AKMSU

The AKMSU (Russian: АКМСУ)[lower-alpha 1] is the name attributed to a compact carbine derived from the Soviet AKM, chambered in 7.62×39mm. The carbine was commonly thought to be a Soviet prototype weapon, but evidence suggests that the carbine was not actually of Soviet origin, and was instead a custom-made weapon misattributed as a Soviet weapon.

AKMSU
The AKMSU in the National Firearms Centre of the Royal Armouries
TypeCarbine
Place of originPakistan (suspected)
Production history
DesignerMikhail Kalashnikov
DesignedEarly 1980s
ManufacturerUnknown
No. built1
Specifications
Mass2.85 Kg
Length480mm (folded) / 740mm (extended)
Barrel length270mm
Cartridge7.62×39mm
ActionGas operated, rotating bolt
Rate of fire650-785 rounds/min
Muzzle velocity680 m/s (2,231 ft/s)
Effective firing range200 m
Maximum firing range400 m
Feed system30-round detachable box magazine

Origins

The carbine that would later be attributed with the name AKMSU was first received by the British Ministry of Defense Pattern Room collection in June 1986. The Pattern Room closed in September 2005, and their entire collection was gifted to the Royal Armouries in Leeds, England, where the AKMSU resides to this day.[1]

Following the Pattern Room's reception of the carbine, the carbine would be documented in several English and Russian publications[2][3], and the name AKMSU was later attached to the weapon. Alongside the name, the weapon was also attributed with history that describe it as a Soviet prototype weapon, made in either 1959 or 1975. Despite the description of these sources, no Russian armory documentation exists for the weapon, strongly suggesting that AKMSU was not a Soviet weapon.[1]

The true origin of the AKMSU is uncertain, though it has been suspected to be a one-off "Khyber Pass Copy" from Pakistan's Khyber Pass region, an area known for diverse and unique weapon production in small shops.[1]

Design

The AKMSU is composed of a Chinese manufactured Type 56-1 receiver combined with a 1977 dated AKM trunion. Its other custom parts include a muzzle brake, which is required for the correct functioning of the rifle and contains an expansion chamber to correctly cycle the rifle. The muzzle brake has many grooves machined into it for increased heat dispersion. It also has a custom hand guard.[1]

Notes
  1. Attributed full name: Russian: Автомат Калашникова Mодернизированный Складной Укороченный, tr. Avtomát Kaláshnikova Modernizírovanny Skladnoy Ukorochenniy, lit. 'Shortened Modernized Kalashnikov Automatic Rifle with Folding Stock'
gollark: (and replace `total -= 254./3.;` accordingly, obviously)
gollark: Make `total` into an int. Replace `total += 254./3.;` with `total = min(2, max(0, total + 1))` or something, if the arduinos' weird language has that. Do `analogWrite(LED, total * 85)`. QED.
gollark: Make the total an integer from 0 to 2 or something and enforce this, then multiply by 85 in the analogWrite bit.
gollark: The main issue is that data is just *data*, and can't corrupt itself in some way if you do stuff wrong or enforce timeouts, only the programs operating on it can (and generally do).
gollark: Basically, if someone copies the relevant data elsewhere, to a system without your time limits, you can't enforce them without it actually being computationally hard.

References
  1. Onokoy, Vladimir (10 August 2018). "The legend of AKMSU – mysterious AK that never was". The Firearm Blog. The Firearm Blog. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
  2. Монетчиков, С. Б. "История русского автомата." Санкт-Петербург: "Издательство "Атлант", 2005г. С. 170.
  3. Isby, David C. Weapons and Tactics of the Soviet Army. Englewood: Jane's, 1988. pp 415.

Further reading
  • Peterson, Philip. Standard Catalog of Military Firearms: The Collector's Price and Reference Guide. Lola: Gun Digest Books, 2007.
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