The following are reports creating using specialized tools to analyze websites and analyze the sentiment of social media posts relating to the AK family of weapons including the AK-47, AK-74, AK-100, AK-12, AK-200 and the many variants that are out there. It is the desire of Ronin’s Grips to set forth objective data to aid in decisionmaking for both buyers and sellers.
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- The AKS-74U “Ukorochenniy”: A Technical and Historical Analysis of the Soviet Compact Carbine and Its Successors September 7, 2025The genesis of the AKS-74U is rooted in the evolving tactical doctrines of the Soviet military in the early 1970s. Following the adoption of the AK-74 and its revolutionary 5.45x39mm small-caliber, high-velocity cartridge, a distinct capability gap was identified. While the new rifle provided a significant advantage in accuracy and effective range for front-line infantry, ...
- Why Data-Driven Insights and Social Media Analytics are Reshaping the Small Arms Market August 28, 2025In the rapidly evolving world of small arms, relying on “gut feelings,” manually browsing a handful of websites, or simply asking a few friends for their opinions is no longer enough. This isn’t your grandfather’s gun market. Today, a sophisticated and demanding consumer base, coupled with relentless technological innovation, has transformed the landscape. If you’re ...
- The Bulgarian Giant: An Analysis of Arsenal and Its Dominance in the U.S. AK Market August 27, 2025The story of Arsenal is a 147-year saga of industrial evolution, mirroring the geopolitical shifts of its native Bulgaria. From its inception as a state-run armory dedicated to national defense to its modern incarnation as a privatized, global defense exporter, each chapter of its history has forged the core competencies that define its market position ...
- The AK-200 Series: A Pragmatic Evolution of the Kalashnikov Platform August 21, 2025The Kalashnikov AK-200 series of assault rifles represents not a revolutionary leap in small arms design, but rather a critical and pragmatic evolution of one of the world’s most iconic firearm platforms. In the landscape of 21st-century warfare, the core principles of the original Kalashnikov design—unflinching reliability, simplicity of operation, and ease of mass production—remain ...
- Forged in the Bloc: An Analysis of the Adoption and Evolution of the Bulgarian Kalashnikov August 19, 2025The Kalashnikov assault rifle, more commonly known as the AK-47, represents one of the most significant and prolific small arms designs of the 20th century. Its global proliferation is a testament to its rugged simplicity, reliability, and ease of manufacture. While its origins are Soviet, the story of the Kalashnikov is incomplete without examining the ...
- WBP Poland: An Industry Analysis of a Modern Kalashnikov Powerhouse August 16, 2025Wytwórnia Broni Jacek Popiński (WBP), a privately-owned Polish firearms manufacturer, has rapidly established itself as a dominant force in the U.S. market for imported Kalashnikov-pattern rifles. Occupying a strategic position in the premium mid-tier segment, WBP has cultivated a formidable reputation for producing firearms that exhibit exceptional quality, fit, and finish, often exceeding the standards ...
- A Tale of Two Russian Arsenals: An Industry Analysis of Kalashnikov Concern and Molot-Oruzhie August 15, 2025This report provides an in-depth analysis of two of Russia’s most significant small arms manufacturers: JSC Kalashnikov Concern and Molot-Oruzhie OOO. While both are rooted in the Soviet arms production system and are globally recognized for their Kalashnikov-pattern firearms, they represent divergent models of the modern Russian defense industry. Kalashnikov Concern stands as the flagship of ...
- The 100-Series: A Technical Analysis of the Kalashnikov Platform’s Bridge to the 21st Century August 10, 2025The Kalashnikov AK-100 series of assault rifles, introduced in the mid-1990s, represents a critical evolutionary juncture in the history of this iconic firearm platform. It was not a revolutionary leap in technology but rather a pragmatic and commercially-driven modernization born from the geopolitical and economic realities of a post-Soviet Russia. To fully comprehend the engineering ...
- An Engineering and Manufacturing History of the AK-47 Barrel August 9, 2025The barrel of the Avtomat Kalashnikova model 1947, or AK-47, was not conceived in an engineering vacuum. It was forged from the brutal lessons of the Second World War and shaped by the specific demands of a new Soviet military doctrine. To comprehend its design, one must first understand the strategic and tactical environment it ...
- A History of the AK-74 Rifle’s Design and Development in the USSR August 7, 2025The development of the AK-74 assault rifle and its associated 5.45x39mm ammunition represents a pivotal chapter in Cold War small arms history. It was a direct and calculated Soviet response to the operational lessons gleaned from the Vietnam War, specifically the tactical advantages demonstrated by the American M16 rifle and its small-caliber, high-velocity (SCHV) cartridge. ...
- An Engineering and Historical Analysis of the AK-47 and AKM Fire Control Group August 6, 2025The fire control group (Ударно-спусковой механизм, УСМ) of the Kalashnikov rifle is often overshadowed by the platform’s larger reputation for reliability. However, a detailed analysis of its design reveals a microcosm of the entire weapon’s philosophy. The FCG of the early milled-receiver Kalashnikovs, known in the West as the Type 2 and Type 3 AK-47, ...
- A Technical and Historical Analysis of the Soviet 5.45x39mm Cartridge August 4, 2025The global landscape of infantry small arms underwent a seismic shift in the 1960s. The United States’ adoption of the M16 rifle and its revolutionary 5.56x45mm M193 cartridge during the Vietnam War showcased the profound tactical advantages of a small-caliber, high-velocity (SCHV) round. Soviet intelligence, ever watchful of Western military developments, acquired and meticulously studied ...
- The 7.62x39mm Cartridge: Engineering, Evolution, and Impact of the AK-47’s Ammunition August 4, 2025The 7.62x39mm cartridge, commonly known as the M43, emerged from a profound re-evaluation of small arms doctrine during and immediately following World War II. Soviet military strategists identified a critical operational gap between the existing infantry firearms. On one hand, submachine guns, such as the PPSh-41, offered high rates of fire suitable for close-quarters combat ...
- The History, Chemistry, and Strategic Imperative of Soviet Corrosive Ammunition July 30, 2025The decision by any military to adopt a particular ammunition technology is never made in a vacuum. It is the result of a complex interplay between historical experience, technological capability, strategic doctrine, and fundamental chemistry. The Soviet Union’s long-standing reliance on corrosive-primed ammunition is a quintessential example of this process. To comprehend this choice, one ...
- Custom AK Builders in the US: A Five-Year Social Media Sentiment Analysis July 29, 2025Revised July 29, 2025 8:00pm US Eastern The purpose of this report is to provide objective information on a curated list of AK builders created with input from members of theakforum.net. A reader should treat this as background information to help form an opinion about whether to use a vendor but it should not be treated ...
- Palmetto State Armory’s AK Redemption Arc: An Engineering and Market Analysis July 24, 2025The American-made AK-pattern rifle has long been an elusive prize for domestic firearms manufacturers. For decades, the U.S. civilian market has been dominated by imported rifles from former combloc nations, whose state-owned arsenals perfected the art of mass-producing the Kalashnikov. These factories, steeped in a specific manufacturing tradition, produced rifles known for their legendary reliability, ...
- The PSA Playbook: An Analysis of Palmetto State Armory’s Disruption of the U.S. Firearms Market July 24, 2025In the landscape of the American firearms industry, few companies have ascended with the velocity and disruptive impact of Palmetto State Armory (PSA). Since its inception in 2008, PSA has evolved from a humble e-commerce venture operating out of a garage into one of the largest and most influential firearms manufacturers and retailers in the ...
- A Post-Mortem Analysis of Kalashnikov USA: From Market Leader to Bankruptcy July 24, 2025On May 6, 2024, RWC Group, LLC, the parent company doing business as Kalashnikov USA (KUSA), filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the Southern District of Florida.1 This event marked the beginning of the end for a company once poised to dominate the U.S. market for domestically produced AK-pattern firearms. However, the attempt at ...
- The Top 10 Features US AK Buyers Look For July 23, 2025The modern American AK buyer is not a passive or uninformed consumer. They are active participants in a rich and dynamic media ecosystem that they leverage to conduct extensive pre-purchase research. This consumer is characterized by a high level of knowledge and a healthy skepticism toward marketing claims, preferring to trust community-vetted sources and data-driven ...
- Avtomat Kalashnikova Modernizirovanny: An Engineering and Historical Analysis of the Iconic AKM Ri July 22, 2025The conclusion of the Second World War left the Soviet Union as a victorious global superpower, but its military doctrine and infantry armament were at a critical crossroads. The brutal fighting on the Eastern Front had provided a wealth of hard-won experience, revealing both the strengths and weaknesses of the Red Army’s equipment. While massed ...
- An Analysis of the Differences Between a Russian Dragunov and a Romanian PSL: They Are Not The Same July 21, 2025I guess we all have our pet peves. One of my many irks is when people call a Romanian PSL rifle a “Dragunov”. I see it all the time on Facebook and GunBroker. Honestly, it bugs the hell out of me. The PSL is an oversized AK for all intents and purposes. On the other ...
- A Deep Dive On The Metallurgical and Manufacturing of Current Zastava ZPAP AK-Pattern Receivers July 21, 2025A previous post looked at the quality redemption arc made by Zastava to address legitimate concerns about their AK rifles and pistols in the US market. This report provides a more detailed analysis of the metallurgy, manufacturing methods, and heat treatment protocols for current-production Zastava civilian AK-pattern receivers sold in the United States market. The ...
- An Analysis of Zastava AK-Platform Quality and Market Perception in the U.S. Civilian Market (2020-2025) July 21, 2025This report provides an analysis of the quality and market perception of Zastava-manufactured AK-platform firearms within the United States civilian market from 2020 through the first half of 2025. Persistent concerns among consumers regarding receiver metallurgy, heat treatment, and associated failures such as cracking and deformation form the impetus for this investigation. The analysis reveals ...
- The Kalashnikov Premium: An Analysis of the AR-15 & AK-47 Civilian Market Price Inversion July 20, 2025The United States civilian firearms market has witnessed a fundamental and counterintuitive inversion in the pricing structure of its two most popular modern sporting rifles: the AR-15 and the AK-47. For decades, the AR-15 was positioned as the premium, higher-cost platform, while the AK-47 was its affordable, utilitarian counterpart. Today, the opposite is true; a ...
- Pragmatism at Work: An Analysis of the Soviet AK-47 Slant Compensator July 19, 2025The introduction of the iconic slant-faced muzzle device on the Kalashnikov rifle was not an incidental aesthetic choice nor was it part of the weapon’s original design. Instead, its development and eventual adoption represent a case study in iterative, problem-driven Soviet small arms engineering. The device emerged as a direct and necessary response to a ...
- Performance Ranking the Top 50 Vendors in the AK-47 US Market July 17, 2025To aid buyers in understanding the greater AK/AK-47 firearm and accessory market, in the US this post is a companion to another post that looks at AK firearm brands in the US and social media standing. This post focuses on report performance of firearms and accessories and selection is based on the volume of mentions ...
- Cutting Through The Fluff – The US Civilian AK Market: A 5-Year Analysis of Consumer Sentiment and Brand Performance (2020-2025) July 16, 2025Ever get tired of trying to figure out what AK vendors might be worth buying a rifle from in the US? Well, I did but the thing is that I have the tools and experience to do something about it – namely a formal customer sentiment analysis. What I did was to have my analytics ...
- An Analysis of the Soviet AKM Rifle’s Rear Trunnions July 15, 2025The story of the AKM’s front and rear trunnions is inseparable from the larger narrative of the Kalashnikov rifle’s evolution. This evolution was driven less by a desire for radical redesign and more by the dogged pursuit of a manufacturing concept that was ahead of its time. The AKM, introduced in 1959, was not so ...
- An Analysis of the Soviet AKM Rifle’s Front Trunnions July 14, 2025The 1959 introduction of the Avtomat Kalashnikova Modernizirovanniy (AKM) marked a pivotal moment in the history of Soviet small arms manufacturing and global military doctrine. This modernized rifle represented the culmination of a decade-long effort to refine the original AK-47 design, moving away from the costly and time-consuming milled receivers that characterized the Type 2 ...
- AKs Around The World – The Proliferation of the Kalashnikov Design July 12, 2025Growing up in the 70s and 80s, I was patriotic and was mainly interested in American firearms. In 2006, I read an article about building your own AK by the late great Steven Matthews and I changed course dramatically. I’ve always liked history, machines and firearms and started reading books about Mikhail Kalashnikov ...
- The Engineering History of the Not So Lowly AK-47 Rivet July 4, 2025I’ve been involved with AK rifle building since 2006 and there’s something we take for granted – how rivets are used to secure the forged trunnions, and trigger guards to the sheet metal receiver. Not to mention the center support and side mount scope rail. Some have asked why rivets were even used thinking ...
- History of Zastava Arms – A Summary of 170 Years May 17, 2025Zastava Arms, or Zastava oružje (Застава оружје) as it is known in its native Serbia, stands as a monumental testament to the nation’s industrial and military history. With origins stretching back to the mid-19th century, this Kragujevac-based manufacturer has not only equipped generations of soldiers but has also been a significant contributor to Serbia’s (and ...
- Yugoslavia’s AK Path: The Venerable M72 RPK May 16, 2025If you’ve ever held a military era Yugo M70B1, you know it’s heavy for an AK. If you thought that was heavy, now lift an M72B1 … now’s that’s heavy. The M70B1 and M72B1 are my favorite AK variants. I’ve owned and sold M76s, M77s, M92s and just keep returning to the ...
- Yugoslavia’s AK Path: The M70 Family of Rifles May 15, 2025Really, my experience with Yugo rifles began with the stamped M70 series. We’ve spent these last few posts providing the backstory, but how did Zastava move from the M64 to the M70 series? Let’s find out. 1. Introduction: Yugoslavia’s Independent Path to the Kalashnikov In the complex geopolitical landscape following World War II, the Socialist Federal Republic ...
- Yugoslavia’s AK Path: Where Did the 2,000 Russian AK-47 Rifles Come From May 14, 2025So far, we have covered the history of Yugoslavian and Soviet relations and then the two Albanian defectors and early Yugo AK development leading to the M64 but we glossed over an enduring mystery that deserves its own post. In this artice, we dive into the riddle of what third world nation Yugoslavia purchased 2,000 ...
- Yugoslavia’s AK Path: The Launch of the Zastava Family of Automatic Weapons and the M64 May 13, 2025In the last post, we reviewed the political climate and how the USSR did not want to share their revolutionary AK-47 design with Yugoslavia. At this point, we need to look at the ambitious 1959 launch of the project “Familija Automatskog Oružja Zastava” (FAZ), or the Zastava Family of Automatic Weapons and how the ...
- Yugoslavia’s AK Path: The USSR Would Not Share Their AK-47 Rifles or Designs With Yugoslavia May 12, 2025I’ve owned and built a number of AK-47 pattern rifles over the years and slowly one of my favorite series are the ones from Zastava when they were part of Yugoslavia partly because they are unique. Now, that opens the door – why were they unique? There is some very interesting history behind ...