The US weapons market is seeing a rapid decline in civilian models of the Kalashnikov rifle. These weapons are transitioning from ordinary use items to luxury goods.
According to Oxu.Az, this information was reported by The New York Times.
Jim Fuller, a weapons expert and one of the main supporters of AK circulation in the US, characterized the current situation in an interview with the publication as "Suddenly everything disappeared."
It is reported that several factors influence the situation. Sanctions, customs duties, a sharp increase in ammunition prices, and the growing popularity of rival AR-15 models are among the main reasons.
US citizens are most concerned about the price increase. If in the 1980s it was possible to obtain an AK for a few hundred dollars, now its value has increased fivefold. As a result, the weapon has become inaccessible to ordinary buyers and is now a target for collectors.
Foreign manufacturers also feel the weight of high duties. Jacek Popinski, head of Poland's WBP enterprise, says that competing with American companies is very difficult in the current environment.
