Polish Tantal wz.88 Wire Folding Stock
Polish Tantal wz.88 Wire Folding Stock
So you want the real, original folding stock for your Tantal build. This is it. A genuine Polish wz.88 wire folding stock, built for the 5.45x39mm Tantal rifle platform. Side-folding design, finished with a profiled shoulder pad.
This is not a generic AK wire stock. Also, this is not a copy from a different country’s rifle. First, this stock is patterned after the East German MPi-KMS-72 wire stock, but built with Polish-specific engineering differences. Next, it folds to the right side of the receiver. Finally, Polish troops gave it an informal nickname, the “ash poker,” for its thin metal wire profile.
Will this Polish Tantal wz.88 Wire Folding Stock fit my Tantal build?
Yes, if you’re building or restoring a Polish Tantal wz.88 Wire Folding Stock So this stock is built specifically for that receiver’s hinge mounting points. However, the hinge assembly also fits AKM-pattern receivers with the correct screw configuration, since the original Tantal hinge mounts through the same upper screw and pistol grip screw locations. Therefore, confirm your receiver’s hinge mounting points match before ordering, especially on a parts-kit build.
How is this different from the East German wire stock it’s based on?
A simplified, stronger latch design. So while the Polish Tantal wz.88 Wire Folding Stock visually resembles the East German MPi-KMS-72 stock, Poland’s engineers used a flat latch spring instead of a separate wire spring. Also, that flat spring doubles as a hinge brace, making the Polish design mechanically distinct, not just a direct copy. Therefore, this stock represents real Polish engineering, even though it shares a visual lineage with its East German predecessor.
Can this stock be swapped for a fixed wooden stock?
Yes, mechanically. So the Polish Tantal wz.88 Wire Folding Stock hinge mounts in a way that allows a fixed AKM wooden or synthetic stock to be installed instead. However, original military Tantals were only ever issued with the wire folding stock. Therefore, a wood-stocked Tantal was illustrated in training manuals but never actually manufactured or fielded, making this wire stock the historically correct configuration for any authentic build.
Why do collectors specifically want the original wire stock?
Authenticity and rarity. So the Polish Tantal wz.88 Wire Folding Stock is one of the most visually distinctive features that separates the Tantal from a standard AKM or AK-74. Also, original Polish-manufactured examples are increasingly hard to source as parts kits dry up. Therefore, collectors building a correct wz.88 clone or restoring an existing build place real value on having the genuine original stock, not a generic substitute.
Specs Table
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Compatibility | Polish wz.88 Tantal receivers; hinge also compatible with correctly configured AKM-pattern receivers |
| Caliber | 5.45x39mm (Tantal rifle platform) |
| Stock Type | Side-folding wire stock, folds to the right |
| Design Origin | Patterned after East German MPi-KMS-72, with Polish-specific latch engineering |
| Latch Design | Flat latch spring, doubles as hinge brace |
| Nickname | “Ash poker,” used informally by Polish troops |
| Shoulder Pad | Profiled, fitted to the stock’s end |
| Best For | Tantal restorations, period-correct AK-74 pattern builds, collectors |
| Length | verify |
| Weight | verify |
| Material | Steel wire construction |
| Price | $125 |
| Condition Notes | verify |
FAQ
Will this stock fit a standard AKM receiver? The hinge mounts through standard upper screw and pistol grip screw locations, so fit is possible on correctly configured AKM receivers. Always verify exact compatibility before ordering.
Why is this called the “ash poker” stock? Polish troops gave it this informal nickname, referencing the stock’s thin wire profile, similar in shape to a fireplace ash poker.
Is this stock the same as the East German wire stock? It’s based on that design, but uses a different, Polish-engineered flat latch spring, making it mechanically distinct rather than a direct copy.
Did the Tantal ever come with a wooden stock from the factory? No. Wood-stocked Tantals were only ever illustrated in training manuals. The military rifle was issued exclusively with this wire Folding stock.
What rifle is this stock originally built for? The Polish wz.88 Tantal, a 5.45x39mm rifle developed in the late 1980s as Poland’s alternative to licensing the Soviet AK-74.
Can I install this stock on a Beryl-pattern build? The Beryl shares design lineage with the Polish Tantal wz.88 Wire Folding Stock, but uses different furniture in most configurations. Verify exact compatibility before attempting installation.
Is this an original Polish-made part, or a reproduction? This is a genuine original Polish wire folding stock, not a modern reproduction.
Find more Tantal and AK-74 pattern parts at gunpartspalace.com.
