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Special Price for Venezuelan Assault Rifles
May 19, 2005: The news stories of the Russian sale of 100,000 assault rifles to Venezuela left out a few important details. Most stories described the rifles as "AK-47s." Not so. Russia hasn't manufactured the AK-47 (or its upgraded version, the AKM), for many years. Instead, Russia now makes the AK-74, a weapon similar to the American M-16 (and also firing a .22 caliber type bullet). Normally, the AK-74 sells for about $800 each (including cleaning supplies, magazines, spare parts and the like.) But many of the AK-74s headed to Venezuela from Russia are being billed at $1200 each, the additional $400 going into the pockets of Venezuelan politicians who got behind the weapons purchase and distribution (to friends of the current Venezuelan government) of the weapons. New weapons, old traditions.Posted by: Steve 2005-05-19 |
| http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=119547 |