Daewoo K1 (Max 1)

Pre-ban, baby

    In 1986 or '87, I bought this rifle in California, for the hefty sum of $297, at a sporting goods store. This was before Stockton, before the import ban or the "assault weapons" ban. Had I even imagined the state of affairs a few years down the line, I probably would have purchased ten of these. Really. I have seen them online and at gun shows priced from $850 up to $1900.

   This is a Korean rifle, patterned roughly after the M16. A few of the minor parts are interchangeable. It accepts the same magazine as the AR15. The bolt carrier is substantially shorter (and lighter), it has a pair of side-by-side buffer springs, and the charging handle is on the right side, where it can also serve as a forward assist, if needed.

   The collapsible stock has three positions: fully collapsed (not much use for it like that, but it does enable you to use a smaller rifle case), fully extended, and just about halfway extended. This is a nifty feature that makes me anticipate the sunset of the "assault weapons" ban with glee. (This Daewoo will still be banned from import, but I am sure that some fine American company will pick up a license to make them.)

   It is a very light weapon, at right around six pounds.

   It does not have any mechanism for mounting a scope. The sights are very similar to those on an AR15, and are adjusted the same. Compensating for this lack of scope mount, I have added a Beamshot laser site. While not effective in full daylight, the laser can cause an intimidating effect indoors, or in less than full daylight.

   The method of field stripping this rifle is again, very much like the AR. The exception to this is the smaller bolt carrier and top-mounted buffer springs.

   The rifle has proven to be accurate with 55 grain military surplus ammunition. I have not fired ss109 through it yet, and probably don't plan to.

   It requires similar maintenance skills as the AR, but I have not experienced any dirt or gunk related failures with it yet.

   If you can find a good deal on one of these, pick it up.

Me with my Daewoo in the snow. You can just make out the Beamshot on top of the barrel. (That is not my rifle in the pics at the top, but those are better views of what mine looks like.)