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Polish Tantal Overview Pictures of the Parts and finished rifle
The Tantal or wz 88 is one of the more distinctive AK versions. With it's unique front end and handguards. It is an AK74 not an AK47 so it uses the 5.45 x 39 mm ammo that replaced the 7.62x39 ammo in the 90's
karabinek wz. 89" (carbine model 89)

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The tantal parts kit spread out, Many of the Tantal parts are unique tot he Polish AKs. Pictured with the Polish 30 rd steel mag that was included in the kit. |
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The front end all taken apart with it's own style handguards |
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The sidefolding wire stock is almost like the German sidefolders |
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A closer view of the internal parts of the Polish Tantal
The mainspring rod has been modified to prevent the bolt cover from falling of when firing rifle grenades. The gas chamber and the gas cylinder has been simplified. |
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Some kits ship with a black plastic magazine others come with a metal ribbed 30 round mag |
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Back to back so it's easy to see both sides of the Tantal barrel and front end |
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Without the receiver but all the parts in place as if the receiver was there. The efficiency of the AK47 design is seen when the internal parts are lined up |
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A closer look at the folding stock from both sides. |
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Another look at the parts in place as if the receiver was there. The efficiency of the AK47 design is seen when the internal parts are lined up |
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The Tantal with a German AK74 mag (Orange) and the parts kit spread out with the steel ribbed mag
The characteristic large safety / selector lever of the kalashnikov family has in this weapon a function of safety only. |
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The unique parts that make up the internal workings of the Tantal
The selector switch has been moved to the left side of the receiver and has three positions: |
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A final shot of the two barrels and the black plastic mag |
This is how the Tantal Parks kit is packaged and shipped

This Tantal was built by Ewbank Manufacturing in Winslow, AZ 928-289-3928 They specialize in "HAND BUILT", "HAND CRAFTED", AK-47 rifles
If you are looking for one of these Polish Tantal Parks Kits, they are available (as of 8/2006) at one of our sponsors, Arms of America
www.Arms of America.com
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Polish Tantal AK74 1-888-729-7815 Classic Polish Under folding AK47 Rifle, 7.62 x 39, semi auto, these rifles feature original imported Polish AK parts built on a fully heat treated- chrome alloy reinforced Ewbank Gen 2 Receiver. with a chrome lined barrel and a parkerized finish. Comes with a 5 year warranty!, Tapco G2 fire control group, laminate wood front hand guard, threaded barrel, bayonet lug, under folder stock, sling, 30 round US mag. This item must ship to a Federal Firearms Licensed Dealer. Arms of America Price: $599.99 Retail: $799.99
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More information on the Polish Tantal
| This page helped a lot, take a look |
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The purpose of this page is to provide information on the firearms designed and manufactured in Poland. With the exception of the Vis 35 pistol, Polish guns are virtually unknown outside Poland, a situation I hope to change.
Currently this page contains information on 20 different guns. |
Tantal
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Tantal wz. 88 5.45 mm

Development of this rifle started in late seventies. The requirements called for a 5.45 mm gas operated rifle with 3-shot burst capability and ability to fire rifle grenades. The designers based their work on the Russian AK-74 although most of the mechanisms are original solutions. First called wz. 81 (model 81) it was accepted by the military in 1990 as "karabinek wz. 89" (carbine model 89). Simultaneously a shortened version was developed and was named wz. 89 (Onyks). Since Poland is to became a NATO member, a 5.56 mm NATO version was developed (wz.90), but was not accepted by the Polish military.
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Like the AK-74 the Tantal is a gas-operated automatic rifle. Its receiver is made from sheet metal stampings and houses an all-new trigger mechanism. The characteristic large safety/selector lever of the kalashnikov family has in this weapon a function of safety only. The selector switch has been moved to the left side of the receiver and has three positions: |
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Standard equipment consist of four 30-rounds magazines (steel or plastic), a bayonet (identical to that of AKM), sling, blank-firing adapter, canvas magazine pouch, magazine loader and cleaning gear. Additional 60 rounds are carried in four loading strips for a total of 180 rounds. A light, detachable bipod is also available |
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The mainspring rod has been modified to prevent the bolt cover from falling of when firing rifle grenades. The gas chamber and the gas cylinder has been simplified. |
Muzzle brake resembles that of AK-74 but has smaller diameter and is longer to allow it to be used to launch grenades. The folding stock has a shape similar to a design used in East German AKMs but uses a different folding mechanism. Sights can be set for 100-1000 meters and are complemented by a set of tritium illuminated night sights. Some Tantals are equipped with a side plate for mounting optics. The rifle can be equipped with wz. 1974 Pallad 40 mm grenade launcher. Some parts (bolt, bolt carrier and magazines) are interchangeable with AK-74.
- C - full auto
- P - single shot
- S - 3-shot burst
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wz. 88 Tantal is used by the Polish army but is to be replaced by wz.96 Beryl. 5.45 mm ammunition is no longer manufactured in Poland and existing rifles are only used for training. |
wz. 90 Tantal standard version, 5.56 mm NATO |
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Ta - Tantalum
Tantalum is a hard metal with reactivity lower even than platinum. Tantalum oxide was isolated by Anders G. Ekeberg in 1802 who then named the element because it tantalized his efforts to purify the metal. The pure metal was finally obtained, electrochemically, by Bolton in 1905. | |