East German AK?

BTR

I was looking though my stuff, found an AK47, stamped rec, under folder, plastic pistol grip, plastic handgaurd and gas tube cover.
left side of receiver above mag well is scribed Blue Ridge Precision Gunworks Fort Mills SC.
under the folder lug pass through in the left side I can make out HESS St. Pao....... model 4. before the serial number is stamped 1964.
I Goggled Blue Ridge Precision Gunworks Fort Mills, brought me to a GunBroker thread from 2003 discussing East German ak's with some crazy value numbers.
anybody able to tell me about this AK.

rufe-snow

Original selective fire East German AK, that was imported prior to 1984 and papered. Worth really big bucks.

One put together on a U.S. built semi-auto receiver. Even if you have all the East German parts, not even close. Your going to have to find some other way to fund your retirement.

llama

The HESS St Pao is most likely Hesse St Paul, Mn

Not sure what quality AK stuff they put out, but everything else I've seen from them (mostly FALs) were "Run Forrest Run!!!". Out of spec, badly assembled, etc. Granted with an AK that probably doesn't matter much (weapon designed in the 2nd world to be built in the shops of the 3rd world and to be carried, used, and maintained by soldiers of the 4th world)....

mark christian

Without seeing the rifle I am figuring that Blue Ridge produced the receiver and then Hess assembled an East German parts kit onto to it in order to build a complete rifle. I do not have any information on the quality of the numerous USA made AK receivers but as Llama already stated; Hess had (they changed their name a few times to get out of warranty claims and lawsuits) had perhaps the worst reputation in the industry for quality and functioning. Genuine semi automatic East German AKs were never imported into the USA but numerous parts kits were imported and often sued for builds. The EG AKMs used an unusual brown plastic stock set with a unique pebble finish and this can be seen on the fifth rifle from the left in my photo:


And another view:



EG AKMs did not have under folding stocks but instead used a right side folding wire stock of a type similar to the Romanian AKMs

BTR

Thanks guys you have answered my questions. Didn't know what it was; now I do.
It appears the trade I might make with it, will be a good deal for me.
Mark the pistol grip and flash hider on the 5th one are like mine.
Llama, I wholeheartedly agree with your assessment of the rifle; however the fact remains that they have been and continue to be deadly pieces of junk all over the world and even in the jurisdiction where I retired.
Thanks again for your expertise.

drobs

quote:Originally posted by mark christian
Without seeing the rifle I am figuring that Blue Ridge produced the receiver and then Hess assembled an East German parts kit onto to it in order to build a complete rifle. I do not have any information on the quality of the numerous USA made AK receivers but as Llama already stated; Hess had (they changed their name a few times to get out of warranty claims and lawsuits) had perhaps the worst reputation in the industry for quality and functioning. Genuine semi automatic East German AKs were never imported into the USA but numerous parts kits were imported and often sued for builds. The EG AKMs used an unusual brown plastic stock set with a unique pebble finish and this can be seen on the fifth rifle from the left in my photo:


And another view:





Mark I note you're missing the correct lower bakelite forearm that goes with that East German stock set. I have one if you want it. I sold off the rest of the stock but kept the lower forearm for a underfolder of mine. I've since switched the rifle to Bulgarian black polymer.

BTR - "Deadly pieces of junk" huh?
Good luck with that attitude.


I appreciate your very kind offer but I have the correct piece, I simply like the looks of the wood. Thank you anyway drobs.