So at one time I think I was up to 32 Kalshnikov variants. My goal was of course to be able to go through books like Grim Reaper and The AK47 Story and say “Have it, have it, have it…”
Then times got tough. Combination of the economy putting a crimp on my income, having bought more than a few things recently, a bunch of unexpected automotive repairs and some medical expenses meant it was time to thin the herd.
So I began to look at my AKs with a more critical eye. Those cool Yugo M70s now became a needlessly heavy AK that didn’t have a chrome lined barrel. Those Romanian SARs were no longer a cool AKMS and AIMS variants were now just bottom grade AK rifles. That unique Polish Tantal was now just AK with a needlessly tight magazine well and a non factory US made barrel.
Anything that did not have a factory correct barrel got liquidated. Any US receiver gun that was NOT a Nodak receiver such as Vector, ORF, ITM, etc. all went on the pile to be sold. Any multiples of a less than desirable configuration like underfolders got thinned down to keeping only the most choice examples. I kept one Polytech underfolder and one Polish kit (original barrel) on a Nodak.
And because I had more than a few, I let some of my less favorite Polytechs go simply because of the prices they command.
So now I have a bunch of Arsenal SGL variants, my Bulgarian builds on Nodaks, Some Polys, my GSAD and a few things like that. Basically what I consider high quality grade AKs. I plan to add a few more SGL variants when I free up some cash. Long story short I have about half as many AKs as I once did. But I think I’m better for it as most of those low grade AKs really weren’t all that collectible beyond being able to say you have a “kind of that variant.”
What amazed me the most is how fast I was able to sell them off. Guns are gold and people buy cheap guns. The Tantals and M70s were the first to sell fast.
And now I have justification to rebuild my AK collection when I can get a handle on things. I think I’ll just buy better AKs when I do. M4C has definitely made me view my collection with a slightly more critical eye.
They’re neat and all but I sold off most of my guns - just lost the need to have an armory. I sold off a bunch of Bulgarian part kits, way too cheap.
