20 Ahern Under the Gun: Centurion 39, The ALL ve lately become an ardent fan of the AK-47 ... The...
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By Jerry Ahern, Photos by Sharon Ahern I’ve lately become an ardent fan of the AK-47 type rifle. Most of these rifles found in the United States are an amalgam of overseas-made parts that are legally importable and U.S.A. made parts that conform to all the BATFE regulations, so the result is a semi-automatic only military sporter, which cannot be converted to selective fire in the normal course of events. Oft times erroneously, gunny people, including writers like myself, will refer to these AK-type firearms and similar militarily inspired weapons as semi-automatic or civilian- legal assault rifles. Granted, in a pinch, with really fast trigger work, an operator familiar with the firearm can lay down a pret- ty decent amount of suppressive fire in semi-automatic mode only. These are sporterized mili- tary firearms that can be used defensively; but, where legal to do so, can be taken into the game fields or used in recreational shooting activi- ties for target practice and the like. What was missing up until this time was an AK- 47 type firearm made completely from American parts, one that was capable, without alteration, of accepting Picatinny/universal rail accessories, accepted conventional AK-47 magazines and had a stock that was upsized to allow greater compati- bility with the typically larger American physique. The most widely disseminated personal weapon on the planet in the modern age is the AK-47. As this is written in November of 2010, the next day will be the tenth and that will be the 91st birthday of the AK-47’s designer, Mikhail Kalash- nikov. As Americans, we may not have always been thrilled with the uses to which AKs were put; but, since its finalization in 1947 and still to this day in military service, the AK-47 has an enviable repu- tation for ruggedness, simplicity and reliability. This all-American-made AK- 47 has some other unique fea- tures not found on all AKs. The receiver is machined from a solid block of ord- nance steel. I mentioned this to my friend Sid Woodcock, the designer of the Detonics .45 and an all-around world-class weapons expert. With- out hesitation, Sid told me the weapon would probably last a lifetime because of that. 20 Clockwise from top: 1.) The Centurion 39 with 30- round magazine and Crimson Trace light/laser/vertical fore end unit. 2.) The manufacturing data and an Ameri- can Flag can be seen on the Centurion 39’s receiver. 3.) In addition to the muzzle, the laser and the light, the orange post front sight is readily visible here. 4.) With the five-round magazine in place, the AK-type rifle will have a lower profile for bench and prone positions. A 30-round magazine is shown below the rifle. Ahern Under the Gun: Centurion 39, 1. 2. 3. 4. The most widely disseminated personal weapon on the planet in the modern age is the AK-47. Jan 11 Blue Press Section 1 11/13/10 1:56 PM Page 20
Transcript of 20 Ahern Under the Gun: Centurion 39, The ALL ve lately become an ardent fan of the AK-47 ... The...
By Jerry Ahern, Photos by Sharon AhernI’ve lately become an ardent fan of the AK-47
type rifle. Most of these rifles found in the UnitedStates are an amalgam of overseas-made parts thatare legally importable and U.S.A. made parts thatconform to all the BATFE regulations, so the resultis a semi-automatic only military sporter, whichcannot be converted to selective fire in the normalcourse of events. Oft times erroneously, gunnypeople, including writers like myself, will refer tothese AK-type firearms and similar militarilyinspired weapons as semi-automatic or civilian-legal assault rifles. Granted, in apinch, with really fast triggerwork, an operator familiar withthe firearm can lay down a pret-ty decent amount of suppressivefire in semi-automatic modeonly. These are sporterized mili-tary firearms that can be useddefensively; but, where legal todo so, can be taken into thegame fields or used in recreational shooting activi-ties for target practice and the like.
What was missing up until this time was an AK-47 type firearm made completely from Americanparts, one that was capable, without alteration, ofaccepting Picatinny/universal rail accessories,
accepted conventional AK-47 magazines and hada stock that was upsized to allow greater compati-bility with the typically larger American physique.
The most widely disseminated personalweapon on the planet in the modern age is theAK-47. As this is written in November of 2010, thenext day will be the tenth and that will be the 91stbirthday of the AK-47’s designer, Mikhail Kalash-nikov. As Americans, we may not have always
been thrilled with the uses towhich AKs were put; but, sinceits finalization in 1947 and stillto this day in military service,the AK-47 has an enviable repu-tation for ruggedness, simplicityand reliability.
This all-American-made AK-47 has some other unique fea-tures not found on all AKs. The
receiver is machined from a solid block of ord-nance steel. I mentioned this to my friend SidWoodcock, the designer of the Detonics .45 andan all-around world-class weapons expert. With-out hesitation, Sid told me the weapon wouldprobably last a lifetime because of that.
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Clockwise from top: 1.) The Centurion 39 with 30-round magazine and Crimson Trace light/laser/verticalfore end unit. 2.) The manufacturing data and an Ameri-can Flag can be seen on the Centurion 39’s receiver.3.) In addition to the muzzle, the laser and the light, theorange post front sight is readily visible here. 4.) Withthe five-round magazine in place, the AK-type rifle willhave a lower profile for bench and prone positions. A30-round magazine is shown below the rifle.
Ahern Under the Gun: Centurion 39, The ALL-AMERICAN-MADE AK-47
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The most widely disseminated personalweapon on the planet
in the modern age is the AK-47.
Jan 11 Blue Press Section 1 11/13/10 1:56 PM Page 20
