Russian AK-74 Production Modifications
Edition 17.0
WRITTEN & COMPILED by Ekie and Tantal
UPDATED: 25 JUN 09
This research paper is a combined project written by Ekie and myself, and is based on an early draft originally developed by Ekie, without which we wouldn't have got off the drawing board. It continues to be upgraded as time allows and new information and evidence surfaces, in order to ensure it's currency. Every change or addition is peer-reviewed to make sure of it's accuracy, based on the knowledge and evidence available at that time. Much of the earliest information was gathered through years of multiple conversations between Ekie, Malysh, myself and many other long-time Kalashnikov collectors, to which we owe a big debt of thanks. This document is a result of the mutual efforts and enthusiasm of a multitude of enthusiasts.
PURPOSE
The Russian AK-74 rifle has been the subject of a continuous improvement program beginning with the first hyper-prototypes assembled in the late 1960's and eventual true prototypes of the early 1970's. It appears that every few years, some major design and manufacturing improvements were made on the production lines, and although some were simply individual modifications, others were adopted as a package of changes for a specific Product Improvement Program (PIP). Rifles made between these large scale upgrades can be identified as specific subtypes. Some of these subtypes are undocumented, and some are quite well known today. Sadly, few detailed and accurate literary works exist elaborating on these changes in either Western or Russian reference works. In other words, much of what occurred seems to be lost to the winds of time.
TYPE CLASSIFICATIONS
Russian small arms nomenclature is generally based on designer name, receiver type, barrel length, buttstock (folding or fixed), and the ability to mount night vision devices. Because even a major upgrade is sometimes not considered valid enough to warrant a subtype prefix (as in M16A2), extensive changes were often made without Russian type classification changes. In these cases, we have had to create our own.
Each subtype has been judged through the observation of multiple changes made at the same time. In some cases individual changes were made at other time periods, and these have been noted as such due to their significance to the collector. We have tried to concentrate on groups of changes that are strong evidence for an undocumented product improvement program (PIP). Dates of introduction were determine by the actual dates of manufacture of the rifles themselves, and by cross-checking sources and reference materials, both public and private.
DESCRIPTIONS
Listed below each subtype is a short list of the most important, defining production changes, rather than a total description of the rifle since the other features of the rifle are basically AK-74 standard and would take more room to properly describe than we have space for here.
HELP US KEEP THIS DOCUMENT ACCURATE!
The following document is just a general guide, and although we have tried to provide important (but verified) details, a great deal of missing information may need to be added as more examples of complete firearm are discovered and examined. A few of the features listed may be hard for the novice to decipher without detailed images or hands-on inspection, so we have tried to include photographs whenever possible. Many other features are known to all who have looked at photos of the many versions, but we include them here for the sake of continuity.
Although we feel very confident the current version has been reviewed and revised adequately to ensure it's accuracy, there is certainly always room for improvement. Any question among ourselves as to the validity of the information, or to the dates of introduction, is noted in the text. In some cases, both popular assumptions and/or not-quite-verified details have been left out to ensure the overall integrity of the entire document. Most of the included features and modifications have been cross-referenced from several sources if available, including hands-on examples, factory manuals, personal accounts of inspected weapons, military journals, interviews, printed and video media.
We welcome any interested parties to add, correct, or modify any items they feel could be improved upon. Our goal is to provide the most accurate peer-reviewed database of serial number and date code information that will elaborate on principal design refinements in the series, and help preserve the rich design history of these firearms. Therefore, we invite all visitors to e-mail us with any comments, further details, images or information that would elaborate, rebuke, or affirm this document in any way.
A NOTE ABOUT SERIAL NUMBERS
Initial serial numbers used on the early production AK-74 (and AKS-74) rifles were generally simply part of the AKM serial numbering system rather than their own unique range (it appears that at least three different serial number ranges were in use simultaneously for the early AK-74 during this period of surge production).
It was not until 1979 that a clearly unique serial numbering range was fully implemented for the AK-74 rifle. In 1979, when AKM production was canceled and AK-74 production was initiated on all assembly lines at Izhevsk, a single range within the 200,000 mark was effectively used even until the present day. Due to the convoluted method of serialization, there are many pre-'79 rifles with serial numbers higher than those made after 1979. Most of these can be recognized as having serial numbers within the AKM or AKMS numbering range for that particular year of production, an indication that batches of AK-74's were being made on what may have been active AKM production lines, most likely during surge production). In any case, this continues to cause quite a bit of confusion among collectors today. Note that fixed and folding stock rifles were built using the same serial range.
---Tantal
For the most part, these exist today only as a few museum exhibit survivors. Illustrations of these early models appear in the first editions of the official Soviet army AK-74 operators manual. Some were issued for service testing and may have even reached Afghanistan in the early years of the war. Although they share many features with the prototypical A-3 series (see image below), the initial production models did not include at least some of the elements of the prototypes. For instance, the "half moon" type muzzle brake was standardized and issued with a short threaded collar design (unlike A-3 versions which had longer collars), and also the experimental straight-angled pistol grip appears to have never gotten past the testing stages. The A-3 prototypes also had no accessory lug (bayonet lug) on the gas block, but the production models included one.
Other unique features remained to distinguish these early type-classified rifles. The prototypical angled trigger guard survived into standard production for a year or two, and the muzzle brake seems to have had an extra gas vent hole (no. 4) like the A-3 models. These rifles were equipped with laminated wood, but much of it was either one-offs or modified AKM pattern wood, and some buttstocks were outfitted with an odd tensioning spring between the stock and the receiver (this item was quickly abandoned). The buttplate was a thick ribbed rubberized design, but was later replaced with a thinner rubber-coated ribbed metal plate. At least one batch of experimental A-3 pattern tan colored bakelite furniture was produced and may have ended up mounted on field test units. The muzzle brake was serialized on the first issued production batches.
The rifle in the images shown here is one of the original 1973-dated A-3 prototypes, which has a long collar prototype style muzzle brake, straight-angle pistol grip, thick buttplate design, and no accessory lug on the gas block.
Furniture: laminated wood
Pistol Grip: straight-angle Bakelite grip
Muzzle Brake: half moon (earliest version with possible extra gas vent hole)
Front sight base: Type A
Cleaning Rod: Type A
Gas Block: Type A (with accessory lug on production models)
Lower Handguard Retainer: Type A
Rear Sight Base: Type A
Gas Tube Take Down Lever: Type A, late AKM
Rear Sight Leaf Assembly: Type A, late AKM
Barrel Trunion: Type A
Receiver Top Cover: Type A, late AKM
Recoil Spring Assy: Type A, late AKM
Selector Lever: Type A, late AKM
Bolt Carrier: Type A
Trigger Group: Type A
Trigger Guard: oversized
Magazine Catch Lever: Type A, late AKM
Rear Trunion: Type A, late AKM
Buttplate: Type A, extra thick rubber coating
Magazine Well Dimple: Type A
Left Side Selector Hole: Type A
Right Side Selector Depression: Type A
This is the AK-74 variant most often popularly identified by it's distinctive 45-degree gas block design, and the first examples of the new AK-74 rifle captured in Afghanistan and documented in Western publications were dated 1976 and 1977. Apparently in 1976, production of the new AK-74 and AKS-74 was ramped up considerably to facilitate accelerated general field issue to specialized frontline military units, notably the VDV (airborne assault forces). However, few of these had the early angled trigger guard or Bakelite handguards which had apparently already been abandoned.
Although most examples were equipped with what we now consider to be AK-74 specific furniture, many of the earliest rifles used transitional wood furniture consisting of an AKM upper mated to a specially-modified late AKM lower handguard fitted with an AK-74 style rear tensioning spring. The buttstock retained the rubber-coated buttplate of the prototypes. Some of these rifles may have had buttstocks with smooth cheek combs and/or heavily angled (or severely shortened) lightening cuts. The rear trunnion on these rifles was a late AKM-series carryover part with short forward extension arms. Due to this, the optical mounting rail used on pre-1977 AK-74N rifles had to have different rivet spacing. While earlier AK-74 gas tubes were serialized on the bottom of the tube between the handguards, by 1977 this practice was dropped in favor of a more visible forward flange location.
Furniture: laminated wood
Pistol Grip: AKM Bakelite
Muzzle Brake: half moon
Front sight base: Type A transitioning to Type B
Cleaning Rod: Type A
Gas Block: Type A
Lower Handguard Retainer: Type A
Rear Sight Base: Type A
Gas Tube Take Down Lever: Type A, late AKM
Rear Sight Leaf Assembly: Type A, late AKM
Barrel Trunion: Type A
Receiver Top Cover: Type A, late AKM
Recoil Spring Assy: Type A, late AKM
Selector Lever: Type A, late AKM
Bolt Carrier: Type A
Trigger Group: Type A
Trigger Guard: Type A, late AKM
Magazine Catch Lever: Type A, late AKM
Rear Trunion: Type A, late AKM
Buttplate: Type A
Magazine Well Dimple: Type A
Left Side Selector Hole: Type A
Right Side Selector Depression: Type A
1977 was the first production year in which we start to see a true modern-style Soviet AK-74 rifle, and was a major transitional time judging from the number of important design changes. In midyear, Izhevsk introduced the now well-known 90-degree gas block. The original 45-degree gas block, produced for about four years, was an AKM series carryover and was phased out sometime during 1977. This was due to a newly recognized bullet shear problem associated with the high velocity small caliber (HVSC) M74 round. However, Soviet engineers found that drilling the gas port in the barrel fully vertical reduced the footprint of the hole in the rifling and thus eliminated the problem. Also by mid-1977 or early 1978, the more typically known AK-74 style rear trunnion with extended forward support arms was standard equipment. This meant the optical plate used on the AK-74N (to mount night vision devices) had to be revised. Notable improvements also included a change to short tick selector stops (as opposed to the earlier long AKM style) and the addition of a left side selector shaft depression. The rubber-coated buttplate was apparently discontinued by the middle of 1977, as some early 1977-dated rifles have them while later 1977-dated examples don't.
Furniture: laminated wood
Pistol Grip: AKM Bakelite
Muzzle Brake: half moon
Front sight base: Type B
Cleaning Rod: Type A
Gas Block: Type B
Lower Handguard Retainer: Type A
Rear Sight Base: Type A
Gas Tube Take Down Lever: Type A, late AKM
Rear Sight Leaf Assembly: Type A transitioning to Type B
Barrel Trunion: Type A
Receiver Top Cover: Type A
Recoil Spring Assy: Type A, late AKM
Selector Lever: Type A, transitioning to Type B
Bolt Carrier: Type A
Trigger Group: Type A
Trigger Guard: Type A, late AKM
Magazine Catch Lever: Type A, late AKM
Rear Trunion: Type A transitioning to Type B
Buttplate: Type A transitioning to Type B
Magazine Well Dimple: Type A
Left Side Selector Hole: Type A transitioning to Type B
Right Side Selector Depression: Type A
In mid-1979, the new Soviet zig-zag muzzle brake went into production and is a hallmark feature of this example. This period of production is characterized by the new brake and an updated receiver cover (Type B with a dimple above the selector lever shelf) combined with the final use of a few older AKM carryover parts including the magazine catch and rear sight base. Starting in 1980, the numerical year prefix went from four digits to just the last two. At some point in 1981, the receiver went to Type B magazine well dimples. AG4S Bakelite AK-74 magazines continued to be issued although PA6 polyamide magazines were reported in Afghanistan in 1982.
This version was placed into domestic production by the German Democratic Republic (DDR) in the early 1980's, with several interesting and innovative changes. For instance, a new bent wire monostrut folding buttstock was designed to allow fitment to the standard fixed stock rifle. Also, new plastic and bakelite furniture was used throughout and a Soviet-designed optical rail was made standard on each rifle (in Russia at the time, only a handful of specially equipped rifles were fitted with such a device). While Soviet-made night vision devices were imported and issued to East German troops, a unique magnified daylight riflescope was developed by the East German NVA specifically for use on their AK-74's (ZFK 4x25mm). In the late 1980's, East Germany introduced several interesting and innovative variants, to include a heavily modified 5.56 NATO version aimed at the international market. Sadly, all further development ceased when Germany was reunified.
Furniture: laminated wood
Pistol Grip: AKM Bakelite
Muzzle Brake: zig-zag (transitioning from half moon in 1979)
Front sight base: Type B
Cleaning Rod: Type A
Gas Block: Type B
Lower Handguard Retainer: Type A
Rear Sight Base: Type A, transitioning to Type B
Gas Tube Take Down Lever: Type A, late AKM
Rear Sight Leaf Assembly: Type B (transtioning from Type A)
Barrel Trunion: Type A
Receiver Top Cover: Type B, transitioning to C
Recoil Spring Assy: Type A, late AKM
Selector Lever: Type B
Bolt Carrier: Type A
Trigger Group: Type A
Trigger Guard: Type A, late AKM
Magazine Catch Lever: Type A, late AKM
Rear Trunion: Type B
Buttplate: Type B
Magazine Well Dimple: Type B
Left Side Selector Hole: Type B
Right Side Selector Depression: Type A
This pattern contains many well-known updates. and is characterized by the use of several new castings. It continued to use the zig-zag brake, but a new cast rear sight base (with a very distinctive stepped shoulder) was introduced in late 1981 or early 1982. The new "lazy rib" Type C top cover and the Type B mag catch (with it's extended square-shaped lever) were also being installed at Izhevsk by the end of 1982. The Type B carrier also reached production by this time, with it's beefed up flat-backed cocking handle. The reinforced polyamide "plum" magazine (first reported by Peter Kokalis in 1982) became sporadically issued at this time, although the normal Bakelite material magazine was more widely distributed and widely used up until the later years of the war. There is evidence that the Type B cast trigger (hollow back style copied by Bulgaria) was only transitional and immediately replaced by the Type C solid back trigger.
This pattern is well-known in the West due to one important factor. The Bulgarian state arms industry first assembled AK-74 parts and partial parts kits imported from Izhevsk Arsenal, and these were of the late 1982 or 1983 pattern. By the mid-80's, they began building near-exact domestic copies of the same rifle fitted with both wood, and later on, domestically-produced black plastic stocks. Some Soviet-supplied parts continued to be used in even these for a time, to include a great deal of Soviet-made plum colored polyamide furniture exported to Bulgaria. There are Kazanlak-produced AK-74's with both the early Soviet-pattern zig-zag and the later Bulgarian designed two-piece brake installed. Bulgaria never changed any of the basic aspects of the metalwork design on these firearms during their production run at Kazanlak, which lasted into the early 1990's. A great deal of these rifles and parts have been imported into the US in the last few years as demilitarized parts kits.
Furniture: laminated wood
Pistol Grip: AKM Bakelite
Muzzle Brake: zig-zag transitioning to the early two-piece by 1983
Front sight base: Type B
Cleaning Rod: Type B
Gas Block: Type B
Lower Handguard Retainer: Type A
Rear Sight Base: Type B
Gas Tube Take Down Lever: Type A, late AKM
Rear Sight Leaf Assembly: Type C
Barrel Trunion: Type A
Receiver Top Cover: Type C
Recoil Spring Assy: Type A, late AKM
Selector Lever: Type B
Bolt Carrier: Type A, transitioning to Type B
Trigger Group: Type B, transitioning to Type C
Trigger Guard: Type A
Magazine Catch Lever: Type A, transitioning to Type B
Rear Trunion: Type B
Buttplate: Type B
Magazine Well Dimple: Type B
Left Side Selector Hole: Type B
Right Side Selector Depression: Type A
By 1983, the laminated upper handguard had lost it's cooling slots and the new "smooth-collar" two piece brake first reached production. Izhevsk rifles continued to have pinned-on barrel assemblies until mid-1985, when a radically new press-punched barrel assembly method went into production. Also in early or mid-1985, glass-reinforced polyamide plastic buttstocks and handguards started replacing the traditional wood furnishings, although the pistol grips remained the standard AKS-74 style gloss-finished variety (see below for a more detailed account of the "plum" AK-74).
There is strong evidence that some original but rare wood-furnished rifles exist with punch-pressed barrels and some rare factory-assembled polyamide-furnished rifles with pinned-on barrel assemblies were also issued, so a logical and interesting transition period probably existed in late 1984 or early 1985. Due to the rarity of these two variants, it seems that the new furniture and the punch pressed barrel assembly technique were adopted at almost the same time within the factory environment. Fixed wood-stocked rifles in this period were still issued with the standard AKM-type bakelite grip, but some apparently were outfitted with the AKS-74 model's polyamide pistol grip. This period in production, in the middle of the Afghan war, was a time of hectic transition and of much interest to the modern Kalashnikov enthusiast.
Furniture: laminated wood transitioning to polyamide plum-colored plastic
Pistol Grip: Bakelite AKM transitioning to gloss-finished plum polyamide
Muzzle Brake: smooth collar two piece
Front sight base: Type B
Cleaning Rod: Type B
Gas Block: Type B
Lower Handguard Retainer: Type A
Rear Sight Base: Type B
Gas Tube Take Down Lever: Type A, late AKM
Rear Sight Leaf Assembly: Type B
Barrel Trunion: Type A
Receiver Top Cover: Type C
Recoil Spring Assy: Type A, late AKM
Selector Lever: Type B
Bolt Carrier: Type B
Trigger Group: Type C
Trigger Guard/magazine catch lever: Type B
Magazine Catch Lever: Type B
Rear Trunion: Type B
Buttplate: Type C
Mag Well Dimple: Type B
Left Side Selector Hole: Type B
Right Side Selector Depression: Type A
The "plum" AK-74 went into production by late 1985, and also received a substantial PIP (product improvement program) upgrade which included a radical and completely new punch-pressed barrel attachment system. Likely first used in mid-1985, this technique can best be described as small indentations partially pressed into the sides of the front sight, gas block, and rear sight base. These indentations are pressed into matching depressions on the barrel. This attaching style was used in place of traditional drilling/pinning of the barrel assembly parts, and continues to this day on most (if not all) AK-74 rifles destined for Russian military issue.
In 1986 we first see the introduction of the Type B style right side selector depression on the receiver. In 1987 an additional "trigger bump" was added to the bottom of the receiver and an updated Type C selector lever started production. The Type B gas tube take down lever (with center rib) is first seen in 1988, along with the Type B trigger guard, and finally, a new matte-finished polyamide pistol grip that matched the plastic handguards and buttstock. 1988 was also the last year that grooves were cut into the gas piston head. Sometime in 1989, the short collar two-piece brake was modified by extending the threaded collar and became the modern long-collar "AK-74M" type. Also, the Type C front sight base went into production by 1990.
Another important (but mostly unknown) modification resulted from a concerted effort to maximize the precise and secure alignment of the muzzle brake. Most likely entering service around 1986 but currently only documented on 1988-89 rifles, the first and only known two-piece front sight base in the history of the firearm was created by mating a separate threaded bushing to the old front sight base tower (minus it's original threaded extension). The new threaded bushing appeared to be chromed and was elongated (with a lengthened bearing surface) and was pinned to the barrel by it's own individual retaining pin. The purpose of this labor-intensive change was to eliminate excessive wiggle or play between the brake and the barrel, to possibly allow for the clocking of the threads to the brake to ensure solid seating between the brake and the sight base tower, or to allow replacement if the bushing became worn or corroded. No doubt prolonged use in Afghanistan had shown that constant cleaning of built-up carbon eroded the threads and bearing surfaces enough to cause problems in alignment and therefore, accuracy.
Furniture: plum-colored polyamide plastic
Pistol Grip: plum-colored polyamide, gloss-finish transitioning to matte finish by 1988
Muzzle Brake: smooth collar two piece until mid-1989, transitioning to the modern extended collar brake
Front sight base: Type B transitioning to Type C
Cleaning Rod: Type B
Gas Block: Type B
Lower Handguard Retainer: Type A
Rear Sight Base: Type B
Gas Tube Take Down Lever: Type A transitioning to Type B
Rear Sight Leaf Assembly: Type B
Barrel Trunion: Type A
Receiver Top Cover: Type C
Recoil Spring Assy: Type B
Selector Lever: Type B transitioning to type C
Bolt Carrier: Type C
Trigger Group: Type C
Trigger Guard: Type A transitioning to Type B
Magazine Catch Lever: Type B
Rear Trunion: Type B
Buttplate: Type C
Magazine Well Dimple: Type B
Left Side Selector Hole: Type B
Right Side Selector Depression: Type C
The AK-74M is basically a very late production AKS-74 with a number of notable improvements. It almost immediately replaced both the AK-74 and AKS-74 in the Russian procurement system once it was officially adopted by the military in 1991. A new solid side-folding polymer buttstock (which was very similar to the fixed stock version) was made to fit the standard AKS-74 rear trunnion hinge mechanism, and by 1992 the trunnion was modified from the original parent design with thicker hinge extensions and a larger diameter pivot pin. The angle of the rear edge of the trunnion was also slightly changed. Unlike previous AK models, a universal optics mounting rail were made standard equipment on all AK-74M as part of it's original specifications. Although AK-74M would of course use the standard Russian small arms night vision devices, for the first time in Kalashnikov history a dedicated daylight optical aiming sight was officially adopted for this AK rifle.
A very early prototypical dual-port muzzle brake was tested but did not make production, being instead replaced by a conventional brake with a newly extended threaded collar. The threaded bushing for mounting of the brake onto the rifle was again made part of the front sight base, but with an extended bearing surface. This resulted in a much more secure and precise muzzle brake alignment. Very early examples from around 1989 featured plum colored glass-reinforced polyamide furniture with a square buttstock release button, but by 1990 all plastics appeared to be true black and the button was changed to a round design. The dark plum magazines of the era were also changed to a true black color in the early 90's, but these took several years to become widely available in the field and were uncommon during the First Chechen War.
The Type C rear sight with short index marks, the Type B handguard retainer lever, Type C mag catch, Type C cleaning rod, and Type C magazine well dimples all appear to have been standardized in the earliest days of production for this model. Transition from the carryover Type C receiver top cover (with ribbing) to the Type D smooth cover occurred around 1991. The Type B barrel trunnion that uses a "third rivet" as a bump start for the bolt (rather then the feed ramp) was introduced in 1991 but only become standardized by 1994. In 1992, the new strengthened rear trunion mentioned above (with a heavier hinge assembly using a 5.5mm pivot pin instead of the standard 4.5mm AKS-74 design) was standardized. It can be identified in images by a new center cutout on the hinge extension which exposes part of the hinge pin. The AK-74M continued to use the type C carrier, but starting in 1992 the right side carrier lightning cut is typically done at an angle, leaving more metal on the under side. Starting in 1994 nearly all AK-74M carrier shoulders were cut at an angle.
Furniture: black glass-reinforced polyamide plastics
Pistol Grip: matching black plastic
Muzzle Brake: modern extended collar two-piece
Front sight base: Type C
Cleaning Rod: Type C
Gas Block: Type B
Lower Handguard Retainer: Type B
Rear Sight Base: Type B
Gas Tube Take Down Lever: Type B
Rear Sight Leaf Assembly: Type C
Barrel Trunion: Type A transitioning to Type B
Receiver Top Cover: Type C transitioning to Type D
Recoil Spring Assy: Type B
Selector Lever: Type C
Bolt Carrier: Type C
Trigger Group: Type C
Trigger Guard: Type B
Magazine Catch lever: Type C
Rear Trunion: AKS-74 transitioning to AK-74M type
Buttplate: Type D
Mag Well Dimple: Type C
Left Side Selector Hole: Type B
Right Side Selector Depression: Type C
1: "Half Moon" One-Piece
Found on pre-production until late 1979 (or early 1980) rifles
Description: One-piece construction, carefully machined with fine mill lines front to back. Large forward side ports have an inverted-v shaped cross-section, and feature a thin upper bridge and a wide, flat lower bridge. The deflector plate on the front of the port has a thin side profile with sharp edges, and a relatively short bayonet ring extension. While preproduction rifles had an elongated threaded collar, production brakes have a shorter collar similar to the later zigzag, usually beveled at the rear almost exactly halfway down the length of the threaded collar. The distinctive features which gave this brake its popular name were the semi-circular or crescent-shaped blast deflector cuts milled into the forward face of the expansion chamber on either side. Because this brake has a shorter bayonet ring attachment journal extension, this makes it slightly shorter in overall length than any other Soviet AK-74 muzzle brake. This specific brake was not copied by any other country to our knowledge (with the exception of the US), and therefore remains quite rare.
2: "Zig-Zag" One-Piece
Found on mid-1979 until 1982 (or early 1983) rifles
Description: One-piece construction as before, with the short length threaded collar. However, the beveled taper at the rear edge is much shorter in length, starting closer to the rear edge of the brake. The thin forward deflector bridges (with the port mill-cut in an inverted V-shape) and sharp tapered forward deflector are both retained, but the face of the expansion chamber does away with the early crescent-shaped gas vents and now exhibits the so-called "zig-zag laser cuts" which give the brake its name. The attachment extension for the bayonet has been lengthened, giving the brake an overall longer length. This muzzle attachment was imported to and eventually copied by both East Germany and Bulgaria.
Close-up of the characteristic "zig-zag" gas vents and inverted v-shaped forward port design (photo: C.Meyer)
3: Two-Piece "Smooth Collar" (facet-pattern)
Found on 1983-1989 rifles, with evolutionary modifications.
Description: Two-piece construction. The forward face of the expansion chamber is fabricated using a separate bullet baffle plate, which is pressed into the forward walls of the muzzle brake expansion chamber and peened into place. Unlike early designs (which had integral bullet baffles), the new two-piece brake has thick bridges and a forward port with cylindrical rather that flat surfaces. Texture and collar length can greatly vary on this design, but most exhibit very distinctive "hammer forged" facets or "arrowhead" textures usually laid out in a spiral pattern along the circumference of the expansion chamber. It is very difficult to identify sub-types in photographs, however all examples have a moderately short threaded collar and display a very smoothly flowing side profile due to the forward transitional step of the threaded collar actually being made from three shallow angles. As time went on, the fletched or scalloped appearance slowly became more smoothly finished and are sometimes hard to see (unless the painted finish has worn off). This exact design was never adopted in whole by any other country, and has therefore remained rare.
The two-piece manufacturing method was copied by Bulgaria, and most of the AK-74 two piece short collar brakes found in the US are of Bulgarian origin. The Bulgarians decided to simplify production and did not adopt the rather idiosyncratic fletched look of the Soviet models. It therefore kept the traditional stepped collar of the early zig-zag brakes. However, the thicker forward cylindrical interior section of the Bulgarian bridge section is basically identical to the Soviet two-piece brakes.
3B: Modified Two-Piece (smoothly finished pattern)
Late 1980's production, the smoothly finished short collar two-piece variant
Description: These late 1980's manufactured short collar brakes seem to be identical in basic design to the facetted version mentioned above. However, they have been finished in a smoother texture that looks similar in appearance to the modern two-piece brake shown below. The exact year (or years) these may have been used is still up for discussion, but some rifles in the 1988-89 period seem to show this brake. It has very subtle scallops along the threaded collar step (similar to the late AK-74M brake) and vague ridges along the entire cylindrical surface of the expansion chamber. There are both examples with a rear bevel cut, and some without, which is also the case with the later "AK-74M" type FSB shown below. This is not the case with any earlier style of AK-74 brakes (except possible some hyper early pre-production designs). All things considered, this brake seemingly fits into a time period right before the current style which it shares many similarities with. In most grainy and/or combat photos of AK-74 rifles, this brake would be hard to distinguish from other two-piece brakes.
4: Modern Extended Collar Two-Piece
Found from 1990-current production
Description: Relatively similar to the earlier smooth collar two piece, except that the threaded collar has been greatly lengthened to increase the strength of the bearing surface that contacts the front sight base. The collar is so long that the most rearward gas port on the expansion chamber (right hand side) is now located on the distinctively scalloped forward edge of the threaded collar. The longer collar matches the lengthened brake attachment extension on the new front sight bases of AK-74 and AK-74M rifles designed in the late 1980's and is retained even today. This model is often called the "AK-74M brake" and is also standard on the full-length rifle versions of the AK-100 "Century Series". Although never adopted by any other country for domestic production, US-made copies do exist from several sources.
Used on Pre-production & Production models, 1973 until late 1976 (or early 1977)
Description: The first pattern AK-74 front sight base was essentially a modified investment cast AKM part, but with an additional front and rear extension. The forward extension was threaded for a muzzle brake, while the rear extension provided an integral bayonet lug. The sides of this FSB were solid and flat like the AKM pattern, with no sight post housing bulges. The "window" on each side has jagged or uneven borders, and the tower has quite obvious mold lines on the flat surfaces. Spacing between the bayonet lug position and the forward ring of the new muzzle brake was designed to allow the use of the standard late model (6X4) AKM bayonet. This spacing has endured for all models of AK-74-based rifles made in Russia and also copies made elsewhere. This FSB, which was also used on the 1973-dated A-3 prototypes, appears to have no circular mold markings as in later examples.
TYPE B: Standard Mid-Production Model
Found from late 1976 (or early 1977) until about 1986
Description: The type B FSB is the most widely available and most identifiable AK-74 front sight base in the world. East Germany, Bulgaria and even China made near exact copies of this design. It has the same basic layout as the first pattern, but has deep lightening indentations added on each side just below the "window". Also, a sight post housing bulge was added on each side above the windage drum, to allow additional movement of the post during windage adjustments. These FSB's also have a distinctive circular mold mark on the left hand side and a mold number format of "x-x" on the right hand side, each of which can be found inside the new lightening indentations.
TYPE B MODIFIED: The Two-Piece Front Sight Base
Possibly used as early as late 1985, until 1989
Description: This FSB is actually a two-piece assembly. The alteration was part of a concerted effort to maximize the precise and secure alignment of the muzzle brake to the barrel. The front sight base tower and the forward threaded bushing are two individual parts, rather than one integral FBS. The bushing, which was individually pinned to the barrel, has a much longer bearing surface for the brake mounting. Therefore, the entire FSB assembly was moved closer to the gas block to allow the barrel muzzle to even up with the end of the bushing. The purpose of this FSB modification was to allow the bushing to be mated more tightly to the interior of the brake without making a new mold for the front sight base, to possibly allow the clocking of the threads to the brake (which would ensure that the brake contacts the sight base tower when aligned with the detent pin), or simply for ease of replacement if the bearing becomes worn or corroded. All of this added up to a more solid and slack-free attachment. No doubt prolonged fighting in Afghanistan had shown that constant cleaning of built-up carbon in the threads, as well as bearing surface wear, allowed the attachment tolerances to deteriorate enough to cause problems in alignment and therefore accuracy.
TYPE C: The Modern "AK-74M" Front Sight Base
Found from about 1990-present production
Description: The Type C FSB was produced to mount the newly improved (long collar) muzzle brake, and is still in use today. Lightening indentations were usually left off all four sides, although some early versions appeared to have them. The sight post housing bulges were extended full length, both above and below the windage drum. The threaded collar section was made integral to the FSB tower casting once again, discarding the two-piece arrangement of the late 1980's. Since the barrel was still 415mm long, the FSB (being longer due to the extended forward extension) was positioned closer to the gas block to ensure it was flush to the muzzle end. This FSB is typically punch-press installed on modern Russian military contract rifles, but through the 1990's was still pinned in place in the classic manner on most rifles destined for the commercial market or out-of-country military customers. By the late 2000's, Izhevsk basically abandoned the more labor-intensive pin-on barrel assembly method as all production for all models now appears to be of the press-punched type. This FSB is standard on all current AK-74M rifles, as well as the 7,62mm AK-103 and the 5,56mm AK-101.
This image contrasts the extended length of the bearing surface extension on the late AK-74M FSB in comparison to that of an earlier Type B (mid-eighties) FSB. The modified two-piece Type B also has an extension equal in length to the Type C.
Early Type A cleaning rod with large beveled end:
Standard Type B AK-74 gas block used from 1977 till today. Note the round mold mark on the left side. This mold mark is found on all type B gas blocks. (It was determined that the older 45 degree angled gas port had a bad habit of shearing bullets and was eventually replaced with the distinctive, new design--Tantal),
Starting in 1986 or theTtype B gas block was punch pressed rather then pinned on Russian military contract rifles. This example even has the starter holes for pin on mounting:
Top type A, bottom Type B:
Both the A and B had the gas piston on the left, while the right is a C.
The solid piston head came into use on the C carrier in 1989.
Type C carrier has the left side carrier lightening cut in opposite direction, with the flat being on the bottom, the curve on the front. A and B milling contour on top, and C milling contour on bottom.
Typical "hammer ski" on left (all are about the same), odd variation on the a C carrier on right. Not sure what that is all about. Got that one from Tantal, he describes it as looking like a F117, I agree.
Type A and B carriers have straight cut vertical side mill on right side. Type C carriers are cut vertical but in a radius rather then straight. Later type C's have the right side milled at an angle starting in about 1992 rather then vertical. There is quite a bit of variance from carrier to carrier as to how this cut is made, possibly it is done by hand? Type A and B on top, early C in middle, late C at bottom.
Note in this picture you can see the low hook on Type D, and how the trigger is located farther back on it's pad on Type C and D then on Type A and B:
Like the AK-47 and AKM the milled Type A AK-74 trigger was stamped with an arsenal code, while the cast Type B, C, and D triggers have a raised number on the side:
On the black grip a silver ink stamp proof is usually found in the trigger guard recess. The plum grip has a silver ink stamp on the opposite side of the numbered side. Typically the left side has the proof, and the right side has the numbers. Some also have a proof in the trigger guard recess.
C is the butt plate found on plum rifles, D is the early AK-74M butt plate, and E is the production AK-74M buttplate:
Please click on the above link to view the section on optical attachment parts and base plates as used on "N' prefix AK-74 rifles
