AK-104

Lore & Background

The AK-104 is a carbine in the AK-100 series, sharing the same dimensions as other carbines in that series. It features a solid, side-folding polymer stock, unlike the shorter, skeleton-stocked AKS-74U. The rifle uses an adjustable notched rear tangent iron sight calibrated in 100 m increments from 100 to 500 m, with a front post adjustable for elevation in the field; horizontal adjustment is done by the armory before issue. The AK-104 has a muzzle booster derived from the AKS-74U. Protective coatings ensure corrosion resistance of metal parts, while the forearm, magazine, butt stock, and pistol grip are made of high-strength plastic.

Variants include the AK-105, a shortened carbine version of the AK-74M with identical barrel lengths; the SLR-107CR, a civilian semi-automatic rifle with a 16-inch extended barrel to comply with U.S. regulations; the PSAK-104, a civilian semi-automatic series duplicating the AK-104 aesthetic; and the KR-104, a short-barreled rifle version by Kalashnikov-USA. Small production examples have been built from demilled parts kits and U.S.-made 922R compliant parts, and a very small number of Saiga rifles built on the AK-104 assembly line in Izhevsk, Russia have been imported and converted to AK-104 configuration.

The AK-104 is used by the Russian Federal Protective Service. A batch has reportedly been delivered to Syria's Interior Ministry Anti-Terrorism Syrian Special Mission Forces. Thailand's Directorate of Logistics procured the rifle from the Russian Federation. Venezuela produces it under license by CAVIM alongside the AK-103. It is also in service with some units of the Yemeni Army.

Reader's Guide

The AK-104 represents a compact, modernized carbine within the AK-100 series, offering the 7.62×39mm cartridge in a shorter package with a solid side-folding polymer stock. Its design incorporates a muzzle booster derived from the AKS-74U and protective coatings for corrosion resistance. The rifle's adjustable iron sights and polymer furniture reflect a practical approach to a service carbine. Its adoption by the Russian Federal Protective Service and other military and police units in Syria, Thailand, Venezuela, and Yemen indicates its role as a specialized close-quarters weapon. The existence of civilian variants such as the SLR-107CR, PSAK-104, and KR-104, along with small-production clones built from parts kits, demonstrates the AK-104's influence on the civilian market, particularly in the United States, where import restrictions have led to various semi-automatic adaptations. The AK-104's legacy is tied to its position as a compact, reliable derivative of the AK-103, serving both military and civilian users.

Did You Know?

• The AK-104 uses a muzzle booster derived from the AKS-74U.
• Venezuela produces the AK-104 under license by CAVIM alongside the AK-103.

Design & Engineering Philosophy

The AK-105 occupies a deliberate middle ground within the AK-100 family, sitting between full-length assault rifles such as the AK-74M, AK-101, and AK-103 and the ultra-compact AKS-74U. Its defining trait is a 310-millimeter barrel—roughly twelve and a half inches—paired with a solid, side-folding polymer stock that lets the weapon collapse for transport or airborne insertion while still offering a stable firing platform when extended. Notably, the carbine can still be fired with the stock folded. All exterior furniture, including the pistol grip, magazines, and forward handguard, is molded from high-strength polymer, giving the rifle a cohesive, modern silhouette. The rear sight is an adjustable U-notch tangent calibrated in one-hundred-meter increments out to five hundred meters, while the front post permits field elevation adjustments; windage is set by the armory before the weapon reaches its user. A muzzle booster inherited from the AKS-74U channels escaping propellant gases to tame recoil and steady full-auto bursts. Corrosion-resistant coatings shield the metal surfaces, and the overall construction prioritizes durability in demanding field environments.

Operational Role & Mission Profile

The AK-105 was conceived to fill a specific tactical niche: a carbine long enough to deliver reliable accuracy yet compact enough for soldiers who must move quickly through confined spaces, urban terrain, or airborne drops. It was developed as the successor to the AKS-74U, a much shorter rifle with an 8.1-inch barrel and a skeleton stock, though both weapons remain in service side by side. The Russian Army is the primary domestic user, and the carbine's folding stock makes it particularly well suited to paratrooper operations, where space inside a transport aircraft is at a premium. Even with the stock collapsed, the rifle retains a workable firing position, giving operators flexibility in close-quarters scenarios. The 5.45×39mm cartridge provides a balance of manageable recoil and effective terminal performance at the ranges the carbine is expected to engage. In Brazil, the military and law enforcement have specifically chosen the AK-105 for urban policing and counter-narcotics missions, underscoring how its compact profile and controllable automatic fire make it a practical tool for operators who cannot carry a full-length rifle.

Global Footprint & Unlicensed Copies

Although the AK-105 is primarily a Russian domestic weapon, its service list stretches across several continents and political systems. In the post-Soviet space, Armenia and Kazakhstan have adopted it as a standard-issue carbine, while Azerbaijan's State Border Service fields the rifle for perimeter-security duties. Namibia's Marine Corps has also incorporated the AK-105 into its arsenal. Perhaps the most striking example of the design's influence is North Korea, where an unlicensed local copy designated the Type 88 carbine has been produced for Special Operations Forces and armored-vehicle crews—a testament to the platform's mechanical simplicity and the difficulty of keeping its design secrets contained. In the Middle East, elements of Syrian special forces have made use of the carbine. Within Russia itself, beyond the Army, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the FSB's elite Alpha Group have drawn on the AK-105 for close-protection and counter-terrorism duties. The breadth of this user base, from border guards to special-operations operators, speaks to the rifle's versatility and the wide appeal of a compact, polymer-bodied AK-platform weapon.

Manufacturing & the AK-100 Family

The AK-105 is manufactured at the Izhmash factories in Izhevsk, Russia, the historic heart of the Kalashnikov design lineage. It occupies a defined slot within the broader AK-100 family, which also includes full-length variants such as the AK-74M, AK-101, and AK-103, all sharing a common design philosophy but differing in barrel length, stock configuration, and intended role. The carbine's production emphasizes low-maintenance reliability: metal surfaces are treated with protective coatings designed to deliver outstanding corrosion resistance, while the forearm, magazine, butt stock, and pistol grip are all fabricated from high-strength plastic, reducing the number of separate metal parts that could corrode or require frequent lubrication. This material choice also keeps the weapon relatively light, an important consideration for a carbine meant to be carried by infantry in extended field operations or by special-operations teams on multi-day missions. The 5.45×39mm chambering ties the AK-105 to the same ammunition ecosystem as its longer siblings, simplifying logistics for units that mix carbine and rifle teams.

Gallery