nikvanorton
Member Extraordinaire
I’ve been doing a bit of research about the Yunker & Cybergun AK CO2 BB replicas that were produced around 2000-2010 which might be interesting to those that don’t know much about these fascinating guns. This information has been assembled over time from various sources (some Russian) and is supported by the fact that I have examples of most of the Yunker models and a very rare early Cybergun AK. Some pics below but I'll try to post some more soon.
The Yunker 1 used a genuine AK74 receiver and other real AK components. This caused a few problems in countries whos laws determine the identity of a firearm by the actual receiver (including America) so Yunker 1s exported to the States were illegal and classified as automatic weapons irrespective of what they actually fired. Many were destroyed for fear of prosecution. It is said that the reason Izhmash chose to install a complex hidden air pistol system firing through a tube that looked like the cleaning rod was to eliminate any suggestion of easy conversion back to a firearm. Interestingly, the original unused AK 5.45mm barrel on very early models is complete and undamaged.
The Yunker 2 & 3 models followed on with a much neater system - firing from the barrel, the co2 being housed in a self contained magazine along with the firing valve and ammunition tube. To avoid problems with the laws of some countries, they continued to use genuine AK parts but adapted Saiga Receivers which are semi-auto ‘civilian’ versions of Ishmash military weapons so the weapon was no longer viewed as ‘fully Auto’. These can be identified by having no mag dimples, no full auto setting and the arrangement of pivot pins/pin holes in the receiver is different.
The Yunker 2 was modelled on a short barrel AK105 and the 3 on an AK74. Wooden furniture versions were made, but black polycarbonate was most popular.
The Yunker 4 was basically a Yunker 2 or 3 but with the internals of the magazine (co2 housing, firing valve and ammo feed tube) pinned permanently into the receiver so that only the outer shell of the magazine came off. This was a further step to placate concerns about possible conversion but meant that a real mag loaded with inert rounds (for display) couldn’t be attatched any more.
There was apparently a Yunker 5 which was an AEG Airsoft gun but information on these is very limited.
For a short while, the early Cybergun AK47 (AKM) was built around a genuine Norinco Type 56 Export receiver with many genuine AK parts. They can be identified by having a stamped serial number (instead of etched), a much heavier genuine front trunnion, full length internal rails for the bolt carrier, stampings & positions on the fire selector for D & A (semi & auto), a heavier receiver and a butt stock with the correct butt plate incorporating a compartment for the cleaning kit.
This fell foul of exactly the same laws that the Yunker did, so the receiver was quickly changed to a good quality replica (probably derived from an airsoft design). This new receiver was supposedly built by LCT, a Chinese company who make real firearms as well as airsoft guns so still has an excellent pedigree. As a result, despite retailers claiming that Cybergun AK’s are built from real AK parts, this isn’t strictly true - only the first few thousand were. The later Cyberguns are terrific replicas but if you compare one to a deactivated AK, it’s pretty obvoius that they aren’t based on a real firearm.
Pics below are details of the early Cybergun variant, along with a comparison pic of the later trunnion.
Bit dark to photograph mine, so these are borrowed from an old (2014) atricle online - (with thanks).
More pics to follow when I get time.
Above: A later Cybergun front trunnion - simply cast and very obviously too light for a real firearm.
Above: An early Cybergun front trunnion - machined and much heavier - identical to genuine AK
Above: Early Cybergun Semi and Full Auto markings - as export Norinco AK T56.
Above: Early Cybergun serial number - stamped as genuine AK T56 - not etched.
The Yunker 1 used a genuine AK74 receiver and other real AK components. This caused a few problems in countries whos laws determine the identity of a firearm by the actual receiver (including America) so Yunker 1s exported to the States were illegal and classified as automatic weapons irrespective of what they actually fired. Many were destroyed for fear of prosecution. It is said that the reason Izhmash chose to install a complex hidden air pistol system firing through a tube that looked like the cleaning rod was to eliminate any suggestion of easy conversion back to a firearm. Interestingly, the original unused AK 5.45mm barrel on very early models is complete and undamaged.
The Yunker 2 & 3 models followed on with a much neater system - firing from the barrel, the co2 being housed in a self contained magazine along with the firing valve and ammunition tube. To avoid problems with the laws of some countries, they continued to use genuine AK parts but adapted Saiga Receivers which are semi-auto ‘civilian’ versions of Ishmash military weapons so the weapon was no longer viewed as ‘fully Auto’. These can be identified by having no mag dimples, no full auto setting and the arrangement of pivot pins/pin holes in the receiver is different.
The Yunker 2 was modelled on a short barrel AK105 and the 3 on an AK74. Wooden furniture versions were made, but black polycarbonate was most popular.
The Yunker 4 was basically a Yunker 2 or 3 but with the internals of the magazine (co2 housing, firing valve and ammo feed tube) pinned permanently into the receiver so that only the outer shell of the magazine came off. This was a further step to placate concerns about possible conversion but meant that a real mag loaded with inert rounds (for display) couldn’t be attatched any more.
There was apparently a Yunker 5 which was an AEG Airsoft gun but information on these is very limited.
For a short while, the early Cybergun AK47 (AKM) was built around a genuine Norinco Type 56 Export receiver with many genuine AK parts. They can be identified by having a stamped serial number (instead of etched), a much heavier genuine front trunnion, full length internal rails for the bolt carrier, stampings & positions on the fire selector for D & A (semi & auto), a heavier receiver and a butt stock with the correct butt plate incorporating a compartment for the cleaning kit.
This fell foul of exactly the same laws that the Yunker did, so the receiver was quickly changed to a good quality replica (probably derived from an airsoft design). This new receiver was supposedly built by LCT, a Chinese company who make real firearms as well as airsoft guns so still has an excellent pedigree. As a result, despite retailers claiming that Cybergun AK’s are built from real AK parts, this isn’t strictly true - only the first few thousand were. The later Cyberguns are terrific replicas but if you compare one to a deactivated AK, it’s pretty obvoius that they aren’t based on a real firearm.
Pics below are details of the early Cybergun variant, along with a comparison pic of the later trunnion.
Bit dark to photograph mine, so these are borrowed from an old (2014) atricle online - (with thanks).
More pics to follow when I get time.
Above: A later Cybergun front trunnion - simply cast and very obviously too light for a real firearm.
Above: An early Cybergun front trunnion - machined and much heavier - identical to genuine AK
Above: Early Cybergun Semi and Full Auto markings - as export Norinco AK T56.
Above: Early Cybergun serial number - stamped as genuine AK T56 - not etched.
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Club of 2 at the minute, though I'd be surprised if 
