval Infantryman |
The Hunt for Red October |
|
1990
|
Thomas Rosales Jr. |
Chet |
RoboCop 2 |
Type 56, with AK-74 muzzle brake |
1990
|
|
Nuke cartel thugs |
Type 56, 56-1, & Type 56-2, with & without bakelite magazines and AK-74 muzzle brakes
|
|
Ramon Cota's men |
Delta Force 2: The Colombian Connection |
Type 56, with pig-sticker bayonet |
1990
|
|
Afghan Mujaheddin |
Afghan Breakdown |
Type 56, with pig-sticker bayonet |
1990
|
Nicholas Kadi |
Ben Shaheedis |
Navy SEALs |
|
1990
|
Danny Lee |
Inspector Li Ying |
The Killer |
Type 56-1 |
1989
|
|
Villain |
UHF |
|
1989
|
|
NVA soldiers |
Born on the Fourth of July |
Type 56 with pig-sticker bayonet |
1989
|
|
Viet Cong guerrillas |
Casualties of War |
Type 56-1 |
1989
|
Liem Whatley |
Ho |
The Iron Triangle |
Type 56, with pig-sticker bayonet |
1989
|
|
Viet-Cong
|
Sasson Gabai |
Mousa |
Rambo III |
Type 56-1 |
1988
|
|
Afghan Mujahideen |
Type 56 and Type 56-1
|
|
Wing Kong gang members |
Big Trouble in Little China |
Type 56, with AKM muzzle brakes |
1986
|
Charlie Sheen |
Pvt. Chris Taylor |
Platoon |
With pig-sticker bayonet |
1986
|
Tom Berenger |
SSgt. Robert Barnes
|
|
N.V.A. soldiers
|
|
Viet-Cong
|
|
Viet Cong guerrillas |
Coordinates of Death (Koordinaty smerti) |
With pig-sticker bayonets |
1985
|
Jong Soo Park |
Tran Chan Dinh |
The Park is Mine |
Type 56-1 |
1985
|
|
Indonesian soldiers |
The Year of Living Dangerously |
Type 56, with and without pig-sticker bayonets |
1982
|
|
N.V.A. soldiers |
Apocalypse Now |
|
1979
|
|
Viet-Cong |
|
|
Kurtz's men |
With & without jungle-taped magazines
|
|
French colonialists |
With & without pig-sticker bayonets
|
Television
Video Games
Norinco Type 84S
Norinco Type 84S - 5.56x45mm
Norinco Type 84S Underfolder Model - 5.56x45mm
Norinco Type 84S "Target" Rifle - 5.56x45mm. Basically a standard Norinco Type 84S with a slightly longer barrel. This variant was ready for market just as the 1989 US import ban was implemented, so it is mostly seen in Canada. It has an 18.5" barrel and was very rarely seen in the U.S. Gun market.
Norinco Type 84S Match Rifle - 5.56x45mm. Norinco was stuck sitting on a pile of 21" RPK barrels chambered for 5.56mm when the door slammed shut on U.S. imports in 1989. Norinco saved money by mating their 21" long RPK-style barrels to their stockpile of 84S Folding Stock receiver bodies and thus exported the
Type 84S Match to countries such as Canada and Australia. Canada would suffer their own import ban on 'frightening looking guns' in 1995. Australian gun owners would suffer such a fate in 1997.
The Type 84 rifle is nearly identical to the Chinese Type 56 (seen above), but it is chambered in 5.56x45mm /.223 Remington. It is often seen impersonating the AK-74 in movies and TV shows (particularly Stargate: SG1, where it is carried by Russian SG teams).
The Type 84 was imported and sold with an AK birdcage flash hider and had a deep polished factory blue. Several other variants of the 84S Rifle (that are mostly unfamiliar to American Gun Owners) were victims of the 1989 Import Ban that barred most new 'assault rifles' from entering the United States. These rifles were thus mostly exported to Canada and Australia, and as a result, appeared in television shows or movies that were filmed in those countries. Listed here are two of the variants seen in Canadian or Australian television (the Target and the Match versions). If it were not for Canadian or Australian movie armorers, most of us in the U.S. would never have known these variants existed.
Film
Television
- A bounty hunter and Cherokee nationalists in Harsh Realm
- Various military personnel and terrorists in Seven Days
- Found in cult warehouse in Millennium (episode Gehenna)
Anime
Norinco MAK-90
Civilian "post-ban" version of Norinco Type 56, with 'thumbhole' stock and semi-auto only fire mode.
Norinco MAK-90 - 7.62x39mm
Film
Video Games
Game Title
|
Appears as
|
Mods
|
Notation
|
Release Date
|
Rainbow Six 3: Black Arrow |
??? |
PSO-1 Scope and Dragunov stock |
Used by Hostile NPCs only |
2004
|
Zastava M70
Zastava M70B1 fixed stock rifle - 7.62x39mm
Zastava M70AB2 folding stock rifle - 7.62x39mm
Zastava M70AB2 folding stock rifle - 7.62x39mm (non-standard pistol grip). The military version of the M70AB2 underfolder rifle has a black plastic pistol grip as seen in the image above. However all of the Zastava M70AB2 rifles imported in the U.S. by Mitchell Arms had the wooden pistol grip seen in this photo. So a wooden pistol grip is indicative of a 'Mitchell Arms' rifle.
The Zastava M70 was the Yugoslavian variant of the Russian AK-47 (later AKM), however, it utilized a strengthened lower receiver, more akin to the RPK than the AK-47/AKM. It also has other design variations which make it immediately recognizable from its Russian cousin. Some of the variants also have finned barrels to aid in heat dispersion. It was made by Zavodi Crvena Zastava (Red Banner Plant), now Zastava Oružje / Zastava Arms in a Yugoslavian (now Serbian) city of Kragujevac.
It was most widely used and seen in the Wars in the 1990s of the former Yugoslavian republics - Bosnia, Croatia, Serbia and Montenegro (Slovenia and Macedonia were not a major combatants in the fighting). Yugoslavia also sold them to many countries such as Iraq (which produced a licensed copy known as the Tabuk, which lacked the grenade-launching sight) and Kuwait.
The Zastava M70 was produced in the following variants:
- M70 - milled receiver, fixed stock
- M70A – milled receiver, underfolding stock
- M70A1 – milled receiver, underfolding stock, mount for night or optical sights
- M70B1 – stamped receiver, fixed stock
- M70AB2 – stamped receiver, underfolding stock
- M70B1N – stamped receiver, fixed stock, mount for night or optical sights
- M70AB2N – stamped receiver, underfolding stock, mount for night or optical sights
- Variants M70B, M70AB and M70AB1 also exist, but they are rare and their specifications are unclear.
The Zastava M70 was seen in the following:
Film
Television
Video Games
Zastava M85
The Zastava M85 is a compact carbine manufactured by the Yugoslavian Zastava company, similar to the AKMSU mentioned above, although with an underfolding stock instead of a side-folder, a three-holed handguard and is chambered for 5.56x45mm.
Video Games
Zastava M92
Very similar to the Zastava M85 but chambers 7.62x39mm instead of 5.56x45mm. Note the curved magazine.
Video Games
Game Title
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Appears as
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Mods
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Notation
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Release Date
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America's Army |
|
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Seen in crates with other AK-series weapons, non-playable |
2002
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AIM/AIMS
PM.md.65 with cleaning rod removed - 7.62x43mm. An early version of the AIMS with an underfolding stock and inward curved grip.
AIMS with 75-round drum magazine - 7.62x39mm
The Romanian clones of the AKM and AKMS, identifiable by the vertical foregrip integrated into the handguard. The folding-stock version of the AIM, known as the AIMS, originally had a conventional under-folding stock and the grip curving inwards at a convex angle. This was eventually replaced by a version which had a side-folding stock (copied from the East German MPi-KMS), as shown here.
Film
Television
MPi-KM/MPi-KMS-72
East German MPi-KM-72 with fixed stock - 7.62x39mm. This was the transitional MPi-KM-72 that still used the wooden lower hand grip from the MPi-KM. These were common from 1965-1972. The Side folding stock was not widely distributed until 1973.
East German MPi-KM-72 with plastic stock - 7.62x39mm
The MPi-KM/MPi-KMS-72 are East German license-manufactured versions of the AKM/AKMS. Early versions of the rifles had wooden furniture, but later models have distinctive stippled brown buttstocks and pistol grips. The MPi-KMS also has a side folding single strut "coat hanger" stock, a feature which is shared with the Romanian AIMS rifle. After the German reunification, all variants of the MPi were removed from service, with most rifles being sold as surplus to the militaries of such countries as Finland and Turkey.
Note: The chance of seeing a 100% original East German MPi-K series of rifle in a movie or television show is extremely unlikely. Most of the "East German" AKs that are seen in visual media are regular AKMs using East German Parts kits.
East German MPi-KMS-72 with sling and side-folding stock - 7.62x39mm
Movies
Television
Actor
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Character
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Title
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Note
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Date
|
|
Terrorist |
GSG-9 |
Folding Stock |
2008
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AMD-65
Hungarian AMD-65 - 7.62x39mm
Hungarian AMMS - 7.62x39mm
Film
Television
Show Title / Episode
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Actor
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Character
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Note
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Air Date
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The Professionals / "A Man Called Quinn" |
|
Quinn |
PSO-1 scope |
1983
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Video Games
AK-101
Modern Russian AK rifle full size. 5.56x45mm
Video Games
AK-102
Modern Russian AK rifle carbine. 5.56x45mm
AK-102 carbine - 5.56x45mm
Video Games
AK-103
Modern Russian AK rifle full size. 7.62x39mm.
Movies
Television
Video Games
AK-104
Modern Russian AK rifle carbine. 7.62x39mm.
AK-104 carbine - 7.62x39mm.
Film
Video Game
AK-108
Modern full-size AK rifle borrowing operating mechanics from the AEK-971.
FEG NGM-81
Hungarian FEG NGM-81 with original PKM style flash hider - 5.56x45mm
The Hungarian FEG NGM-81 was a domestic rifle based on the indigenous Hungarian AK74, but built for export. For that reason, it was chambered in 5.56x45mm, though some 5.45x39mm variants exist. The Rifle was built between 1981-1990. The original rifles were only offered with a fixed butt and a wooden fore-end, made in the same Hungarian Blonde wood as the SA-85M export rifle. The folding stock version of this rifle was called the NGV-81. Due to Cold War prohibitions against Combloc weapons within the U.S. (except those exempted by treaty), the vast majority of the export NGM-81 rifles went to Europe and Africa. Most versions omit the large PKM style flash hider, opting instead for the standard AK-47 style muzzle nut. The FEG NGM rifle was noteworthy in that it kept the AK-47/Type 56 style of gas block system, with the gas relief holes in the gas tube, not the gas block (as is the case with the AKM and later style rifles). The Gas block itself and the front sight is the AKM style in shape and the rifle takes a Hungarian stamped metal 5.56mm magazine similar but not identical to the Wieger style AK magazine.
Film
Television
Title
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Actor
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Character
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Note
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Date
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Ultimate Force |
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Various soldiers and terrorist |
|
2006
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Romanian WASR
A Romanian AK clone modified to accept single stack magazines for American import. Chambered in 7.62x39mm (WASR-10), 5.45x39mm (WASR-2), and 5.56x45mm (WASR-3). Most variants had their magazine wells adapted to take standard high capacity magazines, by the distributors.
A US imported Romanian WASR-2 - 5.45x39mm
A US imported Romanian WASR-3 - 5.56x45mm
Film
Bulgarian Arsenal AR
Arsenal AR-1F - 7.62x39mm
Arsenal AR-SF - 5.56x45mm NATO
Arsenal AR-M1 - 5.56x45mm NATO
Arsenal AR-M1F - 7.62x39mm
Arsenal AR-M4SF - 5.56x45mm NATO
The Arsenal AR is the name given to the Bulgarian manufactured AK clone (Built by the Bulgaria gunmaker ARSENAL JSCo.). These modern day copies of the AK-47 have milled receivers and are chambered in 7.62x39mm and 5.56x45mm in various configurations. As time goes on, Arsenal JSCo. builds more variants for export as civilian, military and law enforcement models.
Film
Television
Video Games
Title
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Appears as
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Mods
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Notes
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Release Date
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F.E.A.R. 3 |
|
w/ R.I.S., fore-grip, reflex scope and skeletal butt-stock |
Unusable, 7.62x39mm AR model |
2011
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Romanian AK Draco Carbine
Romanian AK Draco Carbine with AIMS folding stock - 7.62x39mm
Romanian AK Draco Pistol - 7.62x39mm. This is the domestic pistol that is sold in the U.S.
PM.md.90. Non-export carbine upon which the AK Draco is based. Main differences are different furniture and 3-position selector switch - 7.62x39mm
Film
Video Games
Game Title
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Appears as
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Mods
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Notation
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Release Date
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Killing Floor |
"AK47" |
|
AIMS-style side-folding stock |
2009
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Anime
Title
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Character
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Note
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Date
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Flag |
Ru-Pou's followers |
|
2006
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AKU-94
The AKU-94 is a bullpup conversion kit (built and originally sold as a kit by K-VAR) for the AK type rifle, Both the European style AKs (like the Romanian AKs or Egyptian Maadis) and the Chinese style of AK rifle (Type 56) can fit into the kit. In the Mid-2000s, KVAR stopped making and selling the AKU-94 conversion kit. All remaining kits were purchased by Century Arms International, and subsequently used to 'spruce up' AK rifles with a futuristic bullpup look. Currently the rifle with kit installed, is sold by Century Arms International. This bullpup configuration retains the standard barrel length but the design makes the AK rifle more compact making it more suitable for close quarters battle.
Film
Title
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Actor
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Character
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Note
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Date
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The Town |
Slaine |
Albert 'Gloansy' MacGloan |
red dot sight |
2010
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The Interceptor (Zapreshchyonnaya Realnost) |
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Kurylo's special forces soldier |
|
2009
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Soldier |
Kurt Russell |
Sgt. Todd |
Dressed up as futuristic weapon, with Surefire universal weaponlight and C-More red dot sight |
1998
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Soldier |
|
Soldiers |
Dressed up as futuristic weapons with Surefire Universal weaponlight and C-More red dot sight |
1998
|
Television
Firing Replicas of the AK-47
Bollywood Replica AK-47
Commonly seen in Bollywood productions due to Indian firearms restrictions, these replica AK-47s are designed to fire blank ammunition and are most likely custom fabricated by Indian armorers. Virtually all "AK-47s" seen in Bollywood movies (excepting films made with the help of the Indian military) will be such blank-firing replicas.
AK-47 replica, commonly seen in Bollywood productions. Photo from Ekta Enterprises.
Non-Firing Replicas of the AK-47
Hudson AK-47
The most common of all movie AK-47s in scenes where a real firearm was not used, is the all metal Japanese "Hudson AK-47". Hudson, a replica gun company like Model Gun Corp. (MGC) made many metal replicas in the 1970s and 1980s.
Hudson AK-47, a Japanese Replica firearm based on the original Type III AK-47, seen here with AKS-style underfolding stock
See Also
- Izhevsk Machinebuilding Plant - A list of all firearms manufactured by Izhmash.
- RPK - light machine gun variant of the AKM.
- AK-74 - modified AKM chambered in 5.45x39mm.
- AK-12 - latest version of the AK series rifle
- AK-9 - compact variant chambered in 9x39mm
- Saiga - shotgun series based on the AK-74.
- Norinco Type 81 - modified Chinese version of the AK-47.
- Norinco Type 86 - modified Chinese bullpup version of the AK-47.
- Galil - Israeli rifle based on the AK/Valmet series of assault rifles chambered in 5.56x45mm
- AO-63 - A Russian assault rifle intended to replace AK-74s used by the Spetsnaz during the 1980s.
- AN-94 - A Russian assault rifle intended to replace all AK-74s in the Russian military.