There have been several examples of the AK being used as the basis for a pistol-caliber SMG or PDW. The Russians made the Vityaz, the Hungarians made the KGPF-9…and the Czechs actually made a version form the CZ-2000. This was the attempt to make a 5.56mm AK family of rifles form the roots of the 5.45mm Lada project developed in the last years of communist Czechoslovakia.

It is unclear who exactly this pattern was made for, as it wasn’t a part of the formal CZ-2000 system. It is also not a very good adaptation, with a very short bolt travel, which leads to a very high rate of fire and makes it difficult to control by 9mm standards. Still, it is a fascinating one-of-a-kind prototype to get a look at!

Many thanks to the fine filks at CZ for giving me a chance to take this out of their archives to show you – and then to actually try it out!