The Algerian Kalashnikovs
A Kalashnikov story by @thedixiemauser
Introduction to E.C.M.K
Algeria is often forgotten about when the topic of “what countries make Kalashnikovs” is brought up amongst firearms enthusiasts.
The Entreprise de Construction Mécanique de Khenchela (E.C.M.K), based in Khenchela Algeria, has been producing Kalashnikov pattern assault rifles & automatic rifles for some time now. According to several online sources of varying quality, one being epicos.com, the E.C.M.K factory complex has been producing domestic small arms since around the year 1990.
Most of the small arms produced at E.C.M.K are copies of Chinese pattern weapons. Some of these Algerian made weapons that are copies of Chinese pattern weapons are basically “copies of copies”, as the original designs of some of these small arms were not developed in China, but actually in nations such as the Soviet Union and the United States of America.
The various Kalashnikov pattern small arms produced by E.C.M.K heavily resemble “third generation” stamped receiver Chinese Type 56 & Type 56-1 7.62x39mm assault rifles. Other weapons that are produced by E.C.M.K also resemble weapons that are, or were, produced in The People’s Republic of China. For example, the Ithaca 37 pattern 12GA shotgun that is produced by E.C.M.K is likely patterned on the Chinese unlicensed copy of the Ithaca 37 that is known in the west as the HL12-102 (this same style of Ithaca 37 clone may have been also exported with different model designations). The 9x18mm PM pattern pistol that is produced by E.C.M.K is possibly based off of the Chinese Type 59, which it itself is a copy of the original Soviet PM “Makarov” pistol.
It is quite obvious that E.C.M.K has received manufacturing assistance from the People’s Republic of China for some time now.
E.C.M.K Kalashnikov Rifles
Like previously stated, the Kalashnikovs that are produced by E.C.M.K are based off of “third generation” stamped Type 56 Kalashnikovs. Like the Iranian KL 7.62 series of Kalashnikovs (excluding the KL-133), all or the majority of the Type 56 & Type 56-1 pattern rifles made by E.C.M.K feature AKM accessory lugs located under the gas block in order to facilitate the mounting of under barrel grenade launchers & AKM pattern bayonets. These E.C.M.K rifles that also feature AKM accessory lugs also feature a sling mounting point located on the handguard cap.
As can be seen in Fig 3-5 (and other images), E.C.M.K produced Kalashnikovs appear to use the Chinese “L” (full-auto position) & “D” (semi-auto position) selector markings. The Selector notches are also Chinese “diamond” style, which are based originally off the selector notches found on 1955 pattern AK rifles. The “L” & “D” are latin characters used in the Chinese Pinyin alphabet.
The “89” & “89-1” designation seen in Fig 3-3 possibly indicates that these weapons were adopted or designed in the year 1989. This pamphlet referring to the 7.62x39mm Model 89-1 as a submachine gun is not surprising, as the Chinese refer to the Type 56 & Type 56-1 (the weapons the Algerian Kalashnikovs are patterned after) as submachine guns as well.
It is also interesting to note that the magazines seen in Fig 3-1, Fig 3-3, & Fig 3-4 are patterned after the evolved 1955 pattern “spineless” Chinese thirty round magazine.
Likely E.C.M.K produced GP-25 pattern 40mm underbarrel grenade launchers (UBGL) can be seen fitted to the AKM pattern accessory lugs on the PM89 rifle in Fig 3-12 & the PM89-1 rifle in Fig 3-13.
It appears that the E.C.M.K produced Kalashnikovs that feature an added “A” to the end of the designation are “modernized” variations that feature black synthetic furniture. The black synthetic magazine seen pictured in Fig 3-12 & Fig 3-13 appears to be patterned after the thirty round polymer magazines that used to be produced by a American company known as TAPCO U.S.A.
It seems newer models of E.C.M.K assault rifles, such as the PM89-1A seen in Fig 3-18, may feature larger trigger guards to accommodate easier use of the weapon when wearing thick gloves. It is unknown if these larger trigger guards are found on modern production PM89 & PM89-1 assault rifles, that is if these basic wood furniture equipped rifles are still even produced in 2023.
The E.C.M.K bayonet is vaguely based off the Soviet designed 6X4 pattern of bayonet, albeit the blade is more similar to a Soviet designed 6X5 bayonet. The scabbard of the E.C.M.K bayonet does appear to act in unison with the blade as a wire cutting tool (similar to soviet designed AKM & AK74 bayonets).
E.C.M.K Kalashnikov automatic rifles
The most unique Kalashnikov pattern rifle that is known to have been mass produced by E.C.M.K in Algeria is definitely the FM03 pattern 7.62x39mm automatic rifles, or machine guns. The FM03 is at heart a Chinese third generation stamped Type 56 clone, but it also borrows features from the Soviet designed RPK 7.62x39mm automatic rifles that were made by Molot in the Soviet Union. Unlike the Soviet pattern of RPK automatic rifle, the E.C.M.K produced FM03 does not feature a enlarged (often referred to as “bulged”) front trunnion. Judging by the designation “FM03”, it is possible that this weapon entered production, or had its design completed, in the year 2003. The FM03A version features polymer furniture, and at least some versions of the FM03A feature enlarged trigger guards.
E.C.M.K appeared to have copied the Chinese designed rear loading seventy-five round AK compatible 7.62x39mm seventy-five round drum magazine. These large capacity magazines appear to often be supplied with the FM03 pattern automatic rifles.
There are also versions of the FM03 that feature folding buttstocks. The exact designation of this weapon is unknown, but it is safe to assume the wood stock examples are likely designated the FM03-1. One version of the “FM03-1” features a Type 56-1 (AKS) style under-folding stock, whilst another version features an RPKS style left side folding buttstock.
The FM03 automatic rifles seem rather rare, as there are very few photos of them. Besides Algeria, Nigeria is the only other nation known to the author at the time of writing this article that has adopted E.C.M.K produced FM03 automatic rifles.
Conclusion
The E.C.M.K Kalashnikovs are rather interesting, as they are another example of a mass produced clone of a Chinese designed Kalashnikov. Like every other country that has mass produced clones of Chinese stamped receiver Kalashnikovs, the Algerians also give their clones unique features, such as incorporating a AKM style accessory lug & relocating the front sling mounting point (similar to the Iranians). Like Albania, Algeria also created complete “spin off” Chinese inspired Kalashnikovs, such as the FM03 automatic rifles that features a third generation stamped Type 56 style receiver and trunnions. Overall, Algerian Kalashnikovs are fairly unique, but they are not produced in large enough numbers to be considered relevant.
Sources
Instagram:
sonofgraceegoli
jhago_dc
udie.sunday
Websites:
epicos.com
madeindz.forumalgerie.net
mdn.dz
nairaland.com
militaryimages.net
forcesdz.com
ennaharonline.com
reddit.com
modernfirearms.net
Facebook:
yasin.dz
Interesting, thank you Dixie, you have triggered me into some ak deep dives.