# ASH-78

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Albanian assault rifle

ASh-78 A Tip-1 rifle with bayonet folded Type Assault rifle Place of origin Albania Service history In service 1978−present Used by See users Wars Yugoslav Wars Bosnian War Kosovo War 1997 Albanian civil unrest Production history Manufacturer Gramsh state arsenal Produced 1978−1997 Variants See variants Specifications (ASh-78 Tip-1) Mass 4.2 kg (9.3 lb) Length 880 mm (35 in) Barrel length 414 mm (16.3 in) Cartridge 7.62×39mm Action Gas, select fire Feed system 30-round box magazine References [1][2]

The **ASh-78** ([Albanian](/source/Albanian_language): *Automatiku Shqiptar 78*) is an Albanian [assault rifle](/source/Assault_rifle) developed in the 1970s. It is a licensed derivative of the [Type 56 assault rifle](/source/Type_56_assault_rifle).

## History

Albania started a domestic small arms production program in 1962, by starting the construction of a state arsenal at the town of [Gramsh](/source/Gramsh_(municipality)). This was done with Chinese assistance.[3] Prior to this, the country relied entirely on imported weapons (mostly from the [Soviet Union](/source/Soviet_Union) before the [Albanian–Soviet split](/source/Albanian%E2%80%93Soviet_split)). The Albanians first produced copies of the [Type 56 carbine](/source/SKS) in 1966, and in 1974 the Um Gramsh arsenal obtained a license from [Norinco](/source/Norinco) to produce a copy of the Type 56 assault rifle, which was accepted into service in 1978 as the *Automatiku Shqiptar 78 (ASh-78)*.[4]

According to Albanian sources, as many as 26,000 rifles were produced annually, but by mid-1990s only a few weapons were produced; In 2004, the [United Nations](/source/United_Nations) Department for Disarmament Affairs stated that there was no longer any effective state-run military production facilities in Albania.[4] According to Jones and Ness, the Um Gramsh arsenal kept production of these rifles running until 1997.[1]

## Design

Chambered in 7.62×39mm, the Albanian ASH-78 is a variant of the AK family of rifles, specifically modeled after the Type 56 assault rifle. The design was heavily influenced by the Chinese AK models due to Albania's close ties with China during the Cold War, particularly after its split from the Soviet Union.

The ASH-78 does not have a magazine guide depression on either side of the stamped receiver.[5] There are markings for “Auto” (A) and “Single” (1) select-fire capabilities.[5]

The ASH-78 is considered to have moderate accuracy, in line with similar AK-pattern rifles. It is capable of effective fire at ranges of 300 to 400 meters.

## Variants

- **ASh-78 Tip-1**[4] − A direct copy of the [Type 56 assault rifle](/source/Type_56_assault_rifle), complete with folding bayonet. The rear sight is calibrated to 800 m (870 yd)[1]

- **ASh-78 Tip-2** − A [rifle grenade](/source/Rifle_grenade) launcher variant fitted with a longer barrel, a spigot-type grenade launcher, and a gas cut-off lever on the right side of the gas port. The rear sight is calibrated to 1,000 m (1,100 yd). It also lacks a bayonet[1]

- **ASh-78 Tip-3** − A modified Tip-2 rifle, it has a provision for gas cut-off during grenade firing and can be fitted with a [bipod](/source/Bipod). According to Jones and Ness, it was possibly intended to be deployed as a [squad automatic weapon](/source/Squad_automatic_weapon)[1]

## Users

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### Current

- [Afghanistan](/source/Afghanistan) − A total of 30,600 rifles were exported in 2002 and 2010.[4]

- [Albania](/source/Albania)[6]

### Former

- [Bosnia and Herzegovina](/source/Bosnia_and_Herzegovina): Bosnian Muslims received weapons from [Sali Berisha](/source/Sali_Berisha) during the [Bosnian war](/source/Bosnian_war)[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

### Non-state actors

- [Kosovo Liberation Army](/source/Kosovo_Liberation_Army)[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

## Gallery

		- [Albanian People's Army](/source/Albanian_People's_Army) soldier holding ASH-78.

		- Albanian soldiers in 2012, carrying a mix of ASH rifles and Chinese Type 56-1s.

## References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [ASH-78](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:ASH-78).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEJonesNess2010129_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEJonesNess2010129_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEJonesNess2010129_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEJonesNess2010129_1-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEJonesNess2010129_1-4) [Jones & Ness 2010](#CITEREFJonesNess2010), p. 129.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBrayley201330−31_2-0)** [Brayley 2013](#CITEREFBrayley2013), pp. 30−31.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Ash78_3-0)** McCollum, Ian (2025-10-11). ["ASh-78: Albania Makes the Worst AK - Forgotten Weapons"](https://www.forgottenweapons.com/ash-78-albania-makes-the-worst-ak/). *www.forgottenweapons.com*. Retrieved 2026-05-28.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBrayley201330_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBrayley201330_4-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBrayley201330_4-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBrayley201330_4-3) [Brayley 2013](#CITEREFBrayley2013), p. 30.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-FB_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-FB_5-1) ["An Albanian ASh78-1 Kalashnikov in Kabul"](https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2018/05/02/an-albanian-kalashnikov-in-kabul/). 2 May 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEJonesNess2010903_6-0)** [Jones & Ness 2010](#CITEREFJonesNess2010), p. 903.

### Bibliography

- Brayley, Martin J. (2013). [*Kalashnikov AK47 Series: The 7.62 x 39mm Assault Rifle in Detail*](https://books.google.com/books?id=wpZ8AwAAQBAJ) (e-book ed.). Ramsbury, Marlborough: Crowood. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-84797-526-3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-84797-526-3).

- Jones, Richard D; Ness, Leland S, eds. (2010). *Jane's Infantry Weapons 2010−2011* (36th ed.). Coulsdon, Surrey: Jane's Information Group. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-7106-2908-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-7106-2908-1).

v t e Kalashnikov rifle and derivatives Primary rifles USSR/Russia AK-47 AKM AK-74 AKS-74U AK-101 AK-102 AK-103 AK-104 AK-105 AK-9 AK-12 AK-15 AK-19 AK-203 AK-205 Warsaw Pact AK-63 AKM-63 Kbk AKM / Kbkg wz. 1960/72 MPi-KM MPi-AK-74N PA md. 86 PM md. 63/65 PM md. 90 Assault and battle rifles Classic AEK-971/972/973 AK-107/108/109 AK Alfa AL-7 AN-94 AR-M1 (Trichy) APS-95 AS Val ČZ 2000 EMER-K1 Excalibur INSAS IMI Galil (Vektor R4 · FFV 890 · DI MA-1) IWI ACE (Galil Córdova · STV) Madsen LAR Misr MCIWS NGM-81 Norinco NHM 91 QBZ-03 QTS-11 RK 62 RK 95 TP Type 56 (ASH-78) Type 58 Type 68 Type 81 Type 87 Type 88 Wieger StG-940 Saiga semi-automatic rifle SG-540 SG 550 STL-1A VSK-100 WASR-series rifles Zastava PAP series Bullpup A-91 Grad AR K-3 Malyuk OTs-14 Groza Truvelo Raptor Type 86S M82 Vektor CR-21 Vepr Carbines 20–25 cm (8–10 in) barrel 9A-91 AG-043 AK-9 AKMSU AKS-74U AM-17 AMB-17 AR-M4 SF OTs-12 Tiss OTs-14 Groza SR-3 Vikhr 25–33 cm (10–13 in) barrel AK-102/AK-104/AK-105 AMD-65 AMP-69 Kalantak Draco DRDO Close Quarter Battle carbine MPi-AKS-74NK PA md. 86 Carbine PM md. 80 PM md. 90 Carbine Truvelo Raptor C Type 56C Machine guns AEK-999 RPK/RPKS RPK-74 RPKM/RPK-74M/RPK-201/RPK-203 RPK-16 PK/PKM/PKT PKP Pecheneg INSAS (LMG) PU-1/2/21 Type 80 machine gun Type 73 light machine gun Sniper rifles PSL Tabuk VSS Vintorez VSK-94 Submachine guns Amogh Gepard KK-MPi 69 PP-19 Bizon PP-19-01 Vityaz Zastava Master FLG Shotguns KSK Fostech Origin 12 Saiga-12 Vepr-12 Molot Special purpose 80.002 AK-9 AO-27 RWGŁ-3 APS underwater rifle ASM-DT amphibious rifle ADS amphibious rifle QBS-06 Competitors Project Abakan SA-006 AKB AKB-1 AB-46 VAHAN AO-62 AO-63 AO-222 Brands Galil ACE (assault rifle/carbine) AR (assault/battle rifle) ARM (machine gun) Galatz (sniper rifle) MAR (carbine) SAR (carbine) SR-99 (sniper rifle) Zastava M70 (assault rifle) M72 (machine gun) M76 (sniper rifle) M77 (machine gun/battle rifle) M80 (assault rifle) M85 (carbine) M90 (assault rifle) M91 (sniper rifle) M92 (carbine) M21 (assault rifle/carbine) Valmet/SAKO RK 62/RK 62 76 (assault rifle) RK 71 (assault rifle) M78 (machine gun) M82 (bullpup assault rifle) RK 95 TP (assault rifle) Petra/Hunter (hunting rifle) FB Radom FB Beryl (assault rifle) FB Mini-Beryl (short-barreled rifle) FB Tantal (assault rifle) FB Onyks (short-barreled rifle) Radom Hunter (civilian rifle) Radom Sport (civilian rifle) List of modern Russian small arms and light weapons

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [ASH-78](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ASH-78) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ASH-78?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.