Issue 38 Just Like Mom Used to Make Tom Marshall Join the Conversation At RECOIL, we review every product fairly and without bias. Making a purchase through one of our links may earn us a small commission, and helps support independent gun reviews. Learn More Find out more about how we test products. Photos Courtesy of Petronov Armament What constitutes a “real” AK rifle? With variants available the world over from Asia to Africa and back again, the permutations of patterns, measurements, and tolerances are about as diverse as you can get. But a small shop in Phoenix, Arizona, is getting back to the basics. Petronov Armament is in the process of gearing up production for a line of AKs that may silence many an internet purist. Several years ago, we were sitting at Petronov headquarters, discussing another project, when we spied a set of blueprints on a desk that appeared to be written entirely in Cyrillic. While we weren’t able to get any more information at the time, the story behind those prints — and the products they’re giving birth to — are finally seeing the light of day. Anthony Petrone, the owner of Petronov, has a close personal friend who spent nearly 25 years living in Moscow. This individual moved to Russia to teach English but wound up developing a number of military and commercial contacts. Through these contacts, he was able to send genuine Russian technical drawings of AK parts back to Petronov. The drawings cover both AK-47 and AK-74 rifles with various individual sheets dating from 1949 to 1982. This friend translated parts of these blueprints into English. To finish the translation of the engineering dimensions of the drawings, they went to a local tool and machine designer who was able to read the more obscure technical markings. With that last piece of the puzzle in place, Petronov’s genuine Russian AK project was off and running. Petronov teamed up with Ron Smith of Smith Enterprises Incorporated, best known for their work with the M14/M1A platform for the military. SEI has extensive experience with milling and casting receivers of all different types. Petronov and Smith tested a variety of steel types before settling on 8620 ordnance-grade steel for the Russian-spec AK receivers — the same steel used to make M1 Garand receivers. These receivers will be case hardened in the same manner as their Garand counterparts. Petronov claims the resulting receivers will be as strong as a piece of solid bar stock. Petronov has gone to a foundry that specializes in aerospace and military parts to produce the machine fixtures, molds, and straightening fixtures as well as several prototype receivers. Anthony says they’ll have their initial batch of receivers available in July, just in time for you to see this article and get in touch with Petronov. Projected July releases include under-fold and side-fold receivers in Russian, Hungarian, Polish, and M92 patterns. Full rifles are expected in 2019. For more information, contact Petronov Armament at Email: petronovarmament@cox.net Phone: (630) 780-4037 URL: www.petronovarmament.com Why you can trust RECOIL Since our founding in 2012, RECOIL remains the premier firearms lifestyle publication for the modern shooting enthusiast. We deliver cutting-edge coverage of guns, gear, accessories and technology. We go beyond basic reviews, providing no B.S. buyer’s guides, hands-on testing and expert analysis on everything from firearms and survival equipment to watches and vehicles. Our reviewers are the backbone of our operation and come from diverse shooting backgrounds: Former law enforcement, military veterans, competitive shooters, seasoned hunters and plain old firearms enthusiasts. Furthermore, we’re not just gun experts, but dedicated journalists who adhere to the strictest standards of our profession. At RECOIL, editorial independence is the foundation of everything we publish and the cornerstone of reader trust. Our editors, writers and content creators make all editorial decisions independently, free from outside influence. That boils down to: advertisers don’t dictate our coverage, the outcomes of our reviews or what we recommend in our buyer’s guides. First and always, our commitment is to our audience—ensuring every review and article is accurate, unbiased, and driven by real-world experience. Whether you’re selecting your next firearm, upgrading your gear, or exploring the latest innovations in the shooting world, RECOIL provides the trusted insights you need to make informed decisions. Learn more about our Editorial Standards and how we review products. 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