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Albania's Rather Odd Grenade Launching AK (Ad-free)
🕑 Added 2025-10-27 12:00:04 +0000 UTCIn addition to its regular ASh-78 (fixed stock) and ASh-82 (under folder) Kalashnikovs, Albania also made a model specifically for launching
In addition to its regular ASh-78 (fixed stock) and ASh-82 (under folder) Kalashnikovs, Albania also made a model specifically for launching rifle grenades and it has some odd features. The rear sight block was redesigned to have a hinge permanently attaching the top cover, and the rear sight was moved back onto that top cover. The top cover rear attachment was also strengthened. At the front, a gas cutoff was added as well as a grenade spigot. In another unusual twist, the barrel was lengthened to be as long as the spigot itself. I suppose this makes sense ballistically, but it is unusual to see.
Albanian ASh-78 video: https://youtu.be/9fStDhxs5Mk
Many thanks to the Royal Armouries for allowing me to film and disassemble this very rare piece! The NFC collection there - perhaps the best military small arms collection in Western Europe - is available by appointment to researchers:
https://royalarmouries.org/research/national-firearms-centre/
You can browse the various Armouries collections online here:
https://royalarmouries.org/collection/
Comments
Pieter Batenburg
Ian, according to some comments, a museum in Albania tried to contact you.
Guido Schriewer
rear sight is better than standard the way they've done it. that little notch where the added tiny bit of metal on the dustcover fits in... that is a real simple and smart way to ensure the fit. if the hinge pin of the "old sight base" is tight enough... way to go. awesome. better sight radius. makes me wonder why on earth nobody copied that for regular ak's. herera should offer this as an upgrade maybe.
