When and why did we buy all that Chicomm hardware?
Where was Colt, S&W, Remington, ArmaLite and the others?
Several answers.
American stuff is high quality and usually expensive.
ChiCom stuff is cheap and adequately finished, as well as based on their combat weaponry. Mostly banned now.
Personal: I’m a Vietnam vet who has hated the Armalite since 1970 when I had to qualify for the first time. Fired expert and continued to do so until my last range firing in 2011 (old warrant officer here). It’s plastic & parkerized and has that lousy charging handle. A large toothbrush somebody called it.
The AK-47 is robust, made of blue steel & wood, and has that certain “commie chic” look to it. I had a deactivated AK ready to bring back but they changed the rules. Many years passed before I could acquire a Norinco AK and part it up to make it look like the one I only see in old photos.
Personal choice, like Fords & Chevvies. Then again, a lot of AR-15’s made by many sources are almost inexpensive. If more people are buying them, that’s fine with me and fits & gagging for Feinstein & other enemies of liberty.