The Ak 4 is a Swedish-made version of the Heckler & Koch G3A3battle rifle, with a buttstock that is longer, the bolt carrier has a serrated thumb groove to aid in silent bolt closure and fitted with a heavy buffer for higher number of rounds fired before failure. The Ak 4 iron sights feature extended sight adjustments in increments. The rifles were manufactured from 1965 to 1970 by both Carl Gustafs Stads Gevärsfabrik and Husqvarna Vapenfabrik and from 1970 until the end of production in 1985 – exclusively by Gevärsfabrik in Eskilstuna. All Ak 4s are adapted to mount the M203 grenade launcher. From 1965 to 1985 the Ak 4 was the standard service rifle of the Swedish military.
History
The Ak 4 replaced the Carl Gustaf m/45 in the 1960s. In order to replace the old rifle, Sweden held a new generation of standard weapons selection including: the Belgian FN FAL, the Swiss SIG SG 510, the Swedish Carl GustafGRAM 63, the AmericanM14 and the German Heckler & Koch G3. After several different types of testing the FN FAL and Heckler & Koch G3 passed the tests. Due to its durability and lower price due to modern production methods the Ak 4 version of the Heckler & Koch G3 was selected as the new standard rifle in 1964. Sweden and Heckler & Koch agreed a 15,000 round service/system life. From 1965 to 1970 the Ak 4 was produced by Husqvarna and later changed to Carl Gustaf in Eskilstuna in 1970 until it was replaced by the small-caliber Ak 5, but the Ak 4 is still used in the Hemvärnet-Nationella skyddsstyrkorna. Sweden has supplied unmodified Ak 4's to Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. In 1985 the Ak 4 was replaced by the Ak 5.
Variants
Ak 4: Swedish-made version of the G3A3. Many Ak 4 rifles have a windage table on the right side of the butt stock for correctly adjusting a telescopic sight for and crosswinds from in increments.
Ak 4OR: Optiskt Riktmedel, optical sight. This model is fitted with a Hensoldt Fero Z24 4×24 telescopic sight mounted via a HK claw mount. During a few years it was not issued but it is now again in use by the Hemvärnet - Nationella skyddsstyrkorna. The Hensoldt Fero Z24 4×24 telescopic sight for G3 rifle and STANAG claw mount assembly were developed for designated marksman use. The Fero Z24 elevation knob features Bullet Drop Compensation settings for in increments.
Ak 4B: In this updated version the iron sights have been removed and replaced with an Aimpoint CS red-dot reflex sight mounted on a Picatinny rail. The rail is welded onto the rifle. Used by Hemvärnet - Nationella skyddsstyrkorna.'
Ak 4C: An updated version of the Ak 4B with a 6-position adjustable-length buttstock with a cheek support comb optimized for aiming optics use designed and manufactured by the Swedish company Spuhr i Dalby AB. 5,000 Ak 4C began being fielded in 2017 by Hemvärnet - Nationella skyddsstyrkorna.
Ak 4D: An updated version of the Ak 4B with the adjustable-length buttstock of the Ak 4C but with the addition of a modular forend, a bipod and the Hensoldt Fero Z24 4×24 telescopic sight of the Ak 4OR mounted on a Picatinny rail. 400 Ak 4D will be used by the Swedish Army as a stop-gap designated marksman rifle.
- Made by three manufacturers, Heckler & Koch in Germany, and under license by Husqvarna Vapenfabrik and Carl Gustaf Gevärsfaktori which was later renamed to Förenade Fabriksverken as the Ak 4. Two sub-variants are known to exist, one equipped with a rail and Aimpoint sight and the other with a 4× magnifying optic, the Hensoldt Fero Z24 4×24. It has since been replaced by the Ak 5 in the regular army. Ak 4B and Ak 4OR, some times in combination with the M203 grenade launcher, is still in use in Hemvärnet – Nationella skyddsstyrkorna.
