The ASH 78 (Automatiku Shqiptar, lit. "Albanian automatic") is a series of assault rifles and an Albanian copy of the Chinese Type 56 assault rifle. The rifle series is unique as it also incorporates designs of which were derived from the AK-47.
History[]
Albania had been attempting to split-away from the Soviet Union as early a the 1960s. As a way to aid themselves with cutting ties from the Warsaw Pact, the country would begin to manufacture Chinese firearms to supplement weapons those of which were from the Soviet Union. China would supply the country with amounts of the Type 56 carbine (a direct copy of the SKS) and the Type 56 assault rifle. As early as 1962, and predating the ASH 78 typed designs, were Albanian produced clones of the Type 56 carbine, sometimes known as the "July 10th rifle." However, very limited amounts of the licensed design would remain in usage by 1966. China would remain it's ties to Albania, by supplying them with various Chinese-made weapons. By the 1970's, Albanian arsenals were mostly comprised of both Type 56 rifles and the Type 63 assault rifle. This would be the case until when in 1974, China had officially licensed Albania with the design concepts of the Type 56 assault rifle. The assault rifles of which would be renamed to "Automatiku Shqiptar tipi 56" regardless of design elements such as a stamped or milled receiver. Withholding the licenses of the Type 56, new design concepts for the first Albanian variation would emerge between 1976 and 1978. The first design of which to surface would be a nearly-direct copy of the Type 56 assault rifle, with very little difference to tell the two rifles apart, besides Albanian derived copies are said to lack any markings such as year, and manufacturer upon them. This model itself would be named the ASH 78-1. An underfolding stock variant of the ASH 78-1 would be named the ASH-82, and would derive itself from the Type 56-1 design. Due to the seen success of the weapon, Albanian arsenals and manufacturers would be commissioned to produce more of the rifle series, leading to a larger array of variants that fit a niche and purpose on their own. Of the which would emerge the ASH 78-2 and 78-3 designs. Both of which are fitted with longer, 26 inch barrels to serve as a precision rifle. The ASH 78-3 models were produced in limited numbers, and are upon some of the more uncommon models to have been manufactured. Interestingly, a model derived from the AKS-74U is said to exist, but no evidence online is said to be able to prove this. It is possible that this AKS-74U design was made as a locally-produced direct clone of the original carbine. However, similar designs of a compact carbine do exist in the form of the RDW-1, which itself is chambered for 7.62×39mm, and features a frontal "dong" grip. Production of the ASH 78 series would continue well into the Yugoslav Wars, which as a result, many ASH 78 rifles and ammunition were destroyed, captured, or went missing entirely. Manufacturing company KM Poliçan suffered employee losses, and were reduced to 1700 of the original 3200. This would halt all production on the rifle series in 1992 until 1997 when production would be resumed. Sometime in 2006, KM Poliçan would become independent, and the rifles would not be primarily produced.
Design Details[]
As the first models produced and manufactured of the ASH 78 were direct-copies of the Type 56 assault rifle, it would be hard to tell the two rifles apart. However, original ASH 78 designs also derived concepts from the AK-47. Among the more notable differences, the ASH 78 featured no manufacturer markings whatsoever. But, models can still be identified through various diversions from the Type 56. To note, the receiver on the ASH 78 is flat, and lacks the depressions on the magazine-well which were included on the AK-47 and Type 56 as a way to lighten the rifle. The fire selector is also marked in a way which is unique to the ASH 78 rifle series. Automatic fire is marked by "A" with "1" being for semi-automatic. Whilst the arsenal from which the rifle was made is absent on the weapon, the year of which it was manufactured is marked by the last two digits of the year. Iron sights also differentiate with new markings, with a "D" marked for close-quarters, and the marks of "1" through "8" being set as markers for longer distances. The gas block on the firearm is a design which combines elements from both the Type 56 assault rifle and the AK-47. Some early models were also produced with the Type 56's "pig stickler" bayonet mounted below the barrel. Later models such as the ASH 78-2 would be produced with 26 inch barrels to serve as either squad support weapons, or as a precision rifle, with the later ASH 78-3 model being produced with scopes. More recently produced models of the 78-2 and 78-3 designs have their dust covers hinged with extended iron sights.
Variants[]
Albanian[]
ASH 78-1[]
Standard production model, derived from both the Type 56 assault rifle and AK-47 alike.
ASH 78-2[]
Production model which featured a longer, 26 inch barrel to act as a squad support weapon, or precision rifle.
ASH 78-3[]
Identical to the 78-2 design, however it is produced with a telescopic sight atop the weapon, mounted by a left-side dovetail rail.
ASH-82[]
Features an underfolding stock, derived from the Type 56-1 design.
Gallery[]
