AKM / AK-47 Pattern Rifle

easy
Shop tier 2
high confidence
Rifle
long stroke piston
service rifle
surplus
toolless field strip
beginner friendly

field strip ~2 min · reassembly ~2 min · detail strip ~40 min

Before you begin Verify this firearm is unloaded. Remove the magazine or empty the cylinder or tube, lock the action open, and check the chamber both by sight and by touch. Keep the muzzle in a safe direction and remove all live ammunition from your work area.

Specifications

Manufacturer: AK Pattern (multiple manufacturers)
Origin: Soviet Union
Category: Rifle
Action: Gas, long-stroke piston
Calibers: 7.62x39mm, 5.45x39mm, 5.56x45mm NATO
Capacity: 30+1 with a standard magazine
Production: 1949–present (in-production)
Also known as: AK-47, AKM, Kalashnikov, AK-74 (5.45mm variant)

Model-specific safety

The AK safety lever also covers the charging handle slot. With the safety up (on SAFE) the bolt cannot be pulled far enough back to inspect the chamber properly — rotate it down before clearing.
The magazine rocks in and out and is not released by a button. Rock it forward and out; do not try to pull it straight down.
The recoil spring assembly is under compression and will spring rearward when the dust cover is removed. Keep control of it.
Gas system parts are extremely hot after firing. Let the rifle cool.
AK variants differ widely between countries and factories. A Yugoslav, Romanian, Chinese, or Russian rifle can differ in the gas tube retainer, the dust cover retention, and the presence of a bolt hold-open.

Under spring tension

Recoil spring assembly
Magazine spring

Easily lost parts

Recoil spring guide rod retaining tab · Gas tube lever · Firing pin retaining pin (detail strip)

Tools

Tool	Required	Used for	Substitute
Screwdriver or the rim of a case	Optional	Rotating a stiff gas tube lever on some variants.

Shop difficulty

Shop tier 2 Tier 2 — moderate among rifles and carbines, for the full job: strip to the parts that get coated and put it back together working. A riveted receiver with nothing to fit, but the trigger group goes in against the hammer spring with the pins held by a single retaining spring, and the handguard retainer, gas tube lock and selector are notoriously tight. No timing and no special fixtures. A middle-of-the-range rifle job.

Parts: 66 numbered parts (stand-in: Mitchell Arms 'AK-47 Autoloading Rifle' (semi-automatic Yugoslav-made AK/AKM-pattern import) per the Gun Digest exploded drawing legend, keys 1-66, incl. magazine (51, 52, 34). The drawing i), from The Gun Digest Book of Exploded Gun Drawings (975 isometric views) - Mitchell Arms 'AK-47 Autoloading Rifle' — Gun Digest Books / Krause Publications (scan on archive.org), p. book p. 714 (PDF page 715) archive.org [12].

Bench time: about 45 min to strip, 60 min to rebuild (estimate). Estimate: field strip plus trigger group (hammer, trigger, disconnector, springs, pins and retaining spring), selector, handguards and retainer, gas tube, pistol grip, stock, rear sight leaf/slider, front sight and muzzle nut/slant brake and detent pin. Rebuild longer for the hammer spring and pin retainer under tension and the handguard retainer. Receiver, trunnions and rivets stay as they are.

Small parts: 7 pins, 13 springs, 3 detents or plungers (counted by name in the same legend (all 66 keys). Pins: 2, 5, 9, 28 hammer and trigger pin, 37 folding stock hinge pins, 45, 64 securing pin (12 firing pin not counted). Springs: 1, 6, 7, 10, 11, 20, )

What comes off for coating

Fire control group: pin retaining spring (shepherd's crook), hammer, hammer spring and pin, trigger, disconnector, disconnector spring and pin, safety selector — drift punch, rubber band or slave pins for the hammer spring
Receiver and barrel: dust cover, recoil spring assembly, bolt carrier and bolt (firing pin, extractor, extractor spring and pin), gas tube/upper handguard, lower handguard and retainer, rear sight leaf and slider, front sight post/hood, muzzle nut/slant brake and detent pin — AK front sight tool
Furniture: pistol grip and nut/screw, buttstock and tang screws, butt plate, cleaning rod

Special tools

AK front sight adjustment tool — Front sight post (only if moved)
Slave pins / rubber band — Holding the hammer spring and trigger parts during pin installation
Small punch for the firing-pin and extractor pins — Bolt strip
Pistol grip nut driver (long screwdriver) — Pistol grip screw through the grip

Known pain points

Getting the trigger group out means lifting the hammer spring (mainspring) legs and hooking them behind the hammer ears, then holding them there while the trigger pin comes out. Reassembly reverses this under spring load, with the pin retaining spring ('shepherd's crook') laid over the pins. (both)
Source: 12 Hidden Features of the AK-47 Cleaning Kit — The Firearm Blog thefirearmblog.com [10] — “During disassembly, you must raise the mainspring ends and catch them behind the hammer “ears” to release the tension from the trigger for further disassembly.”
Once hooked, the mainspring legs have to be held while the pins move, typically with a rubber band or the cleaning-kit cap. (both)
Source: 12 Hidden Features of the AK-47 Cleaning Kit — The Firearm Blog thefirearmblog.com [10] — “Once mainspring ends are hooked to the hammer, they must be somehow retained.”
The gas tube lock lever and the lower handguard retainer are often very tight and need a tool to rotate. (both)
Owners report: TFB FIELD STRIP: How To Field Strip AK Rifles And Variants Of The AKM (reader comment) — The Firearm Blog thefirearmblog.com [11] — “The gas tube retaining lever on my saiga.223 is one of the absolute tightest things to get loose.”
The selector lever is a spring-steel part held by its own tension and can be bent while being worked out of the receiver. (both)
Source: 12 Hidden Features of the AK-47 Cleaning Kit — The Firearm Blog thefirearmblog.com [10] — “On some AK rifles, safety selector is really tight and hard to manipulate.”

Fit or check on rebuild

Function check (disconnector, safety) — The hammer spring legs and disconnector spring must be seated correctly; check that the safety blocks and the hammer resets
Front sight/zero — Front sight and muzzle device moved for coating mean a re-zero
Handguard and gas tube lock fit — Coating build-up makes the retainer and gas tube levers even tighter; check that they lock
Source: TFB FIELD STRIP: How To Field Strip AK Rifles And Variants Of The AKM (reader comment) — The Firearm Blog thefirearmblog.com [11] — “The gas tube retaining lever on my saiga.223 is one of the absolute tightest things to get loose.”

This is Pew-Takedown's rating, not the manufacturer's. How tiers are rated. Forum reports are owners' experience, not specifications.

Procedures

Clear and Make Safe

Clear & Make Safe

Point the muzzle in a safe direction and keep your finger off the trigger.
Rotate the safety lever down to the FIRE position so the charging handle can travel fully rearward.
WarningWith the lever on SAFE, the bolt travel is deliberately restricted. You cannot properly inspect the chamber until the lever is down.
Rock the magazine forward and out of the magazine well.
TipPress the magazine catch behind the magazine and rock the front of the magazine forward.
Removed at this step: Magazine
Pull the charging handle fully to the rear and hold it there. Look into the chamber and the magazine well.
Physically feel the chamber to confirm it is empty. Most AK variants have no bolt hold-open, so you will need to hold the bolt back yourself.
WarningWithout a bolt hold-open, the bolt slams forward when you let go. Keep fingers clear.
Ease the bolt forward and remove all live ammunition from the work area.

Field Strip

Five major pieces, no tools on most rifles, under a minute once learned.

Complete the Clear and Make Safe procedure.
Press in the recoil spring guide rod tab that protrudes through the rear of the dust cover.
TipOn some rifles the tab is stiff. Press it with a thumb or the rim of a case, not a screwdriver blade that can slip.
With the tab depressed, lift the rear of the dust cover up and pull it back and off.
WarningThe recoil spring assembly is under compression behind it. Keep a hand over the rear of the receiver.
Removed at this step: Dust cover (receiver cover)
Push the recoil spring assembly forward to clear its seat in the rear of the receiver, then lift it up and out.
Removed at this step: Recoil spring assembly
Pull the bolt carrier fully to the rear until it reaches the cutout in the receiver rails, then lift it up and out of the receiver.
Removed at this step: Bolt carrier and bolt
Rotate the bolt to unlock it from its cam track and pull it forward out of the carrier.
Removed at this step: Bolt
Rotate the gas tube lever on the right side of the rear sight block upward until it stands vertical, then lift the gas tube and upper handguard up and off.
TipRifles without the AKM-style lever use a different retainer. Some Yugoslav and older patterns require a tool.
Removed at this step: Gas tube and upper handguard
Stop here for routine cleaning. The trigger group, lower handguard, and barrel do not need to come off.

Reassembly

Set the gas tube and upper handguard back into the front trunnion recess, seat the rear onto the rear sight block, and rotate the gas tube lever down to lock it.
Insert the bolt into the front of the carrier and rotate it so its lug engages the cam track.
Set the carrier into the receiver rails with the bolt forward, engage the carrier's gas piston into the gas tube, and slide the carrier forward.
Set the recoil spring assembly into the carrier's rear channel and push it forward until the guide rod seats in its recess at the rear of the receiver.
Set the front lip of the dust cover into the rear sight block recess, then press the rear down until the recoil spring guide rod tab snaps through its hole.
WarningIf the tab is not protruding through the dust cover, the cover will come off under recoil.
Cycle the action several times and perform the function check.

Torque specifications

No sourced torque values from the manufacturer are recorded for this firearm. Where a fastener has a specified torque — action screws, scope bases, muzzle devices, barrel nuts — get it from the manufacturer or a gunsmith rather than estimating it.

What the manufacturer does say: The official military manuals give no torque value. They say: "2) Исправность приклада: винты затыльника должны быть полностью завинчены, шлицы винтов очищены;" [translation by this project: "2) Condition of the butt stock: the butt-plate screws must be fully screwed in and the screw slots cleaned;"] (Наставление по стрелковому делу. 7,62-мм модернизированный автомат Калашникова (АКМ и АКМС). Издание третье, исправленное и дополненное (1970) — file nastav_akm_1970.pdf, p. 82, ст. 71) "При утопленном фиксаторе компенсатор и муфта должны легко свинчиваться со ствола." [translation by this project: "With the retainer pressed in, the compensator and the thread protector must screw easily off the barrel."] (Наставление по стрелковому делу. 7,62-мм модернизированный автомат Калашникова (АКМ и АКМС). Издание третье, исправленное и дополненное (1970) — file nastav_akm_1970.pdf, p. 85, ст. 72 (inspection of the disassembled weapon))

Reported by other sources — not the manufacturer

Not a manufacturer specificationThese values come from the people and publications named beside each one, not from AK Pattern (multiple manufacturers). They are recorded with who said them and their exact words so you can judge them — not as a recommendation. Confirm any of them with the manufacturer or a licensed gunsmith before you put a wrench on your firearm; a wrong value can crack a stock, strip a thread or loosen a muzzle device.

Fastener	Torque	Who says so, and their words	Where it comes from
Lower handguard clamp screws, 8-32 SHCS AK-47/AKM-pattern rifle fitted with a Midwest Industries MI-AKG2 handguard (standard length)	60 in-lb 6.8 N·m · 5 ft-lb	Reported by Midwest Industries, Inc. Secondary — a parts or tool maker, or a gunsmithing publisher Hinge the lower handguard onto the barrel and seat the anti-rotation block into the receiver; install the clamp and tighten the screws evenly. Threadlocker: Use the provided blue thread loc on the screws. “Evenly tighten the clamp with the provided 8-32 SHCS. Use the provided blue thread loc on the screws. Tighten each screw to 60 in lbs.”	MI-AKG2 Handguard Installation Instructions (Standard Length M-Lok and KeyMod Versions) — Midwest Industries, Inc., PDF p. 1 midwestindustriesinc.com [3]
Top cover screws, 8-32 flat head AK-47/AKM-pattern rifle fitted with a Midwest Industries MI-AKG2 handguard	30 in-lb 3.4 N·m · 2.5 ft-lb	Reported by Midwest Industries, Inc. Secondary — a parts or tool maker, or a gunsmithing publisher Threadlocker: (DO NOT use thread loc on these screws) “Install the topcover with provided 8-32 flat head screws, tighten these screws to 30 inch lbs. (DO NOT use thread loc on these screws)”	MI-AKG2 Handguard Installation Instructions (Standard Length M-Lok and KeyMod Versions) — Midwest Industries, Inc., PDF p. 1 midwestindustriesinc.com [3]
Handguard cap set screw AK-type rifle fitted with a Midwest Industries MI-AKMDI drop-in handguard	10 in-lb 1.1 N·m · 0.83 ft-lb	Reported by Midwest Industries, Inc. Secondary — a parts or tool maker, or a gunsmithing publisher Threadlocker: apply a drop of blue Loctite to the exposed portion of the set screw “Once the handguard is installed with the cap locked apply a drop of blue Loctite to the exposed portion of the set screw and torque to 10 inch lbs with a 5/64 allen wrench.”	MI-AK Drop In Hand Guard Installation Instructions (MI-AKMDI, MI-AKMDI-K, MI-AKMDI-M70, MI-AKMDI-M92) — Midwest Industries, Inc., PDF p. 1 midwestindustriesinc.com [4]
Stock hinge/trunnion screws and wedge block screw (1/8" hex) AK with a Magpul Zhukov-S folding stock (MAG585) installed through the rear trunnion	30–40 in-lb 3.4–4.5 N·m · 2.5–3.3 ft-lb	Reported by Magpul Industries Secondary — a parts or tool maker, or a gunsmithing publisher Wedge block first; 1/2" countersink screw through the receiver trunnion (hand-start to avoid cross-threading, Hinge Block flush) 30-40; 3/8" screw through the trunnion tang with the Weld Nut 30-40; verify hole alignment; wedge block screw 30-40 to finish. “ensure Hinge Block is flush with receiver and tighten to 30-40 [in-lb].”	Zhukov-S AK Stock (MAG585) Installation Instructions, 072-0100-B — Magpul Industries, PDF p. 1 magpul.com [5]
Handguard front ring lower screws Midwest Industries AK Alpha M-LOK Handguard (MI-AK-ALPHA6 / MI-AK-ALPHA10.0) on an AKM-pattern stamped-receiver rifle	20 in-lb 2.3 N·m · 1.7 ft-lb	Reported by Midwest Industries, Inc. Secondary — a parts or tool maker, or a gunsmithing publisher One at a time: remove, thread-lock, torque. Threadlocker: Thread lock (instructions say 'thread lock'; product not named) “With the rifle’s handguard locked, remove and thread lock the handguard front ring lower screws one at a time. Torque them to 20-inch lbs.”	Midwest Industries AK Alpha M-LOK Handguard (MI-AK-ALPHA6 / MI-AK-ALPHA10.0) — Instructions — Midwest Industries, Inc., PDF p. 1 (single page) midwestindustriesinc.com [7]
Railed top cover receiver block screw (not the pivot pin) Midwest Industries AK Alpha Railed Top Cover (MI-AK-ALPHA-RTC, only with MI AK Alpha handguards) on an AKM-pattern stamped-receiver rifle	30 in-lb 3.4 N·m · 2.5 ft-lb	Reported by Midwest Industries, Inc. Secondary — a parts or tool maker, or a gunsmithing publisher Threadlocker: Vibra-tite (supplied); instructions say do NOT use Loctite “a. Receiver block (NOT pivot pin)– 30inch lbs.”	Midwest Industries AK Alpha Railed Top Cover (MI-AK-ALPHA-RTC) — Instructions — Midwest Industries, Inc., PDF p. 1 (single page) midwestindustriesinc.com [8]
Railed top cover M-LOK nuts (side beams) Midwest Industries AK Alpha Railed Top Cover (MI-AK-ALPHA-RTC, only with MI AK Alpha handguards) on an AKM-pattern stamped-receiver rifle	20 in-lb 2.3 N·m · 1.7 ft-lb	Reported by Midwest Industries, Inc. Secondary — a parts or tool maker, or a gunsmithing publisher Threadlocker: Vibra-tite (supplied); instructions say do NOT use Loctite “b. M-LOK Nuts – 20inch lbs.”	Midwest Industries AK Alpha Railed Top Cover (MI-AK-ALPHA-RTC) — Instructions — Midwest Industries, Inc., PDF p. 1 (single page) midwestindustriesinc.com [8]
Railed top cover steel support strut screws Midwest Industries AK Alpha Railed Top Cover (MI-AK-ALPHA-RTC, only with MI AK Alpha handguards) on an AKM-pattern stamped-receiver rifle	10 in-lb 1.1 N·m · 0.83 ft-lb	Reported by Midwest Industries, Inc. Secondary — a parts or tool maker, or a gunsmithing publisher Threadlocker: Vibra-tite (supplied); instructions say do NOT use Loctite “c. Steel support struts – 10inch lbs.”	Midwest Industries AK Alpha Railed Top Cover (MI-AK-ALPHA-RTC) — Instructions — Midwest Industries, Inc., PDF p. 1 (single page) midwestindustriesinc.com [8]
Railed dot mount M-LOK screws (side beams, locking nuts engaged) Midwest Industries AK Alpha Railed Dot Mount (MI-AK-ALPHA-RDM / MI-AK-ALPHA-T2M, only with MI AK Alpha handguards) on an AKM-pattern stamped-receiver rifle	20 in-lb 2.3 N·m · 1.7 ft-lb	Reported by Midwest Industries, Inc. Secondary — a parts or tool maker, or a gunsmithing publisher Threadlocker: Vibratite (supplied); instructions say do NOT use Loctite “a. Torque M-LOK screws to 20inch lbs with locking nuts engaged.”	Midwest Industries AK Alpha Railed Dot Mount (MI-AK-ALPHA-RDM / MI-AK-ALPHA-T2M) — Instructions — Midwest Industries, Inc., PDF p. 1 (single page) midwestindustriesinc.com [9]
Railed dot mount 6-32 flat head screws (steel support struts) Midwest Industries AK Alpha Railed Dot Mount (MI-AK-ALPHA-RDM / MI-AK-ALPHA-T2M, only with MI AK Alpha handguards) on an AKM-pattern stamped-receiver rifle	10 in-lb 1.1 N·m · 0.83 ft-lb	Reported by Midwest Industries, Inc. Secondary — a parts or tool maker, or a gunsmithing publisher Threadlocker: Vibratite (supplied); instructions say do NOT use Loctite “b. Torque 6x32 flat heads to 10inch lbs.”	Midwest Industries AK Alpha Railed Dot Mount (MI-AK-ALPHA-RDM / MI-AK-ALPHA-T2M) — Instructions — Midwest Industries, Inc., PDF p. 1 (single page) midwestindustriesinc.com [9]

Function check

After every reassemblyPerform these checks on a verified-unloaded firearm. If any check fails, the firearm is not safe to fire — stop and see a licensed gunsmith.

Verify the rifle is unloaded with no magazine inserted before each step.
With the safety lever on SAFE, attempt to pull the charging handle fully back. Bolt travel should be restricted.
With the safety on SAFE, press the trigger. Nothing should happen.
Rotate the safety to FIRE, charge the rifle, and press the trigger. The hammer should fall.
Hold the trigger back, charge the rifle, and release the trigger slowly — you should hear the disconnector click.
Confirm the dust cover is locked down and the recoil spring tab protrudes through it.
Confirm the magazine rocks in and locks positively.

Maintenance

Lubrication points

Bolt lugs and the bolt body
Carrier rails where they ride in the receiver
The cam track in the carrier
The gas piston (a light film only — it runs hot)
Hammer and trigger pivot points

Cleaning notes

Surplus corrosively-primed ammunition leaves salts that draw moisture and cause rust within days. If you shoot surplus, flush the bore, gas tube, gas piston, and bolt face with hot soapy water or a water-based solvent the same day, then dry thoroughly and oil.

Suggested inspection interval: roughly every 1000 rounds. This is a general guideline, not a manufacturer specification.

Wear parts to inspect

Recoil spring · Firing pin (inspect for a blunted or stuck pin) · Extractor and extractor spring · Gas piston rings on variants that have them · Rivets and trunnion on high-round-count rifles

Common issues

Symptom	Likely cause	What to do
Dust cover flies off when firing	Recoil spring guide tab not seated through the dust cover hole	Reinstall the dust cover and confirm the tab protrudes and locks.
Slam fires or doubling with surplus ammunition	A firing pin stuck forward by hardened cosmoline or fouling in the bolt, combined with soft primers	Stop firing immediately. Detail strip the bolt, clean the firing pin channel until the pin rattles freely, and inspect the pin tip. see a gunsmith
Gas tube will not seat	Lever not rotated fully, or the front of the tube not engaged in the trunnion	Seat the front first, then the rear, then rotate the lever down.
Rust appearing days after shooting	Corrosive primer residue not neutralized	Clean with water-based solvent the same day. Oil afterward.

Also covers

The procedures above are reported to apply to: AK-74 · AKM · Type 56 · Zastava M70 · WASR-10 · Most stamped and milled AK-pattern rifles. Verify against the manual for your specific model.

Similar manual of arms

Legal notes

Not legal adviceImported AK-pattern rifles in the United States are subject to parts-count rules when configured with certain features. Changing stocks, muzzle devices, or handguards can affect compliance. Check current law before making changes.

Sourcing

Confidence: high — Cross-checked against a primary source such as the manufacturer's manual or an issuing military technical manual.
Verification: Checked against an armorer/technical manual
Last updated: 2026-10-29

References

Every source this page draws on, with its web address so you can read it yourself. Numbers in brackets elsewhere on the page point here.

[1] 7.62mm Kalashnikov Modernized Assault Rifle (AKM) Operator's Manual — USSR Ministry of Defence military technical manual primary source
[2] Operator's Manual for AK-47 Assault Rifle — U.S. Department of the Army (foreign materiel) military technical manual secondary source
[3] MI-AKG2 Handguard Installation Instructions (Standard Length M-Lok and KeyMod Versions) — Midwest Industries, Inc. manufacturer manual secondary source
https://midwestindustriesinc.com/content/installation-instructions/AK47-Handguard-MI-AKG2-UM-Instructions.pdf (checked 2026-09-27)
[4] MI-AK Drop In Hand Guard Installation Instructions (MI-AKMDI, MI-AKMDI-K, MI-AKMDI-M70, MI-AKMDI-M92) — Midwest Industries, Inc. manufacturer manual secondary source
https://midwestindustriesinc.com/content/installation-instructions/AK47-Handguard-MI-AKMDI-Instructions.pdf (checked 2026-09-27)
[5] Zhukov-S AK Stock (MAG585) Installation Instructions, 072-0100-B — Magpul Industries manufacturer manual secondary source
https://magpul.com/media/wysiwyg/Instructions/MAG585_Zhukov-S_Stock_INSRT.pdf (checked 2026-09-27)
[6] Наставление по стрелковому делу. 7,62-мм модернизированный автомат Калашникова (АКМ и АКМС). Издание третье, исправленное и дополненное (1970) — file nastav_akm_1970.pdf — Министерство обороны СССР (Воениздат), 1970 — scan hosted on archive.org military technical manual primary source
https://archive.org/download/NastavLehne_AKM/nastav_akm_1970.pdf (checked 2026-09-27)
[7] Midwest Industries AK Alpha M-LOK Handguard (MI-AK-ALPHA6 / MI-AK-ALPHA10.0) — Instructions — Midwest Industries, Inc. manufacturer manual secondary source
https://midwestindustriesinc.com/content/installation-instructions/AK-Alpha-Series-Handguard-Instructions.pdf (checked 2026-10-11)
[8] Midwest Industries AK Alpha Railed Top Cover (MI-AK-ALPHA-RTC) — Instructions — Midwest Industries, Inc. manufacturer manual secondary source
https://midwestindustriesinc.com/content/installation-instructions/AK-Alpha-Series-Railed-Top-Cover-MI-AK-Alpha-RTC-Instructions.pdf (checked 2026-10-11)
[9] Midwest Industries AK Alpha Railed Dot Mount (MI-AK-ALPHA-RDM / MI-AK-ALPHA-T2M) — Instructions — Midwest Industries, Inc. manufacturer manual secondary source
https://midwestindustriesinc.com/content/installation-instructions/AK-Alpha-Series-T2M-RDM-Instructions.pdf (checked 2026-10-11)
[10] 12 Hidden Features of the AK-47 Cleaning Kit — The Firearm Blog website secondary source
https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2016/11/18/12-hidden-features-ak-47-cleaning-kit/ (checked 2026-10-29)
[11] TFB FIELD STRIP: How To Field Strip AK Rifles And Variants Of The AKM (reader comment) — The Firearm Blog community anecdotal source
https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2020/02/13/field-strip-ak-rifles-variants/ (checked 2026-10-29)
[12] The Gun Digest Book of Exploded Gun Drawings (975 isometric views) - Mitchell Arms 'AK-47 Autoloading Rifle' — Gun Digest Books / Krause Publications (scan on archive.org) website secondary source
https://archive.org/download/the-book-of-exploded-gun-drawings-975-isometric-views/The%20Book%20of%20Exploded%20Gun%20Drawings%20-%20975%20Isometric%20Views.pdf (checked 2026-10-29)

Notes: AK-pattern rifles were produced in dozens of countries with meaningful variations. This entry documents the AKM-pattern procedure, which covers the large majority of rifles. Yugoslav M70, Chinese Type 56, and certain milled-receiver rifles differ in gas tube retention and handguard removal.

Found something wrong? Corrections are the most valuable contribution to this project. Open an issue with the model, the step, and a source.