From Junk To Gold: The Chinese MAK-90 Story 

Earl @ 15:25.

I inherited one of these from my grandfather. My uncle and cousin (who had first dibs on his guns) dismissed it because of the sporter features and gave it to me, while keeping the other "cool" AK. The "cool" AK they kept was junk, jammed every other round, and handled like a rattly box of nails. It turns out I got a real solid AK. I almost sold it, but decided to do some research first. I now plan on keeping it. Thanks for the video.

Somebody kick me...I worked for a distributor back in the mid-'90s, just as the bans and laws were going down, and could buy them for $179...But noooo; I didn't want that 'cheap Chinese Commie junk'. NOW, I understand something of their quality. My boss, BTW, got rich selling AKs and SKS' by the truckload.

Me, my brother, and all of our friends bought these by the dozens long with the RML and ARM Maadi's. Very short purchase windows on these in the early 90's. Along with extremely cheap surplus ammo ($89for 1600 rounds) we put 10's of thousands of rounds through these. It was always a hunt to find them without the cut receiver under the thumbhole stock. Typical was the light wood 1.5mm stamped receiver version Mishaco shows here but we would pickup forged versions with dark wood on occasion. Some were even stamped for the under folder. As a test, One of the mak-90's was fired over many thousands of rounds over 4-5 years without cleaning just to see how well they held up and it was impressive. The rails and bolt was literally caked with old fouled powder residue with the consistency of muddy crud and eventually the bolt would not go into battery. Very impressive, military grade stuff here!

I've been looking for a Mishaco Mak 90 video as I just bought one last month. I found one unfired, like new, still in the box with all original accessories for $700. Thank you for the information.

man this is really making me miss my norinco mak-90 . i loved that rifle sooo much. one of the best rifles i have ever owned. and believe me ive owned many. lol. this was an awesome and very interesting all inclusive video. keep it up, this is awesome. you have earned yourself a new subscriber.

Misha, you stand alone in your quality of info and video presentation. Thanks for professionals like you. I hope you pass this level of common sense to a future great like you. Thanks mishaco.

I'm amazed by the wealth of knowledge you have on many platforms and glad to see you did a video on one of my favorite collector items. I thought it was interesting you went into conversion vs. buying preban as well and touched on the nuances with that. I've personally done a few with the milled MAK90 being my favorite turning out a few "double folders" with spike bayonet and Chicom folding stocks. As you've highlighted, parts alone are nearly impossible to find or cost more than the entire gun back in the day. My first Chinese AK type was a B-West import that I have to this day and have added close to 100 or so of all different importers and models. As ugly as the thumbhole stock looks - they are VERY comfortable to shoot from my experience.

Great story brother. I have a mac-90 since 91. I have shot 1000's of rounds and I love my mac-90. Thank you for the history. great video

thanks so much for this video. you answered some questions about my MAK90 milled reciever. I really appreciate your videos.

You sir are a gift to the gun community! Thank you for all the informative videos. I learned a lot today thanks to you ✊.

Excellent video once again Misha. Thank you.

I remember when these norinco mak-90 carbines were on sale locally for $225.00.....hindsight is 20-20

great video man. Learned a ton and I love the MAK-90. Shoutout to Earl!

I've been waiting for this video. Thank you sir.

Very informative video, your channel is one of my favorite ones....Very well produce..

Damn I remember seeing them for less than $200 at the time.....25 years ago...

Been waiting for this video for a while. Excellent information as usual. I have a 1994 dated MAK90 and it is a beautiful gun thank God. Hard to find reliable information on them on the internet though until this video but I always wondered what the history behind those guns were. I remember the 1994 ban and being in a gun shop that year with crates of these for sale for $200 each. I sure miss those days. Thank Earl for the cameo as well.

Good delivery, a lot of good information. Thanks

This video brought back some memories. I used to own three Mak 90s that I bought from Carolina Firearms in 1996 / 97. They had a case of them on the floor there going for about 300 or so a piece.

Love the Info & your take on the MAK90.. Thank You..& Earl

I bought mine in 1994 right before bubbas ban for under 300 dollars. At the time i wasnt thrilled because of its appearance but now i am so happy i kept it.

“Evil features” such a great list of awesome additions! Really appreciate your sharing time educating on some good information.

I bought a case of 5 Norinco milled receiver MAK90’s in the early ‘90’s for $275 ea. They are marked on the receiver 386 from the factory they were produced in. I still own 3. Sold 1 and gave one to my son. I also bought 2 underfolder Norinco MAK90’s for $175 ea. The receiver was plugged where the underfolder is installed. A tang was welded on the receiver so it could be sold as a MAK90. Another caught in transition gun. I bought the original Chinese underfolder stocks about the same time (1990’s). Installed it on one and the other is untouched as I bought it. The barrels were also threaded but were slightly “distorted” to comply as a “non threaded” barrel. A 14x1 left hand thread cutter restored it back to original threading. Just thought I’d share this little piece of history as you shared to me. Thank you for your videos as I really appreciate the time you spend and your love for these great, so called by our gun grabbing government, “assault rifles”!

The first one I bought in 1992 was a Norinco for $189. I traded it for a 44 mag pistol... which was dumb. But, it wasn't half as accurate my Norinco SKS I bought a few weeks earlier for $89. I still have the SKS. My buddy just sold me his for Norinco MAK90 for $400...Score! Love the channel, thanks for sharing your knowledge.

I owned one of these for number of years. Loved it. Thanks for the trip down memory lane.

I was laughed at for buying one around 1994-95 for $225 . I traded it for a super nice dirt bike and now I am regretting it..LOL

4 years late but I fired this beauty last weekend as my friend has one and I fell in love immediately

Hey Misha the thing I love the most about your channel is that you respond to people's questions and comments. On behalf of gun enthusiast everywhere can you please tell Tim at MAC to make a video talking about the ban on chinese firearms as well as creating a movement to remove the ban on chinese guns. If the ban were removed it would have so many benefits to the 2nd amendment community firearms and ammunition will be inexpensive and widely available. I am 100% sure people will listen to his movement. Just like when he told people to call representatives and the NRA over bump stocks people listened and I belive enough people will get behind this movement if it is created. Thank you for everything Misha your more important and awesome then you think.

I originally purchased my MAK-90 in 1996 @ Will-Rodgers TX gunshow for $179, with bipod. Enjoyed it for a while. Had a drilled & tapped side scope mount fitted to it. Then my Chinese buddy I grew up with wanted it. Purchased it from me & changed the furniture out to a Dragunov style stock & fore-grip. He had it for ~ 18 years before I recently got it back from him. Brought back lots of memories when I shot it all over again the other day. Love that gun! I will be threading the barrel soon for a muzzle break. But I don’t care much about the bayonet, so I won’t worry with that.

I got one of the Poly Tech “caught on the boat” AKSs in 1997. It had a thumb hole stock, the spike was ground off and the nut was welded. The gun was called a “Sporter”. It’s the Poly Tech AKS-762 model imported by KFS of Atlanta Ga. but they laser cut “SP” right after the AK-762 on the receiver. It did come with the cleaning rod. And what they did was take the box and turn it inside out and cut the styrofoam to fit the thumbhole stock. There was the green plastic oil bottle but only one 5 rd magazine. But there was a space for the three 30 rd mags in the styrofoam . As soon as I got it I put on the correct Chinese chu wood furniture set sold by Kengs firearms parts. I removed the destroyed front sight and replaced it with an East German AK47 sight with the correct 3/4” pin spacing. And the East German sight is the correct barrel diameter for this Chinese gun. I’m an AK collector and of all the AKs I have, this particular firearm is the most accurate AK I have.

Thank you for your expertise. Very well done! I am looking at one of these right now

Great information in this video. Thanks!

*Another AK VIDEO!! Thank youuuu Misha*

Great info and a nice visit from the coolest cat in town, Big Earl

Moshe you are very knowledgeable-thanks for the info! I love my Mac 90 as is!

Have had mine for over 20 years....still my favorite rifle to shoot.

I love your videos thanks for all the hard work ,I am a Chinese AK Junkie I had a milled mak-90 underfold a few stamped Mak 90s, never had the extra cash to buy a pre band Spiker, now I just have a Arsenal Bulgarian slr107fr.

Nice, informative video! I'm in the process of getting a MAK-90 sporter converted to a spiker with a folding bayonet, as we can't have Chinese AK's in CA since they're banned by name, so building one up from a parts kit is our only option here. Should be a nice rifle once it's all said and done, but like you put it when it's done, in the ballpark of $1500-1700. That Polish AKM that I bought from you (the same kind that Jay has) shoots fantastic! Keep up the awesome videos!

Hey Misha one thing I wanted to mention is that there ARE in fact a small number of MILLED MAK-90s with the standard "straight cut" receiver and will accept any standard fixed stock for a milled receiver. I've personally witnessed and handled 1 of these and 2 others have been found online by collectors. At least 2 of them have been converted back into "legend configuration" with type-3 barrel parts installed in place of their neutered mak-90 barrel parts. You can easily spot these rifles when in their original condition because they will have the sling swivel on the side of the receiver.

Thanks Misha. Picked up an unfired 1994 Mac 90 a 1-1/2 years ago for $700. Had the square back receiver. Ordered a Ironwood stock, fore grips and pistol grip. I'm in it for around $1050. Here in Idaho its pretty dry so I don't have to worry about rust. I love mine, great quality and I would like to own a preban Chinese some day. Really love my wum and romak the best of my collection. My sa85 m is pretty also but the first Romy's is the closest to a true mill spec Ak in my opinion. Thanks!

Just picked up a Mak90 and LOVE it! I'm an average shot and was able to hit clays at 200 yards with open sights all day long! Thanks for a great and thorough review.

Great informative video. I just inherited one from my pops and you broke everything down.

Great stuff my friend.

I am amazed by this guy his knowledge is incredible wow just wow

I picked up a lightly used one for less than 800 doll hairs. I did get rid of the funky paperclip BS and put the plate in. My safety lever comes off normally now. I got the Tapco G2 trigger in and I shaped the hammer so it's more rounded off, like Jim Fuller mentioned in one of his videos. I did a Ritt dye job on a tan magpul grip and it came out nice and bakelite brownish. I have the bonesteele right hand folder stock and I love how it fits the slant cut receiver I have. The stock is very solid and smooth. For shits and giggles I installed a strike industries recoil buffer and I got a few Hungarian tanker mags too, the hard to find and expensive 20 rounders of course. I did install the Romanian dong hand guard/vertical grip combo, it took some sanding but it finally fit nice and smooth. I've had Bulgarian, Russian, Romanian, and now Chinese. Of course the Arsenals and Saigas were nice but my Mak90 is pretty sweet. I like the build quality and I can't find anything wrong with it. I know 922R is lame but I didn't want to have anything to worry about so my Mak90 is fully converted and compliant. I did take a round file to the rear sight notch and opened it up. My eye is drawn into my sight alignment much easier now. The slightly extended mag release is also very nice. Only issue I have is that my Romanian drum mags do not want to click into place. So once I figure out where on the rear latch I have to file, I will make sure one of the drums fit. If you want to get one, you should get one now while supplies last and the prices are under a grand.

Wow...I am impressed with your channel. I learned a lot about AK's thier modern history, what's out there and pros and cons of each!!! Thank you for sharing your knowledge. I am going to subscribe to your channel

I came close to selling mine a few times. I bought it for about $275 a long time ago. Glad now that I didn't sell it.

So informative. Great video!

Great Video Mischaco. Thank you for sharing this important information relating to the history of the Norinco AK. I bought one that has a folding stock, the bayonet lug was shaved off but it does have a cleaning rod and a spot weld on the front. I have had this rifle since the late 80’s or early 90’s. I’m waiting for the day, I’m going to shoot this rifle (or trade it off).....cheers

Superb video!

I have one of these from ‘84 and it has always been one of my favorites out of my collection.

I don’t comment much on videos but I have to say I am kinda hooked on your channel and due to this video I made this my first AK. Unfortunately my stock is a synthetic SVD style. Would really like to convert to the wood furniture. But in due time maybe I can do that. Thanks for the great video

I can remember when the MAK-90's were going for $ 157 tax included with one 5 round magazine and 2 / 30 round magazines brand new in the box

I knew back then at my local gun dealer that this was a renamed AK 47. I laughed when i saw it and how ugly it was but bought it immediately for $300.00 the owner said he had 2 left and they were being discontinued. I grabbed them both right then and there. Around the same time i purchased a Colt AR 15 that had been re-packaged as a "sporter" H-bar .223 for $1100.00 i knew that was a way around the nonsense laws at the time. Unbelievable. Sometimes you can just feel it in your gut to just buy it.

Love your impromptu visitor!

Just inherited one of these from my dad. Really excited about it!

I got one at a pawn shop . looks new. Low serial # & numbers matching only one original 30 rd mag has not been altered. has the threaded barrel & it's in 5.56×45 mm. Works awesome I don't plan on changing anything on it. I love the way it looks with the thumb hole stock .& did I mention that its awesome !!!!! Sweet trigger too

Trying to watch this video with terrible wifi. My late father bought a milled Mak90 386. I'm glad I know what it is. He would have loved to know his was a under folding gun. He liked the thumb hole stock since he had big hands. Thanks for the great video.

That danged ol cat's tryin to steal the show. As always, great vid guys.

Thank you Misha. Appreciate the import info along with the info on the features. My Mak-90 was a China Sports import and it still has the threads on the barrel at the front sight base. Ive kept it the same as how it was sold. Ours came with Russian 30 rd mags in the styrofoam lined box with the short mags, an oil bottle and a sling. You never mentioned the vent holes in the gas system!

Thanks for the informative vid.

Another good video sir! I think pre ban Chinese Ak’s are some of the best looking variants.

got a mak 90 in 2017 for $600 not a bad price put a kvar stock desert tan and it looks fantastic thanks for the history misha always enjoy it since I just barely started watching also have one of the norinco/Maadi kits and had Northwestgunsupply build it turned out beautiful he will be excited to hear about the history he was telling me that this kit was like half norinco and half Maadi but it has CIA on the left side hence your story fits good stuff would love to talk one day. From northern az thanks

Best 🐈 ever love your channel and your beautiful cats stay awesome greetings from Slovenia

Misha, I have two MAK90’s chambered in 5.56. One is stamped with triangle 66 on the trunion and the other is stamped with the norinco symbol on the receiver. Both imported by KSI Pomona CA. Both have factory threaded barrels with detents and the cleaning rods. The bayonet lugs have been cut off. Both have original pistol grips and stock but I suspect they were added by previous owners.

Magnificent reliable rifle. Love the thumb stock

Extremely informative, interesting, and well presented. While I am an AKphile and build AKs, I know very little about the Chinese counterparts. I just cannot believe the prices said rifles can go for now.

Hey guy, I threaded my MAK90 barrel with a kit from CNC warrior kit (14x1LH) and like you said the sight post doesn’t have the detent pin so I had to use red locktight to keep the brake in place. Thanks for sharing!!

You address something I'd recently been thinking - putting in all the costs for new furniture, a new front site block with the spike bayonet, plus labor...you might as well buy a pre-ban. It's certainly put me on hold on any future conversions for my MAK.

I bought one of these the day I turned 18. I paid 199.99 new in the box. 75 rnd drums were 30 each and the 30 rnd mags were 5 dollars,this was retail. 1000 rnds of 7.62x39 steel core ammo for 90 dollars. I fired this stamped receiver rifle thousands of times,never a jam. These are excellent guns. They are the exact same as the earlier pre ban rifles,just put on that God awful stock and they milled the bayonet lug off and welded on the muzzle break. If you can get one for a decent price do it

Desert Fox Outfitters also makes adapters for both milled and stamped Mak 90's with slant cut receivers. i own one of each, and almost a dozen chinese maks and they work great.

I’m glad you talked about it not being a good idea to spend the money to deban.i have a beautiful mak90 that’s unfired and I still haven’t converted it.its threads were never turned down either.i have a nhm90 that I shoot.it actually had threads

Nice video man. Good info. I miss the days of cheaper AK’s. Prices certainly haven’t come done, but thankfully MAK90’s haven’t risen as much as others. $799 Wasr 10’s is insanity. I’ll gladly spend 200-300 more and get a nice MAK90

Got one around 1994-95 at a gun show new in box for $185., still have it , it was my first AK .

Great video

GREAT video thanks.

My MAK-90 has never miss fired, ever. Wish I would have kept the stock furniture. Love that gun.

Great info, thx!

Very solid vid. Earl is awesome too.

I bought a MAK-90 brand new in box sometime around 1990. The box was a little rough but not bad and the gun is just like it came from the factory including the wrapped up green strap and tool kit (IIRC). It looks brand new and it's never been fired. I would have never thought it would be appreciating over the years which makes me wonder what a brand new in box MAK-90s is worth. I haven't had it out of the box for years, so I might be wrong on what's in the box, but I know it looks like brand new. It has a funky wood stain just like the one in this video. When I bought it I got a brick of Russian ammo wrapped up in paper or something and thought it would be cool to keep them together over the years.

Hey Misha . I really like your channel. I would like to see a polytech legend national match review. I got one but no many info videos about it.

Bought one in 1994 still have it had the hole for the folder and i put a folder on it . If could only have one gun it would be my norinco type 56 or my moss berg 88. Almost forgot my norinco is one of the most accurate guns I’ve ever fired. Type 56` are what the seals choose when in the Middle East. You’re awesome buddy.

The MAK90 was the rifle that is partially responsible for starting my passion for firearms. I was shooting at a public range when I was around 8 years old with my father, who only owned hunting rifles and revolvers. A young man, looked very military, was shooting a MAK. Saw my excited eyes and offered if I would like to shoot it. It was a magical moment. There was no recoil, butter action, and every shot hit dead center. I was hooked. Got my first Tula side folding SKS within a couple years. Just never got around to buying a MAK90. Sadly now they cost easily 3X what they did then.

I still can't believe the double underfolder you had not too long ago sold for 2,600 and NIB legends routinely go for close to 3K. Prices on pre ban chinese AKs have gotten stupid recently. Sucks for me cause I'm always wanting to add more to my collection.

First time watching your channel, and it was very informative. I found a great deal on a MAK90 but I am wondering about any compliance issues if I change out the furniture. I am sorry if this is a dumb question or if it has already been asked. I looked through the body of your replies and I did not see anything pertaining to this. Thank you for your response and I apologize again if this is a lame question.

That underfolder is beautiful

One thing to watch out for if you're in the market for a MAK 90 are the third pin guns. These are all very late guns that date from just before the 94 import ban, and they're considered contraband as they're on machine gun receivers with the L/D selector markings and sometimes a trunnion where the original model designation has been scrubbed and MAK 90 has been stamped over it. They're typically imported by Labanu, but I have seen a B-West example as well.

Mines came with a 75 round drum and two 30 round mags. I love it still works perfectly.

Awesome Thank You.

My uncle gave me one 10 years ago, it’s 26 years old and only ran 300 rounds thru it

I had a stamped and milled mak90 that i got for less than $550 each, sold both. Now I have one of those transition type 156-1 that's just missing the bayonet lug which I picked up for about $1200.

Great vid. Love Earl too.

There were also the norinco hunters, 3 versions i believe came in post ban. They have a valmet style reciever and use standard akm mags. Pretty pedestrian looking but mate it with a galil parts kit and the required us parts....

Thanks for the knowledge misha love the channel what is the patreon page ?

I love my NHM91. I forget whether I had saved money or if my father bought it for me at the time, but it was 92', 93', or 94'. I saw the ad in a roses paper ad for $199 MAK 90. Went up there and bought it and it took me years to realize it was not a mak 90 but a 'mak 91' and then as I got older to adulthood I realized no, when it says NHM 91 on the gun, it's a NHM 91. I guess I lucked out on it because it had a threaded barrel and could fit any AK magazine in it. I don't remember getting a 75 round drum with it, but I may well had and if I did it ended up with my uncle for one reason or another. But I don't think it had the drum, just the two magazines. Today I have placed a muzzle brake on it, typical AK style furniture, and due to it's great accuracy and weight, I decided to attach a bipod and for it to have drum duty if shit ever hit the fan. It's one heavy gun. I finally bought my first 'AK47' rifle last year so that desire has finally been filled after all these years. I always get that itch to buy the MAK90 I always wanted but I have to remind myself that they are not friendly to the things I want from a AK, so instead I remember that I want a chinese pre ban, not a post ban. I'll get around to buying one one of these days... The only downside is for some dumbass reason I decided to put a M4 style muzzle brake on it. Maybe at the time I really liked it but shortly after I bought my first M4 soo....yeah. The problem is the threads were damaged getting the welded nut off, which was an extreme chore. There's just this one tiny section that's damaged. It seemed like somehow they got a weld into the nut itself that I could not be aware of because I cut through the welds around the nut and it still would not move and it irritated me and I finally hemaned it and it came loose. I want to hope that putting the current brake on it sort of improved the situation and will more so when I take it off. IF I take it off. I really do not want to take it off and the threads become so damaged that I can't install an appropriate, GOOD AK brake that actually works and it not for show. Seems kind of hard to shop for the AK brakes... shrug FYI CORRECTION: It finally came back to me. No I did not receive a drum with my gun, nor did I get 30 round mags. All I got was the 5 round magazine. It's been so long I forgot about that. In those days you didn't get big mags with your chinese AK purchases.

PIcked up one as the "Sporter AK47" in May of 91 ... am keepin it

I bought mine back in 92 for $220.00 and a case of ammo for 80.00. Being a 18 year old who could not cough up the 1k price tag for a colt anything it was my only option. I have shot countless hogs in Georgia and Florida, deer in Missouri and Washington. I bet the snapping turtle population has fallen greatly due to this rifle. I will keep mine forever.

"People didn't know shit about AK's back then" made me lol

I came across a Mac 90 thumb hole with a bipod pinned on at a local Cabelas. Were any imported that way or added by the imported? And yes all the furniture was a little loose like you mentioned.