Of course the captured Ak-74s would have been useful, back in 1989 when the Soviets pulled out. They've had 20 years of constant warfare, poor maintenance and absolutely apalling storage conditions since. To say nothing of the fact that between the Soviets leaving and a few years ago when it started hitting the surplus markets, they had no source for 5.45mm ammo. Don't forget, most of the former Soviet republics and Warsaw Pact states never switched over. I'm not saying they don't exist, but they are not common.
It's not hard to know where an AK came from if you know your variants and factory markings, not at all. Most infantry soldiers don't care, and rightly so - a 7.62 round has exactly the same effect coming out of Russian or Chinese AK. I, on the other hand, do know, and am required by my job to know.
|