I completely agree with you about dirty, rusty AK-47’s still being able to shoot. I was just using the fact that ‘the second greatest army in Ukraine’ has resorted to issuing them to soldiers today!Oy, vey. 30-40 years old AK will work just as well as the new one providing all the parts are there. It's a very well built rifle of a great design. It's right up there with Mauser, Springfield and Garand in the hall of fame of firearms.
Oh, btw. The Ukrainians are using 1930s, 1940s vintage water cooled Maxim machine guns, still with original shields and dollies.