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I found this interesting video on hand made guns in Pakistan so I thought I would share it with you guys and Apologies in advance for the God awful music.

http://youtu.be/_u2feHybSpw

Been there, seen that............ as the road through the Khyber pass descends into Pakistan, there was a huge market with stalls selling everything from 9mm "Browning" pistols to 50 cal machine guns, and you could try before you buy clapclap all made locally in workshops as in the film.
There was a lot of money to be made shipping old redundant lathes, mills etc. out there.
But then it was the early 70's..................dear dead days

Pete

In a gap year back in the early 70s I went 'overland' around the World and, like Pete, came across these workshops ... rows of them along the streets in the small towns there. Remember, this was before all the s.h.i.t. kicked-off big time over there so folks like me could travel reasonably easily; the locals were so friendly and welcoming. I watched guys, just like those in the video, hand-crafting weapons of all types, and being allowed to test fire a couple whilst sipping hot, sweet tea with them. Note in the film no machine guards, safety glasses, fume extraction (plating tanks) ... just like Blighty before the H&S mob ruled.

When I lived in London I put together a small workshop in my garage and sourced some equipment for the London Machine Company (sadly closed maybe 20 years ago) who were based in a huge old tram shed in Penge (SE London) ... it was just like the final scene in Raiders of the Lost Arc - a huge warehouse full of used engineering machinery and equipment of every type. Lots of the older stuff (lathes, mills) had lables attached with 'Sold - to Pakistan', or 'Sold - Ceylon'; it was clear that some rep from over there had arrived and bought a job lot of equipment to ship over there. There were few of these used machine firms in London back then but sadly most have now gone ... I suppose there isn't much stock to be had these days as most 'small' engineering companies have long gone and most of what is now available seems to be ex school and college tackle.

I made the point in another thread here (Gateshead Gun Shop) that with a few basic machine tools anything can be made or converted. It would be interesting to compare the quality of finished items made over there with some of the handcrafted stuff made here.

Like any handmade gun, every one of them is unique, and made 'to fit' rather than to any particular pattern. I don't know how well any of them have stood the test of time, but these men were true craftsmen, so who knows - they could be tomorrows antiques, fetching good money.

Or not, as the case might be.

http://www.sadefensejournal.com/wp/?p=1989

Darra AK in 8mm Mauser anyone?

snayperskaya wrote:http://www.sadefensejournal.com/wp/?p=1989

Darra AK in 8mm Mauser anyone?

Now that must be a bit lively on full auto!

huntervixen wrote:

snayperskaya wrote:http://www.sadefensejournal.com/wp/?p=1989

Darra AK in 8mm Mauser anyone?

Now that must be a bit lively on full auto!

Semi auto only according to the article. It's amazing what those guys can produce.

claytont wrote:

huntervixen wrote:

snayperskaya wrote:http://www.sadefensejournal.com/wp/?p=1989

Darra AK in 8mm Mauser anyone?

Now that must be a bit lively on full auto!

Semi auto only according to the article. It's amazing what those guys can produce.

Semi auto only is correct, if you look at the pic the third axis pin that holds the auto sear is missing due to how far back the rear of the mag sits, you can make out the mag in the hole.

claytont wrote:

huntervixen wrote:

snayperskaya wrote:http://www.sadefensejournal.com/wp/?p=1989

Darra AK in 8mm Mauser anyone?

Now that must be a bit lively on full auto!

Semi auto only according to the article. It's amazing what those guys can produce.

Indeed it is amazing albeit Zastava have been doing AK in 7.92x57/8mm Mauser for a while:

Fedaykin wrote:
Indeed it is amazing albeit Zastava have been doing AK in 7.92x57/8mm Mauser for a while:

The old Zastava M76 DMR, in use since 1976.Much like the Romanian PSL-54c, both built on modified AK actions.Unlike the Dragunov SVD and the M76 which both have a milled receiver the PSL has a stamped and riveted steel receiver and doesn't like heavy ball ammunition as the recoil can eventually batter the rear trunnion rivets as the design is over-gassed by the bigger 54r round.