IUHoosier429
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In the early 1960s, Romania fielded its first AKM variant, known as the Pistol Mitralieră model 1963, or PM md. 63 for short. The md. 63 featured a fixed stock, while its sibling the md. 65 featured an underfolding stock. Fast forward a couple decades, and the Romanian military introduced its PM md. 90. With identical guts as the 63 and 65, the md. 90's biggest external difference was a side-folder (to better align with the 5.45x39 PA md. 86 that had become standard for Romanian armed forces).
A few years back, Midway had a big blowout sale on grade 2 and grade 3 md. 90 kits. Like many others, I snagged a couple - one palmswell kit and one dong kit. Like many others, I should have bought more. These things are true beauties - all parts are matching, everything has a nice patina and wear pattern, and I was lucky enough to snag a far less common Sadu kit alongside the other Cugir build (where WASRs come from). I even scored the issued leather sling from one of these guns, still attached to the folder after the demilling process was complete. Only thing not included in these kits was a Romanian barrel, so I opted for a couple nitrided barrels from Windham Weaponry (originally built for ex-DDI guns. Say what you will about DDI, and yes I thought it was a junk company as well, but the WW barrels are terrific, accurate shooters). Since the Romanian receivers are destroyed as part of the demilling process, I went with a couple custom Recreator md. 90 receivers, which are accurate right down to the selector markings, notches, and spot welds. I also serialized these receivers to match the Romanian kits. After a five-month wait they finally arrived, and the quality is top-notch.
If you've seen me around CFF you know I have a thing or two (or ~50) for the AK. If you know me even a little, you know I have a soft spot for Romanian guns - a WASR-10 was my first AK and still rides shotgun on almost every range trip. If you know anything about CFF and AKs, you know our very own @digitalpaladin10 is nothing short of a warlock when it comes to putting these things together. Serious, if he was Pakistani, he'd have the nicest shop at the very top of the Khyber Pass. DP10 has graciously agreed to bring these kits back to life, and I have zero doubt the finished results will be far more than worth the wait. They will never be true AKs (no kit or factory gun imported and "finished" in the U.S. is), but they surely will retain their Forțele Terestre Române soul.
So, off we go. Here's a before. Stay tuned while DP10 works his magic.
A few years back, Midway had a big blowout sale on grade 2 and grade 3 md. 90 kits. Like many others, I snagged a couple - one palmswell kit and one dong kit. Like many others, I should have bought more. These things are true beauties - all parts are matching, everything has a nice patina and wear pattern, and I was lucky enough to snag a far less common Sadu kit alongside the other Cugir build (where WASRs come from). I even scored the issued leather sling from one of these guns, still attached to the folder after the demilling process was complete. Only thing not included in these kits was a Romanian barrel, so I opted for a couple nitrided barrels from Windham Weaponry (originally built for ex-DDI guns. Say what you will about DDI, and yes I thought it was a junk company as well, but the WW barrels are terrific, accurate shooters). Since the Romanian receivers are destroyed as part of the demilling process, I went with a couple custom Recreator md. 90 receivers, which are accurate right down to the selector markings, notches, and spot welds. I also serialized these receivers to match the Romanian kits. After a five-month wait they finally arrived, and the quality is top-notch.
If you've seen me around CFF you know I have a thing or two (or ~50) for the AK. If you know me even a little, you know I have a soft spot for Romanian guns - a WASR-10 was my first AK and still rides shotgun on almost every range trip. If you know anything about CFF and AKs, you know our very own @digitalpaladin10 is nothing short of a warlock when it comes to putting these things together. Serious, if he was Pakistani, he'd have the nicest shop at the very top of the Khyber Pass. DP10 has graciously agreed to bring these kits back to life, and I have zero doubt the finished results will be far more than worth the wait. They will never be true AKs (no kit or factory gun imported and "finished" in the U.S. is), but they surely will retain their Forțele Terestre Române soul.
So, off we go. Here's a before. Stay tuned while DP10 works his magic.
