Walking Dead Wiki

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Walking Dead Wiki
Walking Dead Wiki
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Walking Dead Wiki

The AKS-74U (also referred to as the "AKSU" or 'Krinkov') is a compact carbine based on the AK-74 design. Contrary to popular belief, the AKS-74U is not exactly a "chopped" or otherwise shortened AKS-74. This weapon was designed during a contest for a compact carbine (a type of weapon earlier neglected by the Soviet army and police forces) during the late 1970s. Furthermore, its original and primary purpose was to be a compact weapon that could be easily stowed within vehicles by their crews, and usable for personal defense by those same crews once on foot. Its use by Afghanistan-era airborne troops and later adoption as a standard-issue police weapon answered the need for a compact rifle-caliber weapon in the Soviet arsenal (the earlier and widely manufactured PPSh-41 submachine gun having been discontinued by the 1960s).

The AKS-74U is, in fact, a purpose-built weapon based on the AK-74 assault rifle. Its distinguishing features are its unique muzzle flash suppressor (designed to lower the considerable report and flash stemming from the short barrel, including an integral muzzle booster to increase the weapon's reliability), the short handguard, big-eared flip rear sight, lowered front sight, and pivoting upper receiver. AKS-74U clones, collectively named Krinkov (a name never used by Russians themselves) may differ visually in details like front sight and handguard length and shape, together with differences in construction. No converted AK-74 can be rightfully called an AKS-74U.

Despite common miscategorization, particularly in video games, it also is not, has never been, and will never be a submachine gun: since it fires an intermediate round, it is a compact assault rifle. This perception seems to come from the AKS-74U heavily influencing the NATO "Personal Defense Weapon" concept first published in 1989, which called for an armor-piercing SMG for a similar role and led to the development of the FN P90 and Heckler & Koch MP7.

Appearances[]

TV Series[]

Season 10[]

TWDS10E15 04 "The Tower" A Whisperers member pulls an AKS-74U with camo wrap.

Fear the Walking Dead[]

Season 2[]

FTWDS2E15 02 "North" One of the store guard holds the AKS-74U.
FTWDS2E15 16 "North" One of the store guard holds the AKS-74U.
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