Century Arms WASR-10: An Imported Romanian AK

by
posted on November 24, 2021
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
Century Arms WASR 10

Century Arms offers a wide variety of popular firearms, from pistols to rifles and shotguns. One of the company’s best-known products, however, is the WASR-10, with a design just about as identical to the AK-47 as you can get today. It’s not fully automatic, for example, and the company installs quality American hardware that improves performance while complying with Federal regulations.

The semi-automatic is manufactured by Cugir Arms Factory, which is located in Romania and traces its roots back to the Austro-Hungarian empire. The company has a long history of producing reliable firearms that perform, likely the sole reason it survived the oppressive communist rule the country and its citizens endured for decades after World War II.

Wassenaar Arrangement Semi-automatic Rifles doesn’t roll off the tongue well, so the company wisely shortened it to WASR. The number “10” in the name is remnant from a time when a restrictive federal assault weapons ban mandated that any imported firearm could only have a magazine capacity of 10 cartridges. Today’s versions accept standard double-stack, 30-round, AK-47 magazines thankfully.

Century Arms currently offers four models of the WASR-10, including one that’s California compliant. Each are chambered in 7.62x39 mm and have a 16.25" barrel with a rifling rate of 1:10". Barrels are chrome-lined and hammer forged. The guns ship with a side-mount scope rail.

Overall length is 34.25" throughout the line, including the WASR-10 UF, which has an under-folding stock. With the exception of the California-complaint model, the guns ship with a 30-round U.S. Palm polymer magazine. Enthusiasts in the Golden State will receive a 10-cartridge version and fin grip instead of the traditional pistol grip. The entire line has been fitted with the RAK-1 Enhanced Trigger Group.

MSRP for the standard version is $1,100. The California and folding-stock models come in at $1,200. If you’re willing to give up the bayonet lug and are okay with a muzzle nut, the price drops to $1,050.

Latest

Gotw Rra Lar 22 Tactical Carbine Web
Gotw Rra Lar 22 Tactical Carbine Web

Gun Of The Week: Rock River Arms LAR-22 Tactical Carbine

This week, we're on the range with the Rock River Arms LAR-22 Tactical Carbine, a rimfire variant of the AR-15 that's designed for reliability and gives enthusiasts a way to shoot affordably.

The Armed Citizen® July 11, 2025

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Japanese Last-Ditch Small Arms Of World War II

The crude assortment of fighting tools used by the Japanese during World War II give clues of an unprepared and unmatched last-ditch fight that ultimately lead to Allied victory.

Federal Ammunition Awards 2025 Tom Knapp Memorial Scholarships

Federal Ammunition recently awarded the 2025 Tom Knapp Memorial Scholarships to two 4-H shooting sports teen ambassadors.

2025 Optic Of The Year: Burris Eliminator 6

Even as new generation after new generation of Burris Eliminator continued to add more advanced technology and functionality, it remained odd-looking—until the launch of this year’s sixth-generation product, which is the first in the line that can mount atop a rifle using standard 34 mm scope rings.

I Have This Old Gun: Star Model B

Of the many Spanish-made firearms to emerge throughout the 19th and 20th century, one of the most recognizable is the Star Model B, largely due to its similarity to the Colt Model 1911.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.