Reply #51: Typically, yes about the dress up. Not sure about show and tell..

[Caliman73]

American firearms owners tend to understand that the civilian versions of any rifle used by the military are going to function differently than the military version. The differences lay with the expected use. The civilian versions are semi-automatic, as they are typically used for target shooting, hunting, or home defense where you want precise shot placement. Military versions are selective fire and can be used as single shot for accuracy and burst or full auto for suppressive fire. Many firearms enthusiasts seek the civilian version of the AK because of the touted reliability and ruggedness. It is a simple design that can take a great deal of abuse and continue functioning. You can shoot much cheaper ammunition that would tend to foul up and jam other rifles. I am sure that some owners engage in the show and tell of their rifles, but I do not think that it is a major factor in the purchase of the AK.