ForgottenWeapons
patreon
Yugoslav M70A: The AK With a Real Magazine Holdopen (ad-free)
🕑 Added 2022-09-26 12:01:01 +0000 UTCYugoslavia began development of a Kalashnikov pattern rifle in 1959. The Yugoslav rifle would be distinct from the standard Soviet model, as evidenced by features like the gas cutoff for grenade launching and the early use of a true bolt hold open feature.
The first version was the M64, but this saw very limited production. The first large scale model produced was the M70 (fixed stock) and M70A (under folder), and that is what we are looking at today. Note that these rifles are frequently misidentified as the M64 pattern.
These rifles include a bolt holdopen attached by a screw in the left side of the receiver. They use a magazine that is identical to the standard AK magazine, but with a notch cut in the left side for actuating the hold open. This device was removed form later versions of the rifle and retroactively removed form many M70 and M70A rifles because its presence prevented the use of standard AK magazines - and that was seen as more important than the hold open feature. In its place, Yugoslavia adopted a new magazine follower with a flat rear surface that would hold the bolt open, but only until the magazine was removed. This at least altered the user that the magazine was empty, which is worthwhile.
Rifles retaining the hold open device are very rare today in the former Yugoslavia, and essentially nonexistent in the US. Thanks to this rifle's owner for sharing it with me, along with the very cool Slovenian deployment case!
Comments
Martin Morehouse
Neat, a modern 'stand' of arms, all in one box.
Robert Rowe
I would love to see a USA made semi auto reproduction of that M64. Sight on rear of receiver (Hello, Galil!), bolt hold open on last round UNTIL BOLT RACKED BACK (I don't need Warsaw pact magazine compatibility and own a moto tool, it's nothing I didn't learn to do for AR15 to AR180 mag conversions). The gas cutoff would be nice too, a VARIABLE gas valve INCLUDING a full cutoff would be even BETTER... I don't need a grenade launcher spigot and grenade sight, but that could be tres amuse if available. Threaded barrel for that spigot OR a suppressor to run with gas system either shut off OR throttled down... Yes. I also wanna puppy, a kitty and a pony! And my flying car.
Kenneth Marshall
I wondered why kits back in the day had this feature removed. A good idea but could not overcome the nexus of magazine availability.
Tobias Prinz
I believe it was more about peasant-recruits and keeping their guns closed to dirt. Because the second version of the bolt hold-open for the AK is so simple, even I invented it accidentally when converting some 5.45x39 mags to 5.56x45 ;-)
Guido Schriewer
late starting point but sounds like therefor better features. not exactly underfolders but man. I love ak's.
David K. Jernigan
Never understood the thought process to not have a bolt hold open, unless it was done for simplicity and ease of manufacture
Michael Cox
*from
