Plum, in the context of AK Plum or Russian Plum is a color of AK furniture (i.e. stock, grip, handguards, and other accessories) or magazines originally seen in the last decade of the Soviet Union. Original mags and parts from manufacturers in Soviet Republics are relatively uncommon but the color remains popular – which is why they are made by or at the behest of several American companies including Magpul, US PALM, XTECH, and others.

AK Plum

Beloved Vodka Blaster Color

The origin of the “AK plum” hue remains debated. Much internet lore is available, all of which could reasonably be viewed with dubiety. Cold War era Kalashnikov rifles were available in a variety of types and styles but the “big three” generally issued on a large scale were those with fixed laminated wood stocks, fixed plum stocks, and black stocks (both folding and fixed).

Plum AK grip and magazine: AK plum should be its own color. With its own crayon. Like Mud Hut Brown, Dead Pedo Brain Matter Gray, and Drunk-Tank Pink. 

Whether the color originated, as some RUMINT says, with a Russian dye malfunction or some perceived benefit against NVGs, or some other reason, we have no idea. And no one else does either. Lots of weird shit went on in the late 70s and early 80s. Maybe Nikolai Ogarkov or Sergey Akhromeyev (or both) had a thing for Boy George and Cher’s hair. Does it matter?

• US PALM Grip in Russian Plum

• US PALM Mags in Russian Plum

Could be that YouTube’s Mishaco has the best answer. 

“Maybe they were just thinking of US collectors in twenty and thirty years and just trying to be nice to us and give us something unique to play with.”

AK Plum is just one of many AK wood furniture colors – but it’s now increasingly available in well-built, reliable polymer models. In fact, this color should be available for all our long guns, not just Vodka Blasters.

The exact color of AK Plum varies, much like FDE, Coyote Tan, and other types of Mud Hut Brown. For instance, some versions of the Molot plum are different than examples of the Tula plum, both, in turn, being different from than Izhmash. Matte Molot mags are more common than the shinier Izhmash and Tula versions, but that’s not important right now. What’s important is that you can get ’em made in America. 

Mishaco again:

“it’s worth noting that you’ll see all kinds…there’s shiny plum, there’s matte plum, there’s some that have speckles, little white speckles…that’s where it was dyed and didn’t mix with the white polymer. Those white speckles are undyed polymer. You’ll see some that’s lighter, more purple, some that’s lighter, more brown, and some that’s basically almost black. And of course later, in the 90s, Russia would be to a true black and they would even change the material, not just the dye…”

But as always we digress. 

These plum AK mags look fetching indeed when contrasted with the classic “Commie Chest Rig Green” color!

Regarding the original much sought-after (possibly even longed for) AK Plum waffle mags and article on The Firearm Blog reads,

Made of a deep purple, glass-reinforced polyamide; around 5,000 of these were made and issued and seem to be the last general issue 7.62×39 mag produced, although they may or may not have been issued by the Russians. The how, why, and when they were used, doesn’t seem to be well known, but most examples come from the middle east via soldiers bringing them back. ~ TFB

This plum AK grip is the US PALM version. Not exactly, just like mom, Igor, and Ivan used to make, but it’ll do.

Non-Plum AK Bonus Picture

This might just be the ugliest Kalashnikov we’ve seen to date. Unfortunately we have no idea about the story behind it. Nor where it came from. If you have any ideas, hit us up in the comments below. 

Quite possibly the most hideous AK we’ve seen yet. Is that a gold barrel with moldy custard color furniture? Maybe it’s British. Maybe that’s a spotted dick.

Plum AK Furniture in the Wild (~ish)

This is, according to Caliber Obscura, a Taliban fighter. As you can see, he’s rocking a plum stock on that RPK-74.

Plum AK furniture via “Once and Future Alaskan” on Tumblr.

Plum AK furniture via “Once and Future Alaskan” on Tumblr.

Close-up of the plum AK stock from the rifle shown above:

Plum AK furniture on an AK GF3 with a Holosun HE515CT in a photo by @dstrbdmedic167.