The North Korean answer to the Soviet AK-47 and Chinese Type 56, the Type 58 is of the early pattern, using a solid milled steel receiver instead of the more common later stamped pattern, and would serve as both a domestic front-line military rifle and a major export item, seen in Cuba, Grenada, Nicaragua and Vietnam. Hooded post front and tangent rear sights graduated to 800 meters, with the Korean "5-pointed star" and serial number on the left side of the receiver and a set of Korean selector markings on the right. The combination selector switch and dust cover is configured in the traditional Kalashnikov pattern, with "safe" as the top most position, "semi" at the bottom, and "full" at a midpoint. Matching numbers are present on the receiver, dust cover, recoil spring guide, bolt carrier, bolt and gas cylinder. Fitted with a smooth hardwood forearm, pistol grip and buttstock, the latter carved on the right side with "BERNAL A 1/12" and "30 March 66". The consignor of this lot as well as lot 402 states, "My father Murray Holt served in Vietnam in ‘65 and ‘66 and acquired these weapons after several battles. They were used by the Vietcong, and after the fight, when my father got back to camp, he disassembled them into parts, and eventually shipped them in multiple packages to Birmingham, AL where my uncle reassembled them and stored them. My grandfather registered them in 1968 during the 30 day amnesty period, and in 1975 they were transferred for safe keeping to the gun vault at Pensacola Police Department in Pensacola, FL, where my father was a police officer until his retirement in 1995. They were willed back to him upon my grandfather’s death in 1985, and then were willed to me upon my father's passing in 2021. As for the North Korean AK, I don’t know who Bernal is/was because my father barely spoke of the war. The carving in the stock is Alpha company, 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry. My dad was an SP4 with the Army’s 1st Cavalry AIRMOBILE division. He was the first man off the Huey helicopter and the last man back on when they landed and took off in the LZ’s, and he sat next to the door gunner."

Fine, with 60% of the arsenal refurbished blue, showing some covered pitting on the receiver, areas of brown patina, and scattered handling marks. The furniture is good, with some chipping of the forearm and mild dings and scuffs. Mechanically excellent. NOTE: This weapon is a National Firearms Act (NFA), fully transferable Class 3, which is registered with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, (BATFE) that is classified as a "Curios or Relic" as defined in 27 CFR, 478.11. These weapons are still subject to the provisions of 18 U.S.C. Chapter 44 and 27 CFR part 479.