Is Converting Your Chinese MAK-90 Worthwhile? (Pros/Cons Over A Norinco Jing-An Rifle) 

I've got 5 MAK90s, 4 milled and one stamped. Picked them up about 5 years ago before the market went nuts... I love them but I dont think ill buy another one now that they are over 1000 each. However... Among the milled I have MAK90 S/N 0001, it is such a jewel of my collection.

You are one of the most informative channels, always appreciate your views and knowledge.

I picked up a mak90 that someone converted in the late 90s got it for a really good price. Who ever did the conversion did a great job shoots straight cool piece of 90s gun culture in my opinion.

Right when I think I know a firearm, Mishaco teaches me otherwise. Always informative . Bless you sir.

Great video misha ! I thought of doing one of these at one time but I changed my mind ! Hope all is well ! My first Ak was a Mak 90 bought it when I was 18 at a garage sale for 150 .

Excellent video! Thanks for sharing.

I love my Mac90. Runs smoothly. Great video! Come to kalashbash next year please.

Loving this channel

I had a MAK-90 milled with that slant cut. Made attaching a stock hard so I welded another tang on the bottom and made the damn stock out of rough oak. Best thing I ever did as it turned out great. Added enough US paretrs for 922r and been spitting out rounds for over 10 years with it. What a nice gun.

I have a stamped, square cut Norinco MAK-90 that I got right at the beginning of the ban. The key selling points were "chrome lined bore" and "You can't get these anymore." In the box was a sling, a 5 round magazine to make New York State happy, a cleaning rod with nowhere on the rifle to put it, and an in-stock trapdoor style cleaning kit, also with nowhere to put it. I remember scrambling to buy pre-ban "high capacity" 30 round mags at 3 times what they were worth. Two I shoot with, two are still in cosmoline and brown paper. The handguards always wiggled when cammed in, and I have been filing, carving and sanding on that "thumbhole" stock since then to make it more hand shaped. Finally, this year I got fed up and decided to change it. Magpul AK Stock, handguards, and K2 pistol grip. All in Flat Dark Earth and all kinds of 922r points. 😊Pmags are good for 3 points each, one for the mag body, one for the follower, and one for the base plate. I love the upgrades, and the rifle is 3 lbs lighter without the Chinese lumber. All the polymer furniture fits tightly with no slack, slop, or wiggle anywhere. I should have done this way sooner.

I've converted two MAK-90'S some years ago when the parts and wood was still very cheap and it was everywhere also I did it myself it was a cool project for me but I also own a machine shop so it made it a lot easier

I’ve probably told you this before but I’ve threaded 4 MAK90’s with the 14/1 LH twist and had absolutely no problems with the muzzle brakes. 3 were milled and 1 stamped. I also bought 2 underfolder chinese AK’s that had a plug installed where the underfolder stock goes and the welded a tang on the back to accommodate a thumbhole stock. The treads were still there except they somewhat hammered them down. I bought the Chinese underfolder stock to put on ind it fits perfectly. Also I used the die to restore the threads and it worked perfectly. It still had the cleaning rod in it and a hole to put a plunger back in the sight post. Just wanted to share. Those cost me $189 and my milled MAC’s cost $225

F ing A Mishaco. Thanks man. This is right up my alley.

the days of $400 maks are over :(

I bought a new early "MAK90" import that wasn't marked MAK90 and I spiked it. Glad I did but still into it a 1,000 bucks. Who else dreams of imports being allowed back from China?

It's important to remember the standard issue PLA ones don't have a threaded muzzle. Parts from recreator and PSA are not so pricy. Also on forums you can find people that do slant cut rewelds, and bayo lug welds for a decent price, Also sometimes you can get parts from deactivated AKs the old EU spec was a cut bolt face and barrel weld and drill the new spec , sometimes the whole action is welded but the parts for a conversion are still fine. I think it all depends on the price, type and condition of a MAK-90 But I also feel that the Vepr porter imports where some of the best and you can still get them for a reasonable price. If you can find a square back it will make life easy but I have converted Standard Vepr sporters and some of the front end parts can be hard to find but you can cheat a little if you have some creative welding skills. Even if you just convert it to accept standard mags with a bullet guide and buy a standard stock made to fit the slant cut they are some of the best AKs you can buy well they an RPK but have different calibers and barrel lengths. I feel if you wanted to buy a new I would go with a Zastava USA M70 The Zastava M90 in 5.56 is also great and I love the fact it has an 18" barrel as 5.56 wad made for a 20" and I don't like them shorter than 18" A decent WASR 10 is also great if you want a standard AKM platform but you will want to change out the FCG with a roky semi auto and break the weld on the piston and reinstall it with a pin rivet. You can buy a kit that has the romy FCG, piston and also pistol grip and maybe the T nut and bolt from centerfire systems or RTI for under 20 bucks, the rivet is a few bucks from apex. They just used the cheapist plastic furniture as the wood furniture before that was awful so get a laminate wood stock set online or whatever you like. 922R only effects the seller, if you buy it you can put what you want on it and their is no way to prove that it's US made or not. Ironically the main problem with the AK community now is if you shoot 7.62x39 and especialy 5.45x39 but I would allways use Russian steel case 9mm and .223 I realy hope someone will fill the void at under 30 cents per 7.62x39 round but that's looking less and less likely. Maybe time will tell and if Russia calms down or breaks apart then maybe but I don't see that happening anytime soon or ever. It's funny how a decent AR build even with FNH quality barrels are now cheaper than AKs If it keeps up I would think that we could possibly see an import chambered in .300 and from a reloaders point of view if you put in the work the cases are free and 125 grain bullets that are lead cast and powder coated work just fine with a full powered loading. So if your willing to put in a little work you just need to pay for primers and powder.

So PSA got back to me they wont sell the FSB as a part right now but have plans to do this in the future so had to order one thru Polytech parts for $280 with shipping. So I am forging ahead with my Milled type 56 clone parts should get here next week got everything else for the build.

I found a mak in a pawn shop about 8 years ago for $400. It was brand new, I threw on a bonesteel folding stock, threaded the barrel and left the rest alone. Still one of my favorite ak’s and one of the smoothest.

My 5.56 mak-90 has had a broken stock for a long time. After this vid I got it out. Has a full squared off receiver,cleaning rod and a threaded barrel. 🤷🏼‍♂️ Ordered new wood for her.

They welded the cleaning rod hole shut on the handguard retainer. The weld is substantially softer than the retainer, and not very difficult to redrill if you get creative.

You can find MAK 90s converted in the low 1000s range so comparable to lots of current imports

I had a MAK-90 milled, slant-cut that had been converted. No bayo, but there was a flash suppressor thing, slip on and pin I believe. The stocks and grip were a red wood laminate, and the stock was made to fit the slant as was, no shims needed.. Fired well, definitely not "stock" but not the neutered version.🤑

Great vid! We need more MAK-90 info. I have a MAK-91 NM (milled) from factory 386. The bh stock and fore-end furniture is dark in color. No bayo lug or cleaning rod but barrel seems to be threaded. It would be great to see a 90 vs. 91 video unless you have already done that. When ppl say MAK-90 does that include 91 or are they really separate and distinct? Or did they just rename it so it wasn’t banned by name on some list? Thx again for the great info!

I bought my Mak90 for $165 back in the day. It had a folding stock receiver. The barrel threads were buzzed off sloppily. Then I got a milled receiver Mak90 and it was cool to shoot. I never updated my Mak90s. I bought a preban and let it go at that.

I have a MAK90 I inherited. As my only 7.62x39 gun, I wanted to focus on making it as shootable as possible. I have a slant back to it but Desert Fox Outfitters makes a MAK90 slant back to M4 adapter that mostly covers the gap. The only "permanent" change I have done to the rifle is to thread the barrel. Everything else done to the rifle can be put back in the original state... there will just be 14x1 LH threads on the end too. Makes for a very fine time shooting!

The Chinese AK has a quality "feel" to it. In my younger years, I saw a brand new dark Polytech Legend at a gunshow. I was blown away by it. I wanted (a great yearning) but I couldn't buy it for several reasons. It instilled in me. I guess it did to many people, too. This might be the reason for people saying "Chinese AK is the best". I then bought a thumb hole Egyptian Maadi for $200 from mail order. (Dealer transfer for $20) This AK totally ruined my AKM picture. It's a cheaply made tin toy. I hated it so much. I sold it as soon as I could. I've since decided to stick with the Chinese AK. I wasn't disappointed. Years later, I've got my dark Polytech Legend. Got T-56-1, spike, and etc. I did pick up a SA-93 along the way.

That MAK-90 came from Keng's Firearm Supply in Atlanta and was previously a Poly-Tech Spike folding bayonet PLA Model !!!

I found a pre ban type 56 on gunbroker a few months ago for $700. No idea how I was lucky enough to be the one to grab it, but it was very obviously owned by someone who bought it cheap and abused the snot out of it. dirtiest gun I've ever seen. Included was a polish bayonet that someone shot a hole in because they left the scabbard on while attached to the gun. But I cleaned it up, oiled it and am going to cherish it forever knowing I will never be able to replace it for that price again.

Regarding the cleaning rod deletion, I think they had them removed because they were NEAR the bayonet, and the people doing the banning had no idea what they were looking at or what it was actually used for. On my MAK-90, you can see where the hole in the lower handguard was welded shut.

I have a MAK 90, owned since the 90's, It has the slant back and Desert Fox Outfitters had parts to attach a collapsable stock and a quad rail kit. It's really been great; I got a PSA AKP when they came out and I expected something similar. It was a big disappointment, not even close. I am glad I have it.

Bought one second hand years ago while the getting was still relatively good. Stamped Interstate Arms Billerica, MA. I lucked out and got one with the straight cut under the Butt Hole stock as opposed to the slant. The muzzle appears to have never been threaded as well. About the only thing I did was install Standard Chinese Furniture. The only other consideration I had was to eventually thread for a muzzle device. Anything further would be pointless IMO as like you said it will never be a pre ban. Would it look cool? sure but by the time you spend on all the parts and pay a gunsmith you’d be better off selling and buying the pre ban. Just get out there and enjoy them for what they are folks:) Cheers Misha!!

Nice wood, That stock is absolutely huge!!!!!

I would pay up for the pre ban. This entire video pointed out pitfalls, obstacles, and multiple possibilities for f ups in the conversion. You would really have to be certain that the gunsmith was skilled at AK debanning. I’m not sure those skills are widely available either. I live in a pretty large city in a fairly gun friendly state and I can’t find anyone close to de ban an AK.

I always enjoy your excellent vids! I was luck enough to pick up a Norinco preban underfolder. But someone removed the underfolder furniture and put on an aftermarket dragonov sniper stock. I would like to return it to original underfolder. Do you know of any source for Chinese underfolder furniture kit? Thanks!

My mak has the norinco stamp under the front trunnion. Its scrubbed but can barely make out the 56-2. Sadly it doesn't have the side folder, it does have the wood stock and grip tho.

Thanks!

Love my 56-1 under folder, pre ban excellent condition, can't believe how much they have gone up in price lol

Ive run into this issue with my SLR95. Ive decided to keep it as is. I wouldconvert my sar2 if the fsb wasnt unobtainium

Paid $200 for mine maybe 7 years ago. Replaced stock with folding ACE, and a reddish USP grip. Finish did blemish on one side of receiver. Shoots just fine. Wouldn’t spend hundreds more for furniture and re-mil, plus fees for build. Have probably ten parts kit builds AK47/74 Yugo, Romy, Bulgarian, Saiga conversion was my first. Mak90 operates quite smoothly. Like all of them.

Seen multiple come thru local shop, milled, stamped and the 5.56 version.

Mak-90 's here in Florida Gun shows are expensive: Pre-ban $2,800-3,200 and Post-ban $1,700. Haven't see a pre-ban for over a year now. Chinese mags $50-100 and those with Chrome follower ~ $ 200-300. Both Mak-90's I own cycle Bear subsonic ammo without an issue and Xtec mags work very well.

Really enjoy your channel. I have a Mak-90 Sporter in 7.62X39 the serial number has K94 in the prefix with JPE Pomona CA. I haven't seen anyone mention an alfa character in their serial number before. Can you help me with this? or is it just a quirk? I haven't been able to determine where it was manufactured other than being stamped made in china.

Does anyone else feel hunger for another AK video an hour after watching a Chinese?

Im saving up money to buy my moms friends mak 90 to just enjoy. I personally like the look for what they are.

Well I just got a excellent Mak90 on a gun trade I couldn't pass it up so now my dilemma is that I have an original Chinese 56 hooded fsb with fangs for cleaning rod or should I do the spiker route ?

Where do I find information on parts identifaction for the MAK 90? Are there any good books? I have one where the previous owner install the underfolder stock, looks like it was in the box which I have as well.I also have the plug that was in the reciever.

I have the same opinion. Only replace the stock and pistol grip; leave the front end alone. I've seen guns like that. I like the outcome.

Would love a follow up video on the pioneer arms forged series AKM you guys were abusing, what happened? Would like to know if it's holding up. Also would love too see a review on the Riley defense ak-74 5.45

years ago i ground the middle out of my front sight hood and to me the weapon is 100% perfect the stock is what makes it so good why o why would anybody change perfection

My thumb hole ban gun was $249 new in 1994. All I have done to it is put a $29 clearance Tap Co folding stock and pistol grip on it. It's has Ben behind the seat of every truck I have had since then. I am now looking for A good light mount. I have a small three rail mount around the sight on my AR's. It's by Yankee Hills Machine I love them. Now do they make anything for the old Chinese Mac 90's ?

I love my Mak-90.

I own a misr/mak90 and i am probably going to copy the Charlie sheen ak ,when he goes after Barnes. (Hardstock Spyker)

Well I just bought a Mak-90 (impulse buy from a pawn shop). Let the conversion begin!

Hello Mishaco I have a type 56 from the early 80's imported by Golden State Arms it is a spiker with a stock and next to the magwell it is engraved ging-an,china 7.62 and it is in excellent condition.Any hint you could give me on value would be appreciated.thank you

I lovey my ban gun. No flash hider. At dusk she really spits a fire ball out a long way.

As far as converting mak 90's goes, just get a stock and pistol grip and call it a day in my opinion. Chinese type 56 style furniture is available new if you look. Imported from europe where the chinese are still selling AK pattern rifles. What I will say is converting the front end might be a little more practical if PSA starts selling parts for their clone rifle

You can still use the long mags with the thumbhole stock AKs. The Thumbhole stock guns are an interesting piece of history. I feel as sad to see those converted as I do when I see people ruin military bolt action rifles by cutting down the stocks and adding junk to make them look tacticool.

The thumb hole stocks sucked because they were too large in the grip for my hand. I modified several back in the 90s. I still have 2 or 3 unmodified thumb hole stocks like those. Have a polymer dragunov stock set too.

31:05 Butthole stocks 😂

Sad that ironwood closed after the owner passed. I have one of their stocks on my bwk92 to de-ban it. Not sure what options are out there now for a correct looking Chicom stock.

I got a milled mak 90 missing the stock so I got an adaptor and added a mission first stock. I then added a spiker kit from polytech USA. I then added a Attero mount and holosun 403B. the gun is insane half modern wood forend and spiker milled. Its so nasty!

I believe polytech still sells parts necessary to do a spiker conversion

First !!! Got my Norinco back in 91-92 for I think $300 or thereabout. Found a normal stock, grip, handguards and sight/spike assembly in a box of junk at a yard sale for $50 years later. The wood was light blonde and was refinished in a dark cherry stain much like yours. Still have all the original ugly parts just in case. I agree with your opinion regarding original collector value. An untouched MAK 90 is like a low mile all original AMC Pacer.

had a bwk-92 that the Chinese even welded closed the cleaning rod hole in the hand guard front plate and sanded smooth and re-blued before importing ...??

Hey Misha, Since Zastava has not updated the ban are they considered now pre ban? Lol

Ironwood designs makes wood stock for mac90 that covers that gap

Bought 2 Chinese thumbholes. Did not convert either but checking the net looks like I need to consider selling, lol.

😮😳😀😊😎👍🏼 Option “A” Go With a Preban Model

I have owned many MAK90s 91s also I think the easiest conversion was buying a Milled Gas block and Milled FSB and threaded the barrel called it a day when the Chinese buttock came up I installed it that was a nice easy conversion. Its hard to do a spiker the parts are almost non existent or $400 for a fsb. But if I had another Mak 90 that's what I would do but I am hopeful that PSA sells the spiker fsb separately. Anyway its just a matter of having the parts keeping cost low and you can have a nice looking unbanned Mak90 if the price is right I would do it again.

Got myself a MAK 90 during Covid for $800. Started switching out the butthole stock for a bonesteel foldable stock and an aluminum grip from KGB. Threaded the barrel myself and added a JMAC GFHC flash hider and installed an Attero Arms Bravo mount for my Holosun 503gu. Switched the upper handguard for a cheese grater from Khyber Customs and the lower for a PSA dong i chopped and refinished. Embrace modernity

The amount of filing on parts I've put on the MAK90😭

I bought a MAC 90 back in the early 90's for $125. It's a slant back. I found a polymer stack set for the slant back and a pinned muzzle break for it. It's odd that it has a Maadi receiver with Chinese parts.

I had a hard time finding a stock for my slant cut mak90, then I found kalashcarver and they saved the day lol

I have 2 square back Mak 90’s. The first one has the MagPul Zhukov stock with Magpul grip and hand guard. Ultimak with a PA MRDS. The second one is still in thumbhole stock configuration. It will eventually get a woodstock with wood grip. Wanting to put Chinese type 56 furniture on it but will probably be USA made stuff since the Chinese stuff is expensive. Will leave this AK as a iron sited rifle. It won’t be a type 56 no matter what I do to it so why should I spend so much for Chinese furniture. I just wanted it to kind of have the looks of a 56. I do like both of these AK’s. Got the first one for $450 maybe 8 years ago. The second one I got for $650 a couple years later. The $650 at the time would have been considered expensive at the time but because of its condition I bought it. Both of my Mak 90’s are in excellent condition and are some of my favorite AK’s that I own.

I have one with the same initials on the side. C.J.A sfld MI. I live in Michigan and my dad purchased it years ago.

I love ak's but I've never been into the Chinese aks

Where are you finding Chinese Chu Wood stocks? I've scoured the internet and I can't find any

I had to change the stock on mine. My thumb wouldn't fit through the thumb hole. Was the stock designed for a 12 year old?

The wood sucks. The wood on mine was awful and cheap. threaded the barrel. Ar stock conversion. Magpul handguard. Attero arms optic mount. And a xp recoil spring cause it's extremely overgassed. Accurate and reliable. The double hook ak trigger isn't as nice as a tapco trigger but it's not terrible.

This is closest thing we will ever get to a real milled receiver AK47 here in the United States.. not really any surprise that these have skyrocketed in value.

I can't weld for shit I wonder Why😎

I got one years back at a pawn shop that was slightly "bubba'd". Nothing ridiculous though. Did not have the original wood furniture. Just seeing gun joker prices for chicom wood sets alone is a deal breaker for me. I'm not knocking anyone's hustle because i understand why prices are the way they are. But its jusy too ridiculous for me. Id rather just enjoy mine like it is even if its not in its "collectables" configuration.

Pre 94 go for 1900+ in Massachusetts, its the only AKs available.

WOW! 2x playback speed is very much required !! 2.5x would be even better. Mental slowpokes and people who talk like they haven't had any sleep in 3 days

So is the PSA the best cheap way to have a spiker? Lol

What about 922r compliance?

Wait there are people who just bought a mak90 who got a free third cut ? That’s honestly crazy that they made it though and into the market. I wonder how many ?

I have a sa2000 i was debating to convert, i decided to keep it my ugly duckling because i do not have the tools or time and the magwell situation.

If I were to get a MAK-90, I'd leave it as-is. Just for the sake of historical reference of this is what people had to deal with back then.

Suprised U said nothing about lower h/guard for a Spiker!

I know a guy with 2. He put a buffer tube on the back of one and changed out all of the furniture and trigger etc. . The other one had started life as an under folder and he’d asked me what he could do. I had no ideas. Is there something he can do, besides leaving it be?

Can anyone recommend a gunsmith to do a conversion for us lazy armchair enthusiasts?

I can’t find a mak 90. My dad had one years ago

1 more 4 the AlGoreRhythym💪🤙🇺🇸

Who else is having flashbacks to North Hollywood seeing that thumbhole 😂

I wish theyd import the chu furniture

I did mines a few years ago, right before the price went skyrocket. parts and labor cost me about 6 beans. im in it for 1600 beans + binary 2100... 😂😂😂

My sample was a clean unused one, must have been from a collection, the first owner after it came to local shop only fired 20 rounds then returned it, because his shooting buddy is a Vietnam vet and couldn't handle the sound of it firing, I got it and removed the wood put on inexpensive aluminum handguard and cheap folding ati stock with magpul grip. Just recently had a red stain wood stock hit the bargain bin at local shop, so now I have that on instead of the ATI. Has the square back stamped receiver.

Those new Soviet Arms PSA spikers are neat

Just enjoy your tools.