Rare PreBan Norinco 84S-1 AK-47 5.56×45/.223 16” Semi-Auto Rifle AKM AK

SOLD FOR: $1,900.00

LSB#: LSB251001KM018

Make: Norinco

Model:  84 Series (84S-1)

Serial Number: 307345

Year of Manufacture: Pre-1989, 1985-1988

Caliber: 5.56/.223

Action Type: Semi-Automatic

Markings: Left side of the trunnion is marked with the factory 66 logo and  “84S-1 307345 “ The left side of the receiver is marked “5.56×45 / MADE IN CHINA / NORINCO / CSI L.A CA USA”. The left side of the dust cover is marked “7345”. Right side of the receiver is marked “S” and “F” near the safety lever.  

Barrel Length: 16.5” threaded.  17.25” with a muzzle device.

Sights / Optics:  The front sight is an adjustable hooded pin. The rear sight is a “U” tangent notch leaf sight marked from “1 – 8” and “D” for the battle position. .  

Stock Configuration & Condition:  The furniture set is original.  The buttstock is an under folder.  The pistol grip is smooth wood. The handguard is two piece wood. There is little to no wear. There are light scratches and compressions in the wood. The LOP measures 12.5” from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The stock rates in about Fine overall condition.

Magazine Quantity and Condition: None.  

Type of Finish: Blued  

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition:  The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion in the bore. In this writer’s opinion the bore rates 9 out of 10.  

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 97% of its metal finish. The balance of the finish shows very light scratches on the left and right side of the receiver. The underfolding stock has some light oxidization. The screw heads are sharp and the pins are unmarred. There is operational wear. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle rates in about Fine condition. 

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We did not fire this rifle. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None. 

Our Assessment: The Norinco 84S-1 comes from the celebrated line of Chinese pre-ban AK variants imported during the mid-1980s, built at Factory 66 and configured for the 5.56×45 cartridge at a time when Chinese manufacturers were adapting the Kalashnikov system for Western export markets. Retaining the classic AKM profile—stamped receiver, long-stroke piston system, vented handguards, and underfolding stock—the 84 series reflected both the maturity of China’s Type 56 production and the growing international demand for semiautomatic AK rifles prior to the 1989 import restrictions. The Factory 66 markings and original wood furniture anchor this example firmly in that pre-ban era of production.

Chambered in 5.56×45, a cartridge developed in the 1960s and widely adopted across NATO forces, the 84S-1 embodies a unique intersection of Eastern design and Western chambering. This configuration offered the familiar handling of the AK platform with the ballistic profile of a Western small-caliber, high-velocity round. With strong finish, bright bore, and intact underfolding stock, this rifle presents the clean, recognizable form of a rare pre-1989 Chinese AK—an artifact of the last years before major import changes reshaped the U.S. market. Please see our photos and good luck on your bid! -N.P