Anyone have an idea on the difference between the Arsenal SLR-101S, the SAM7R, and the SA M-7 (aside from the wood)? I don’t know enough about AK’s to understand the slight variations in the product descriptions.
All are milled receivers.
SLR-101S and SAM7R more modern version with the updated gas port. SA M-7 CLASSIC has the old AK-47 style 45 degree gas port.
The SLR-101S and SAM7R are very similar rifles and the difference may be little more than model numbers.
The Slr-101 is made at the Arsenal factory in Bulgaria. It is imported as a single stack and once state side the mag-wellis opened up so it can take regular mags as well as other “de-banning”
The Sam7 is built in the US on a US made receiver made to Arsenal Bulgaria specs.
The Sam 7 “Classic” is also built on a US made receiver. It has wooden furniture and built using the older style thicker barrel and the 45 degree gas-block.
One thing I like the factory built slr-101 is that the parts have serial numbers and these new imports have the Arsenal ((10)) factory marking 
The “R” typially denotes that there is a side mounted scope rail attached to the reciever.
Now the AK platform isnt ideal for mounting scopes but it does work with the proper mount.
Awesome, thanks guys.
According to Kvar’s website the SAM7R is a Bulgarian made receiver.
http://www.k-var.com/shop/AK-Rifles-and-Shotguns/
ETA: My new SAM7K has the ((10)) marking and also says made in Bulgaria.
I bought one of the new SA M7R’s and it has a different finish than the older ones. The finish looks exactly like that of the SLR 101’s.
It also has a ((10)) on the side of the receiver with “SA M7R Made in Bulgaria” printed right above the side rail. And all of this is in the usual “dot peening?” that all of the Bulgarian Imports come with.
To me it looks like they renamed the SLR-101 series to SAM7, calling it the Bulgarian made SAM7R; kind of confusing.
The Bulgarian made version
http://www.k-var.com/shop/SAM7R.html
The US version
http://www.k-var.com/shop/SAM7-13.html
The Bulgarian version seems to be running $400 cheaper than the US receiver/assembled one.
The finish on my SAM7K is not that great there is a couple places around the magwell that is in the white where the finish didn’t take or was rubbed off at the factory.
AKFAN- It is confusing I’m not sure why they are doing the names like this.
My guess as to why the finish around the magwell has issues is because they are imported as single-stack and once stateside the receivers are opened up to take regular AK mags. Just my guess
If you notice there isn’t an SLR 101 available now. But there are two very close designations - SAM7 and SA M7. Yes it appears they are different models even though the only change is a single space.
I heard they recently went from SLR 101 to SAM7 as a designator. I recall at one time the SLR meant a Bulgarian received and the SA meant American made.
The one you’re seeing for $400 more is from about 2 to 3 years ago. They’ve long been out of stock. I don’t know why they left them up on the site