Eastern Engineering – The AK in Every Flavor
Russia in the second half of the 20th century is primarily associated with the AK rifle system, the PK machine guns, the SVD rifles, and the less common VSS Vintorez and AS Val. Over the years, many more interesting firearm projects were developed there — some of which even dedicated shooting enthusiasts may not be aware of. The most intriguing designs, however, emerged not only during the Cold War, but also after the collapse of the USSR. At the turn of the 20th and 21st centuries, Russia pursued a variety of individual weapon development programs in an effort to keep up with modern trends.
One such interesting design is the PP-19 Bizon submachine gun. Essentially, it is a highly modified AK system featuring a shorter receiver and the absence of a gas system. The Bizon operates with a straight blowback method combined with firing from a closed bolt. What truly set it apart from other submachine guns, though, was the long tube beneath the barrel — a high-capacity helical magazine.
In the end, the Bizon remained more of a curiosity, and its role was taken over by the PP-19-01 Vityaz, which uses a more conventional box magazine. As is often the case, over time a group of enthusiasts emerges who dream of reviving a particular firearm and making it available on the civilian market. This usually happens in the United States — and the subject of this article is no exception.
From STizona to AK-V Stizon
In 2024, a conversion kit hit the market that transformed certain AK-based pistol-caliber carbines into a Bizon-style equivalent. The creator of this conversion was Stuff and Things Inc. (STInc.). One of the carbines compatible with the conversion is the AK-V, manufactured by Palmetto State Armory (PSA). The major manufacturer decided to partner with STInc., introducing complete carbines equipped with the conversion kit — the AK-V Stizon.
The AK-V Stizon features:
- a helical magazine with a capacity of 55 rounds of 9×19mm Parabellum,
- a custom handguard adapted for mounting the new magazines,
- a new muzzle device that mimics the original Bizon’s design.
Aside from these features, it remains a standard AK-V, operating on a blowback system with a closed bolt.
The AK-V’s receiver ends with a Picatinny rail, which comes standard with a side-folding brace.
Importantly, the manufacturer states that reliable operation is guaranteed only when using magazines with the new-style feed lips.
The carbine was released on May 9, and as of the article’s writing — May 15 — it was completely sold out from PSA’s store. According to online users, the launch price was 1,199.99 USD.
For comparison, a standard AK-V is listed at around 1,000 USD, depending on the model.
More information is available on the Palmetto State Armory website.
