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AK-47s and AK gun kits will soon be made in America, courtesy of the tireless efforts of Resistance Arms. The new gun company has been wading through the countless governmental red tape and funding hurdles necessary to get off the ground. The small company comprised of like-minded Second Amendment supporters is very close to realizing their dream. The folks at Resistance Arms firmly believe that law-abiding Americans should have access to the same quality weapon which is now mainly only held in the hands of our enemies.
The Resistance Arms team has more than two decades of machining and firearms experience. All of the staffers at the company have taken an oath to create and sell only quality American made weapons while focusing on the preservation of the freedoms and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution. The continued attacks on Second Amendment rights in the wake of the tragic Sandy Hook shooting has not deterred the AK-47 rifle company from its stated goal.
The rifle was one of the first assault rifles of the “Second Generation” after the German StG 44. The AK-47 was first developed in Russia by Mikhail Kalashnikov. The weapon is officially known as the Avtomat Kalashnikova. The slang term for the rifle in the USSR is “Kalash.”
Design work on the AK-47 began in 1945, the last year of World War II. The weapon was offered for official military review in 1946. The fixed-stock and final version of the AK was presented to select units within the Russian Army in 1948. The rifle was finally accepted for use by the entire Soviet armed forces in 1949.
Off The Grid News recently sat down with Resistance Arms to discuss the manufacture of AK-47s in the United States.
OTG: AK-47s are not currently made in America. Once Resistance Arms is fully up and running, customers will be able to purchase either an AK-47 or a kit. What prompted you to begin creating a company to manufacture the weapons?
RA: We have had a “love affair” with the AK-47 rifle since childhood. Having seen it in every action movie or television show since we can remember, it was just something that stuck around. Mind you, it was introduced to the public as a weapon of communism and most people never really put much thought into its true capability. Sadly, the AK-47 is usually in the hands of our enemies, but we feel it has a place within the law abiding American citizen’s collection.
Resistance Arms has been in the planning stages for some time, but with the recent attempts to sidestep our Second Amendment rights, we have decided to move forward and we are asking the people to help us get operational in a short amount of time.
Once we have reached our goal with our current funding campaign, we will be able start producing our rifle kits. Our kits are a unique design—they are not a copy of the current imported parts we are seeing today. These kits will be interchangeable with the various receivers and barrels that enthusiasts normally use.
OTG: Please share the history of AK-47s and MAKs in relation to purchasing in the United States.
RA: The Kalashnikov rifle was designed by Mikhail Kalashnikov and the platform has been in production since the late 1940s. It was adopted by the Soviet Army in 1949. Since then it has been battle-proven in many conflicts around the world. Many countries such as China, Egypt, and Romania have manufactured their own variants of the original design.
The estimated number of Kalashnikov platform weapons that have been produced since the late 1940s is around 70 to 100 million. But the exact number are unknown. Currently there is leftover surplus from overseas that is being imported into the US, and this is where enthusiasts are obtaining their kits from.
OTG: Have you faced opposition from the gun control lobby, or liberals in general, during the planning and licensing stages for Resistance Arms?
How to hide your guns, and other off grid caches…
RA: Since we are a new business, we have yet to really experience any issues. We have had some positive feedback via word of mouth. Currently, we are in the process of obtaining our federal licensing, so we are adhering to all the requirements in order to be compliant.
OTG: Considering the continued attempts to ban so-called assault weapons like the AR-15 and high capacity magazines, is time of the essence to begin the production and selling of the AK-47 rifles and the kits?
RA: Absolutely! It has been reported that President Obama may use executive powers to ban the importation of weapons, parts, and ammunition. We feel this is in response to the weapons ban being defeated, so we must become proactive and produce parts so there will not be any lag in the supply chain. This will also help us become less dependent on importation from other countries who really don’t have a good relationship with the U.S., while at the same time growing our economy.
OTG: The attacks from the left on our Second Amendment rights have prompted some gun manufacturers to switch banks and relocate from states where they have created jobs for years. Have you experienced any funding hurdles or backlash from local officials?
RA: This is definitely a real problem. We have experienced what is being reported. We have approached a few financial institutions and in one instance, we were blatantly turned away. I see this as a trend that will gain steam in all aspects of the firearms industry.
OTG: You are utilizing a crowd-funding source to help garner financial backing for Resistance Arms. What does this process entail and how can eager AK-47s fans contribute?
RA: This is new to us as well. We actually have seen that crowd funding has been very successful for companies across the board. The process is quite simple—you choose the package you like and submit the funds. We will receive a list of who ordered what and we fulfill those orders. Packages range from donors being recognized on our site for their contribution, to multiple AK-47 rifle kits and one of our stylish t-shirts. We expect to have most of the kit orders filled within the first 90 days after we receive the funding. This, of course, depends on the amount of our initial orders. But we will have all orders met within six months; we will work around the clock to make good on our promise. With our team of highly experienced machinists eager to begin production, our move-in and calibration time will be minimal.
We felt this may be an avenue to not only fund our machines, but to also allow folks to be involved in this campaign. As you can see, one of our company’s mottos is “By the people, for the people.” As this was in President Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, we feel Resistance Arms will be a company built by the people. Naturally, the idea of crowd funding goes hand in hand with our mission.
OTG: Where will Resistance Arms be located and how has the idea been received in the region?
RA: We will be based out of Fort Mill, South Carolina. It has honestly been a mixed bag. There are some folks who think we don’t fit in the area. This is why we have been low key on our exact location. But there have been folks who are cheering us on, so we really can’t complain.
OTG: How will making the AK-47s solely in America be a benefit to gun owners?
RA: Our production of kits and rifles will have a positive impact on the American gun owner in two areas: quality and price. They can rest assured that they will not have to take out a second mortgage in order to have a top quality product they can rely on. If there is an importation ban implemented, they will be able to obtain the parts necessary to keep them up and running. We will be able to meet any demand that is put on us.
OTG: Are all of the AK-47 parts being made in America, or will the guns and kits only be assembled here?
RA: This is what makes us unique because ALL of our parts will be manufactured by us. If we ever outsource a part due to time constraints, we will only use a US facility we can trust.
OTG: What are the long-term goals for Resistance Arms?
RA: We want to be the best at what we do, plain and simple. With an endless love of our great nation and firearms, we will push forward through any adversity we face. The saying “if you do what you love, you never work a day” is very true. It is an honor and a blessing to have a team of like-minded folks with the same goal. We are starting out as a small company that is focused on providing the best we can for the customer, and we will remain that way.
Though we are heavily focused on the Kalashnikov platform, we have many groundbreaking products that we will launch over the next two years. We can’t wait to see these dreams come to life.
OTG: If everything goes as planned and you begin manufacturing and selling guns later this fall, what rifles will become readily available to American customers?
RA: We will offer our base model AK-47 rifle. We have named it (a secret for now), but we are still working out the design. It is one that we feel will “wow” the consumer. It will be dependable and very affordable, while still offering a unique design.
OTG: Will customers need a Federal Firearms License in order to buy an AK-47 kit?
RA: Because we do not include the essential parts to make a functioning firearm (barrel, receiver), no FFL is required to purchase a kit from us in accordance with current BATF rules.
OTG: What parts will be included in the AK-47 kit? What type of steel will be used when manufacturing the parts?
RA: All kits will include: trigger, hammer, disconnector, bolt, bolt carrier, bolt carrier spring, selector, dust cover, trigger guard, and magazine latch.
OTG: Will American customers be able to find the lower receiver, barrel, rear gas block, sight block, stock, and forearm necessary to complete the gun?
RA: Yes. The parts necessary to complete our kits can be found through any dealer, distributor, or even at a local gun show. We do plan on offering receivers and barrels when we produce our rifle.
OTG: Some potential customers may be concerned about payment confidentiality in this age of purchase tracking and related gun ban/restriction pending bills. How will Resistance Arms address such concerns?
RA: Our customers are our friends. We take this seriously and are committed to keeping our customers’ information secured. Resistance Arms is a member of the NRA Business Alliance which helps us stay informed in regard to our ability to help protect our customers as well.
OTG: Do you think the gun control battle is finished after the attempt to pass new restrictions and mandates failed in Congress?
RA: The battle is far from over. The current administration is dead set on disarming the law-abiding citizen due to incidents committed by folks with problems. This is why it is imperative that we remain vigilant in the preservation of our rights under the Second Amendment.
OTG: West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin, who is often considered a “conservative Democrat” shocked some Americans when he recently vowed to keep pushing for an enhanced background checks law. Manchin had been regarded as a Second Amendment supporter. Do you think background checks would actually deter crime, or be merely yet another obstacle for law-abiding citizens to endure?
RA: This was the crux of the recent battle regarding gun control. While I support the current background check process, I do not believe that any background check will stop a tragedy from happening. We have seen time and time again where everyone said that the suspect “was such a nice guy,” and they had a clean background. The background check debate was just another obstacle and excuse for the current administration to chip away at the Constitution.