The Kalashnikov assault rifle has many modifications. However, not everyone knows that there is an AK-74, which differs from the standard model only in that it has a green forend. Such a specific machine gun was produced during the years of the Soviet Union at Izhmash for a reason. Moreover, not every serviceman could get his hands on it. It's time to find out what they were for and who they relied on.
Kalashnikov assault rifles with a green forend, grip, butt and magazines are rare. These were produced on the native "Izhmash" during the Soviet Union in small batches as awards. Interestingly, they relied only on the soldiers of the country's border troops, who were under the auspices of the KGB. These were far from the first award machines for border guards in the history of the USSR. However, machines with a green forend began to be made in 1974.
The award signatures could be slightly different. There were such:
And such:
An important distinctive feature of the award weapon was that it had a sign with the inscription: “To an excellent border guard winner in socialist competition. Designer M. Kalashnikov ". The plate was most often black or brown. Depending on the series, the plastic green butts could also differ. Some of them, for example, had a smooth surface with a rubber butt pad. Other butts were distinguished by the presence of side recesses. Inside each butt was a pencil case with accessories for the care of weapons.
During the years of the USSR, such AKMs were stored at border outposts and were like a pennant passing from hand to hand. Of course, such a weapon was relied only on soldiers who distinguished themselves in service or training. The set with the machine gun also included green shops. They could also have slight differences, depending on the production batch. Sometimes, due to "supply problems", the shade of the magazines (or some magazines) might not match the shade of the forend, stock and handle.
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After the collapse of the Soviet Union, award machines have not gone anywhere. At first, they remained at the border posts of the republics that seceded from the country. However, today such weapons are not in service and are a real rarity - the dream of a domestic collector. This is because most of the green AKMs were either destroyed in 1990-2000 during the mass disposal of small arms or were “lost”.
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Do you want to know even more interesting things? Then read about why licensed copies of Soviet AKs from Germany did not have ramrods and pencil cases in the butt.
Source: https://novate.ru/blogs/231119/52508/